---
title: "Castlegar fence rules: permits and height limits"
question: "Do I need a permit to build a fence, and how high can it be?"
place: Castlegar, British Columbia, Canada
place_path: ca/bc/castlegar
category: Building, renovating and your property
owner: municipal
owner_body: City of Castlegar
sources_read: 2026-11-05
review: machine_checked
canonical: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/castlegar/fence-rules/"
json: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/castlegar/fence-rules.json"
---

# Castlegar fence rules: permits and height limits

**Question:** Do I need a permit to build a fence, and how high can it be?

**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.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (City of Castlegar, https://www.castlegar.ca)  
**Cost:** No permit fee for a fence. A pool fence is covered by the pool building permit.  
**Where:**
- Phone: Development Services, 250-365-8964
- Email: Development Services, devserv@castlegar.ca

## Key facts

- **Permit:** 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.
  - Source: [Apply for a Building Permit, What can I do without a building permit?](https://castlegar.ca/planning-building-business/construction-permits/apply-for-a-building-permit/)
  - Official wording: "Fences (must meet height limits in the Zoning Bylaw)"
  - Source: [Building Bylaw 1338 (consolidated, PDF), s. 8.1](https://castlegar.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Bylaw-1338-Consolidated-Building.pdf)
  - Official wording: "construction of a pool or fencing around a pool;"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Height, front yard:** 1.2 m in residential (R, CPA), rural cultural (RC) and commercial (C) zones. 1.8 m in public (P) and industrial (I) zones.
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw 1428 (consolidated, PDF), s. 4.2.1, Table 1](https://castlegar.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Consolidated.Branded.Bylaw_.1428-Zoning-Bylaw.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Table 1: Maximum Height of Fence or Screening" … "Front Yard 1.2 m 1.8 m 1.8 m"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Height, side and rear yards:** 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.
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw 1428 (consolidated, PDF), s. 4.2.1, Table 1](https://castlegar.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Consolidated.Branded.Bylaw_.1428-Zoning-Bylaw.pdf)
  - Official wording: "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: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Corner lots and sightlines:** 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.
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw 1428 (consolidated, PDF), s. 3.3.3](https://castlegar.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Consolidated.Branded.Bylaw_.1428-Zoning-Bylaw.pdf)
  - Official wording: "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: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Other rules:** 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.
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw 1428 (consolidated, PDF), s. 4.2.2 to 4.2.4](https://castlegar.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Consolidated.Branded.Bylaw_.1428-Zoning-Bylaw.pdf)
  - Official wording: "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: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Bylaw:** Zoning Bylaw No. 1428, Part 4, s. 4.2 (Fencing, Screening & Retaining Walls) and s. 3.3.3 (sight triangle)
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw 1428 (consolidated, PDF), s. 4.2](https://castlegar.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Consolidated.Branded.Bylaw_.1428-Zoning-Bylaw.pdf)
  - Official wording: "4.2 Fencing, Screening & Retaining Walls"
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw 1428 (consolidated, PDF), s. 1.1.1](https://castlegar.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Consolidated.Branded.Bylaw_.1428-Zoning-Bylaw.pdf)
  - Official wording: "This Bylaw may be cited as “Zoning Bylaw No. 1428”."
  - Source: [Municipal Ticketing Bylaw 1179 (consolidated, PDF), Schedule B-13](https://castlegar.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Consolidated.Branded.Bylaw_.1179.Municipal-Ticketing-2.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Fencing or screening exceeding" … "maximum height"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06

## How it works

The 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).

Maximum heights (Table 1):

- Front yard: 1.2 m in residential, rural cultural and commercial zones; 1.8 m in public and industrial zones.
- Rear 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.

## Steps

1. Work out which yard the fence is in: front, exterior side (facing a street), rear or interior side.
2. Keep to the maximum height for your zone. Height is measured from grade within 1.0 m of both sides of the fence.
3. On a corner lot, keep any fence or screening to 1.2 m inside the 6.0 m intersection sight triangle.
4. 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.

## Good to know

- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- On lots fronting an arterial highway, sight triangles follow the Transportation Act.
- 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).
- Properties in the flood, steep slope or riparian development permit areas may have extra rules; ask Development Services.
- The Zoning Bylaw does not mention barbed wire or electric fences. Check your lot lines first (see property-lines).

## What you'll need

- Your lot's survey or lot lines (see property-lines) to place the fence correctly

## Official forms and pages

- [Zoning Bylaw 1428 (PDF), section 4.2 Fencing, Screening and Retaining Walls](https://castlegar.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Consolidated.Branded.Bylaw_.1428-Zoning-Bylaw.pdf)
- [Building Bylaw 1338 (PDF)](https://castlegar.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Bylaw-1338-Consolidated-Building.pdf)

## Related questions

- [Castlegar building permits: when you need one and how to apply](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/castlegar/building-permit.md)
- [Castlegar permits for decks, sheds, carports and garages](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/castlegar/deck-shed-garage-permit.md)
- [Castlegar zoning: find your zone and what it allows](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/castlegar/zoning-lookup.md)

## The same question elsewhere

- [Fence height limits in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/fence-rules.md)
- [Fruitvale](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/fruitvale/fence-rules.md)
- [Trail](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/trail/fence-rules.md)
- [Warfield](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/warfield/fence-rules.md)
- [Rossland](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/rossland/fence-rules.md)
- [Montrose](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/montrose/fence-rules.md)
- [Nelson](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/nelson/fence-rules.md)

## Sources

- [Apply for a Building Permit, City of Castlegar](https://castlegar.ca/planning-building-business/construction-permits/apply-for-a-building-permit/) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Zoning Bylaw 1428 (consolidated, PDF), City of Castlegar](https://castlegar.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Consolidated.Branded.Bylaw_.1428-Zoning-Bylaw.pdf) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Building Bylaw 1338 (consolidated, PDF), City of Castlegar](https://castlegar.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Bylaw-1338-Consolidated-Building.pdf) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Municipal Ticketing Bylaw 1179 (consolidated, PDF), City of Castlegar](https://castlegar.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Consolidated.Branded.Bylaw_.1179.Municipal-Ticketing-2.pdf) (read 2026-11-05)

_Checked by script, not yet by a person: the official wording behind 6 of 6 facts was matched to the official text. Gov Handbook is an independent guide, not affiliated with City of Castlegar. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/castlegar/fence-rules/_