{"title":"Castlegar fence rules: permits and height limits","question":"Do I need a permit to build a fence, and how high can it be?","slug":"fence-rules","place":{"path":"ca/bc/castlegar","name":"Castlegar","region":{"code":"bc","name":"British Columbia"},"country":{"code":"ca","name":"Canada"}},"category":{"slug":"building-and-renovating","name":"Building, renovating and your property"},"owner":"municipal","owner_label":"Municipal","owner_body":{"name":"City of Castlegar","url":"https://www.castlegar.ca"},"short_answer":"A fence in Castlegar does not need a building permit, but it must meet Zoning Bylaw 1428. In residential zones the limit is 1.2 m in the front and exterior side yards and 1.8 m in the rear and interior side yards. A pool or its fence does need a building permit.","aliases":["fence height castlegar","fence bylaw castlegar","how tall can my fence be castlegar","retaining wall castlegar"],"cost":"No permit fee for a fence. A pool fence is covered by the pool building permit.","how_long":null,"where":[{"type":"phone","label":"Development Services","value":"250-365-8964"},{"type":"email","label":"Development Services","value":"devserv@castlegar.ca"}],"documents":["Your lot's survey or lot lines (see property-lines) to place the fence correctly"],"forms":[{"title":"Zoning Bylaw 1428 (PDF), section 4.2 Fencing, Screening and Retaining Walls","url":"https://castlegar.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Consolidated.Branded.Bylaw_.1428-Zoning-Bylaw.pdf"},{"title":"Building Bylaw 1338 (PDF)","url":"https://castlegar.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Bylaw-1338-Consolidated-Building.pdf"}],"related":[{"slug":"building-permit","title":"Castlegar building permits: when you need one and how to apply","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/castlegar/building-permit/"},{"slug":"deck-shed-garage-permit","title":"Castlegar permits for decks, sheds, carports and garages","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/castlegar/deck-shed-garage-permit/"},{"slug":"zoning-lookup","title":"Castlegar zoning: find your zone and what it allows","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/castlegar/zoning-lookup/"}],"nearby":[{"place":"ca/bc/fruitvale","name":"Fruitvale","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/fruitvale/fence-rules/"},{"place":"ca/bc/trail","name":"Trail","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/trail/fence-rules/"},{"place":"ca/bc/warfield","name":"Warfield","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/warfield/fence-rules/"},{"place":"ca/bc/rossland","name":"Rossland","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/rossland/fence-rules/"},{"place":"ca/bc/montrose","name":"Montrose","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/montrose/fence-rules/"},{"place":"ca/bc/nelson","name":"Nelson","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/nelson/fence-rules/"}],"topic":{"title":"Fence height limits in British Columbia, by municipality","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/fence-rules/"},"facts":{"permit":{"label":"Permit","value":"No building permit is needed for a fence, but it must meet the height limits in the Zoning Bylaw. A pool or the fence around a pool does need a building permit.","short":"No building permit","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://castlegar.ca/planning-building-business/construction-permits/apply-for-a-building-permit/","title":"Apply for a Building Permit, City of Castlegar","section":"What can I do without a building permit?","quotes":["Fences (must meet height limits in the Zoning Bylaw)"]},{"url":"https://castlegar.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Bylaw-1338-Consolidated-Building.pdf","title":"Building Bylaw 1338 (consolidated, PDF), City of Castlegar","section":"s. 8.1","quotes":["construction of a pool or fencing around a pool;"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"height_front":{"label":"Height, front yard","value":"1.2 m in residential (R, CPA), rural cultural (RC) and commercial (C) zones. 1.8 m in public (P) and industrial (I) zones.","short":"1.2 m (1.8 m in public, industrial)","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://castlegar.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Consolidated.Branded.Bylaw_.1428-Zoning-Bylaw.pdf","title":"Zoning Bylaw 1428 (consolidated, PDF), City of Castlegar","section":"s. 4.2.1, Table 1","quotes":["Table 1: Maximum Height of Fence or Screening","Front Yard 1.2 m 1.8 m 1.8 m"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"height_side_rear":{"label":"Height, side and rear yards","value":"Rear yard and interior side yards: 1.8 m in residential, rural cultural, commercial and public zones; 2.4 m in industrial zones. Exterior side yard: 1.2 m in residential, rural cultural and commercial zones; 1.8 m in public and industrial zones.","short":"1.8 m (1.2 m on exterior side yard)","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://castlegar.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Consolidated.Branded.Bylaw_.1428-Zoning-Bylaw.pdf","title":"Zoning Bylaw 1428 (consolidated, PDF), City of Castlegar","section":"s. 4.2.1, Table 1","quotes":["Exterior Side Yard 1.2 m 1.8 m 1.8 m","Rear Yard and 1.8 m 1.8 m 2.4 m"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"corner_lots":{"label":"Corner lots and sightlines","value":"Within the 6.0 m intersection sight triangle on a corner lot, no fence or screening may be higher than 1.2 m. On lots fronting an arterial highway, sight triangles follow the Transportation Act.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://castlegar.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Consolidated.Branded.Bylaw_.1428-Zoning-Bylaw.pdf","title":"Zoning Bylaw 1428 (consolidated, PDF), City of Castlegar","section":"s. 3.3.3","quotes":["a) The Intersection Sight Triangle shall be interpreted as the horizontal distance of 6.0m,","c) No Fence or Screening within the Intersection Sight Triangle shall be erected to a","Height greater than 1.2m;"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"other_rules":{"label":"Other rules","value":"Height is measured from grade within 1.0 m of both sides. Retaining walls: 1.2 m per tier, tiers 1.2 m apart, two tiers (2.4 m) without an engineer, more if natural grade is lower than the neighbour's; fence on a wall at the lot line 2.0 m combined. Pools need a fenced yard or a 1.5 m barrier with latched gate.