Canal Flats fence rules: permits and height limits

Do I need a permit to build a fence in Canal Flats, and how high can it be?

Canal Flats, British ColumbiaChecked against official textSources read 2026-11-08

Short answer

In Canal Flats a fence does not need a building permit, but the Zoning Bylaw limits its height. In residential and mixed-use zones a fence may be 1.2 m (3.9 ft) high in the front yard and 1.8 m (6 ft) in a required side or rear yard. A retaining wall does need a permit.

Key facts

Permit	No building permit for a fence: the Building Bylaw does not apply to a fence, except that a retaining wall needs a building permit.Building Bylaw No. 230, 2020, s. 3.3(a); s. 11.1 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08 Official wording except as set out in Part 11 [Retaining Walls] of this bylaw, a fence; No person may construct, or structurally repair, a retaining wall without a building permit.
Height, front yard	1.2 m (3.9 ft) in the R-1, R-1A, R-MH, C-1 and MU zones and other residential and mixed-use zones. In zones not listed there, 1.8 m (6 ft).Zoning Bylaw No. 215, 2019 (consolidated), s. 1.7 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08 Official wording no screening or fencing shall be higher than 1.2 m (3.9 ft.) from ground level in a front yard; no screening or fencing shall be higher than 1.8 m (6.0 ft.) from ground level in a front yard; and
Height, side and rear yards	1.8 m (6 ft) in a required side or rear yard, but 1.2 m in a required side yard next to a highway right-of-way other than a lane (the clause continues with a 1.8 m limit in a case whose wording is unclear). Where a rear parcel line abuts the front or side line of an adjoining parcel, no higher than the front or side limit.Zoning Bylaw No. 215, 2019 (consolidated), s. 1.7.1-1.7.2 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08 Official wording no screening or fencing shall be higher than 1.8 m (6.0 ft.) from ground level in a required side yard or rear yard; no screening or fencing shall be higher than 1.2 m (3.9 ft.) from ground level in a required side yard where adjacent to a highway right-of-way other than a lane equal to where a rear parcel line of a parcel abuts the front parcel line or side parcel line of an
Corner lots and sightlines	No fence, wall, building or structure higher than 1.2 m (3.9 ft) in the area bounded by the lot lines at the corner of a public street and a line 4.0 m (13.1 ft) along the lot line from their intersection (the visibility corner triangle).Zoning Bylaw No. 215, 2019 (consolidated), s. 1.8.2(a) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08 Official wording No Fence, wall, Building, or Structure will be erected to a height greater than 1.2 any Public Street and a line extending 4.0 metres (13.1 ft.) along the Lot line
Other rules	Barbed wire fencing is allowed only in the RA, SH, IT and P zones. Shipping containers may not be used as fencing or screening. A swimming pool, spa or hot tub must be enclosed by a fence (Building Bylaw Part 14). Fences next to a street or public place must not be unstable, rotting, leaning or rusting (Good Neighbour Bylaw).Zoning Bylaw No. 215, 2019 (consolidated), s. 1.7.3; s. 2.9; Building Bylaw No. 230, 2020, s. 14.2; Good Neighbour Bylaw No. 296, 2026, Part 2, s. 4 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08 Official wording Barbed wire fencing is an allowable component of fencing and screening in the RA, SH, IT Not be used as housing or a dwelling, fencing, screening, or for advertising; A swimming pool, including a spa or hot tub must be enclosed within a fence constructed a fence, a retaining wall, or a wood tie located on the property
Bylaw	Village of Canal Flats Zoning Bylaw No. 215, 2019, ss. 1.7 and 1.8.2; Building Bylaw No. 230, 2020, s. 3.3(a)Zoning Bylaw No. 215, 2019 (consolidated), s. 1.1; Building Bylaw No. 230, 2020, s. 1.1 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08 Official wording This Bylaw may be cited as “Village of Canal Flats Zoning Bylaw No. 215, 2019”. This bylaw may be cited as “Village of Canal Flats Building Bylaw No. 230, 2020”.

How it works

The Building Bylaw No. 230 does not apply to a fence, so there is no building permit for one. A retaining wall is the exception and needs a building permit. Fence heights are set by the Zoning Bylaw No. 215.

In the R-1, R-1A, R-MH, C-1 and MU zones and other residential and mixed-use zones, the limit is 1.2 m (3.9 ft) in a front yard and 1.8 m (6 ft) in a required side or rear yard. The limit is 1.2 m in a required side yard next to a highway right-of-way other than a lane. Where a rear parcel line meets the front or side line of a neighbouring parcel, the fence may be no higher than the front or side limit. In zones not listed, the limit is 1.8 m (6 ft).

Steps

Find your zone (see the zoning-lookup answer).
Check the height limits above for that zone and for your fence's location on the lot.
Keep the corner clear: nothing higher than 1.2 m (3.9 ft) within the area bounded by the lot lines and a line 4.0 m (13.1 ft) along each lot line from the corner of a public street.
Call the Village office at 250-349-5462 if your case is unclear.

Good to know

Barbed wire fencing is allowed only in the RA, SH, IT and P zones.
Shipping containers may not be used as fencing or screening.
A swimming pool, spa or hot tub must be enclosed by a fence (Building Bylaw Part 14).
Under the Good Neighbour Bylaw, a fence next to a street or public place must not be unstable, rotting, leaning or rusting.
The sources do not say how height is measured beyond "from ground level".