---
title: "Chetwynd fence rules: permits and height limits"
question: "Do I need a permit to build a fence in Chetwynd, and how high can it be?"
place: Chetwynd, British Columbia, Canada
place_path: ca/bc/chetwynd
category: Building, renovating and your property
owner: municipal
owner_body: District of Chetwynd
sources_read: 2026-11-08
review: machine_checked
canonical: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/chetwynd/fence-rules/"
json: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/chetwynd/fence-rules.json"
---

# Chetwynd fence rules: permits and height limits

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

**Short answer:** In Chetwynd you do not need a building permit for a fence that follows the Zoning Bylaw. In residential and rural zones a front-yard fence can be 1.0 m (3 ft) high and a side or rear fence 1.8 m (6 ft). Fences must also meet front yard setbacks.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (District of Chetwynd, https://www.gochetwynd.com)  
**Cost:** No permit fee: no fence permit was found in the bylaws.  
**How long:** Not applicable; no fence permit is required.  
**Where:**
- Phone: District of Chetwynd (Municipal Office), 250-401-4100 (Ask the Building Inspector or Engineering about fence questions.)
- In person: Municipal Office, 5400 Hospital Road, Chetwynd, BC V0C 1J0 (Monday to Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (closed statutory holidays).)

## Key facts

- **Permit:** No building permit is needed for a fence. The District's guide says this holds for fences that follow the Zoning Bylaw's requirements.
  - Source: [Building Bylaw No. 973, 2012, consolidated to Bylaw 1028, s. 3.8(d)](https://www.gochetwynd.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/Building-Bylaw-No.-973-2012-Consolidated-Version-for-website-Oct-6-2015.pdf)
  - Official wording: "this Bylaw does not apply to:" … "fences;"
  - Source: [Building Permit Guide, October 2024, Guide, "Exceptions"](https://www.gochetwynd.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Building-Permit-Guide_Chetwynd_October-2024.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Fences in accordance with the Zoning Bylaw requirements."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Height, front yard:** In R and RU zones, no fence may exceed 1.0 m (3 ft) in a front yard.
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 1150, 2023, with Amendment 1162 and maps, s. 4.14(1)(j)](https://www.gochetwynd.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/BL1150-Chetwynd-Zoning-Bylaw-No.-1150-2023-with-1162-and-maps-1.pdf)
  - Official wording: "In R and RU zones:" … "no fence will exceed a height of 1.8 m (6 ft) in a side or rear yard and 1.0 m (3 ft) in a front yard"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Height, side and rear yards:** In R and RU zones, 1.8 m (6 ft) in a side or rear yard. In M and AG zones, 2.4 m (8 ft) in a side or rear yard.
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 1150, 2023, with Amendment 1162 and maps, s. 4.14(1)(j) and (k)](https://www.gochetwynd.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/BL1150-Chetwynd-Zoning-Bylaw-No.-1150-2023-with-1162-and-maps-1.pdf)
  - Official wording: "no fence will exceed a height of 1.8 m (6 ft) in a side or rear yard" … "In M and AG zones (see Table 6), no fence will exceed a height of 2.4 m (8 ft) in a side or rear yard."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Corner lots and sightlines:** At intersections, fencing may not be erected to a height greater than 1 m (3 ft) above the established grade of the highway 'within the space' (vision clearance).
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 1150, 2023, with Amendment 1162 and maps, s. 4.20](https://www.gochetwynd.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/BL1150-Chetwynd-Zoning-Bylaw-No.-1150-2023-with-1162-and-maps-1.pdf)
  - Official wording: "No landscaping, screening, fencing, building, structure, or object may be planted or erected to a height" … "greater than 1 m (3 ft) above the established grade of the highway within the space."
  - Source: [Property Maintenance and Unsightly Premises Bylaw No. 912, 2009, s. 4.8](https://www.gochetwynd.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/Property-Maintenance-Unsightly-Premises-Bylaw-No.-912-2009.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Buildings, landscaping or structures at intersections must be in accordance with"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Other rules:** Height is measured from the average grade within 1 m of both sides of the fence (from the ground a retaining wall supports, if on the parcel line). Fences must meet front yard setbacks and be kept painted or stained and in repair. Pool fence: at least 1.2 m high with a self-closing gate. No barbed wire or electric fence rule found.
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 1150, 2023, with Amendment 1162 and maps, s. 4.14(1)(c)-(e)](https://www.gochetwynd.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/BL1150-Chetwynd-Zoning-Bylaw-No.-1150-2023-with-1162-and-maps-1.pdf)
  - Official wording: "A fence or wall must conform to the applicable front yard setback provisions." … "The height of a fence or wall will be determined by measurement from the average grade level within 1" … "will be determined by measuring from the surface of the ground that the retaining wall supports at the"
  - Source: [Property Maintenance and Unsightly Premises Bylaw No. 912, 2009, s. 4.7](https://www.gochetwynd.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/Property-Maintenance-Unsightly-Premises-Bylaw-No.-912-2009.pdf)
  - Official wording: "An owner of a fence shall paint or stain and maintain the fence in good" … "condition and repair."
  - Source: [Building Bylaw No. 973, 2012, consolidated to Bylaw 1028, s. 8.6](https://www.gochetwynd.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/Building-Bylaw-No.-973-2012-Consolidated-Version-for-website-Oct-6-2015.pdf)
  - Official wording: "an enclosed fence not less than 1.2 meters in height with no openings greater than 100mm" … "a self-closing gate so designed and installed as to cause the gate to return to a locked position automatically"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Bylaw:** Zoning Bylaw No. 1150, 2023, s. 4.14 (Screening and Fencing) and s. 4.20 (Vision Clearance at Intersections).
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 1150, 2023, with Amendment 1162 and maps, Title](https://www.gochetwynd.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/BL1150-Chetwynd-Zoning-Bylaw-No.-1150-2023-with-1162-and-maps-1.pdf)
  - Official wording: "1. This Bylaw may be cited as “Zoning Bylaw No. 1150, 2023”." … "4.14 Screening and Fencing" … "4.20 Vision Clearance at Intersections"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08