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://castlegar.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Consolidated.Branded.Bylaw_.1428-Zoning-Bylaw.pdf","title":"Zoning Bylaw 1428 (consolidated, PDF), City of Castlegar","section":"s. 4.2.2 to 4.2.4","quotes":["not consist of railroad ties.","ground level at the Grade level within 1.0 m of both sides of such Fence or Screening.","must not exceed a Height of 1.2 metres measured from Natural Grade on the lower","combined Height of a Fence on top of a Retaining Wall at the Lot Line or within 1.2","metres of the Lot Line shall not exceed 2.0 metres, measured from Natural Grade at","A Retaining Wall may be higher than 1.2 metres, measured from Finished Grade, where","The swimming pool shall be located within a Fenced yard or be surrounded by a"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"bylaw":{"label":"Bylaw","value":"Zoning Bylaw No. 1428, Part 4, s. 4.2 (Fencing, Screening & Retaining Walls) and s. 3.3.3 (sight triangle)","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://castlegar.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Consolidated.Branded.Bylaw_.1428-Zoning-Bylaw.pdf","title":"Zoning Bylaw 1428 (consolidated, PDF), City of Castlegar","section":"s. 4.2","quotes":["4.2 Fencing, Screening & Retaining Walls"]},{"url":"https://castlegar.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Consolidated.Branded.Bylaw_.1428-Zoning-Bylaw.pdf","title":"Zoning Bylaw 1428 (consolidated, PDF), City of Castlegar","section":"s. 1.1.1","quotes":["This Bylaw may be cited as “Zoning Bylaw No. 1428”."]},{"url":"https://castlegar.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Consolidated.Branded.Bylaw_.1179.Municipal-Ticketing-2.pdf","title":"Municipal Ticketing Bylaw 1179 (consolidated, PDF), City of Castlegar","section":"Schedule B-13","quotes":["Fencing or screening exceeding","maximum height"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}}},"facts_summary":{"total":6,"stated":6,"matched":6,"none":0,"unknown":0},"body_markdown":"## How it works\n\nThe City of Castlegar does not require a building permit for a fence, but the fence must meet the height limits in [Zoning Bylaw 1428](https://castlegar.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Consolidated.Branded.Bylaw_.1428-Zoning-Bylaw.pdf), section 4.2. A pool, or the fence around a pool, does need a building permit under [Building Bylaw 1338](https://castlegar.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Bylaw-1338-Consolidated-Building.pdf).\n\nMaximum heights (Table 1):\n\n- Front yard: 1.2 m in residential, rural cultural and commercial zones; 1.8 m in public and industrial zones.\n- Rear and interior side yards: 1.8 m in residential, rural cultural, commercial and public zones; 2.4 m in industrial zones.\n- Exterior side yard: 1.2 m in residential, rural cultural and commercial zones; 1.8 m in public and industrial zones.\n\n## Steps\n\n1. Work out which yard the fence is in: front, exterior side (facing a street), rear or interior side.\n2. Keep to the maximum height for your zone. Height is measured from grade within 1.0 m of both sides of the fence.\n3. On a corner lot, keep any fence or screening to 1.2 m inside the 6.0 m intersection sight triangle.\n4. Call Development Services (250-365-8964) if your lot is on a cul-de-sac, which has separate heights in Figure 3 of the bylaw, or if you are building a fence on a retaining wall.\n\n## Good to know\n\n- An outdoor pool must be inside a fenced yard or surrounded by a fence or similar barrier at least 1.5 m high with a gate closure and latch.\n- Retaining walls: 1.2 m per tier, with tiers 1.2 m apart. Two tiers (2.4 m) are allowed without an engineer, and more where natural grade is lower than the neighbour's. A fence on a wall at the lot line is limited to 2.0 m combined.\n- Under the Building Bylaw, a retaining wall over 1.5 m needs a building permit. The City's Building Permit Guide says 5 feet, which is out of date.\n- On lots fronting an arterial highway, sight triangles follow the Transportation Act.\n- Exceeding the maximum fence height can bring a municipal ticket of $200 for a first offence and $400 for a second (Municipal Ticketing Bylaw 1179).\n- Properties in the flood, steep slope or riparian development permit areas may have extra rules; ask Development Services.\n- The Zoning Bylaw does not mention barbed wire or electric fences. Check your lot lines first (see property-lines).","sources":[{"url":"https://castlegar.ca/planning-building-business/construction-permits/apply-for-a-building-permit/","title":"Apply for a Building Permit, City of Castlegar","accessed":"2026-11-05"},{"url":"https://castlegar.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Consolidated.Branded.Bylaw_.1428-Zoning-Bylaw.pdf","title":"Zoning Bylaw 1428 (consolidated, PDF), City of Castlegar","accessed":"2026-11-05"},{"url":"https://castlegar.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Bylaw-1338-Consolidated-Building.pdf","title":"Building Bylaw 1338 (consolidated, PDF), City of Castlegar","accessed":"2026-11-05"},{"url":"https://castlegar.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Consolidated.Branded.Bylaw_.1179.Municipal-Ticketing-2.pdf","title":"Municipal Ticketing Bylaw 1179 (consolidated, PDF), City of Castlegar","accessed":"2026-11-05"}],"sources_read":"2026-11-05","review":{"status":"machine_checked","badge":"Checked against official text","label":"Checked by script, not yet by a person: the official wording behind 6 of 6 facts was matched to the official text."},"urls":{"html":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/castlegar/fence-rules/","markdown":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/castlegar/fence-rules.md","json":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/castlegar/fence-rules.json"}}