## How it works

Fence rules are in section 4.14 of the District of Chetwynd's [Zoning Bylaw No. 1150](https://www.gochetwynd.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/BL1150-Chetwynd-Zoning-Bylaw-No.-1150-2023-with-1162-and-maps-1.pdf). The Building Bylaw does not require a permit for fences, and the District's guide says the same for fences that follow the Zoning Bylaw. A retaining structure 1.5 m or higher does need a building permit. Height is measured from the average grade within 1 m of both sides of the fence.

Height limits:

- R and RU zones: 1.0 m (3 ft) in a front yard; 1.8 m (6 ft) in a side or rear yard.
- M and AG zones: 2.4 m (8 ft) in a side or rear yard.
- Open mesh or chain-link fences in M zones, parks and school areas can be up to 4.0 m (13 ft).

## Steps

1. Find your zone (see the zoning-lookup answer) and check the height for your yard.
2. Keep the fence within the front yard setback and under the height limit.
3. Call 250-401-4100 if your lot is a corner lot, a different zone, or you are unsure.

## Good to know

- At intersections, fencing may not be higher than 1 m (3 ft) above the established grade of the highway within the vision clearance space. The bylaw text does not give the size of that space.
- Fences must be kept painted or stained and in repair. The ticket for failing to maintain a fence is $50.
- A pool fence must be at least 1.2 m high with a self-closing gate.
- Storage yards must be screened by a 2.4 m (8 ft) tight board fence or solid wall, or a hedge at least 1.8 m (6 ft) high.
- The bylaw does not set a front-yard height in other zones, and no rule on barbed wire or electric fences was found. The zoning table lists agricultural land (AG) under both height rules, so ask the District which applies.

## Official forms and pages

- [Zoning Bylaw No. 1150, 2023 (PDF)](https://www.gochetwynd.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/BL1150-Chetwynd-Zoning-Bylaw-No.-1150-2023-with-1162-and-maps-1.pdf)

## Related questions

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

## The same question elsewhere

- [Fence height limits in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/fence-rules.md)
- [Hudson's Hope](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/hudsons-hope/fence-rules.md)
- [Tumbler Ridge](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/tumbler-ridge/fence-rules.md)
- [Fort St. John](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/fort-st-john/fence-rules.md)
- [Taylor](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/taylor/fence-rules.md)
- [Dawson Creek](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/dawson-creek/fence-rules.md)
- [Pouce Coupe](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/pouce-coupe/fence-rules.md)

## Sources

- [Zoning Bylaw No. 1150, 2023, with Amendment 1162 and maps (PDF), District of Chetwynd](https://www.gochetwynd.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/BL1150-Chetwynd-Zoning-Bylaw-No.-1150-2023-with-1162-and-maps-1.pdf) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Building Bylaw No. 973, 2012, consolidated to Bylaw 1028 (PDF), District of Chetwynd](https://www.gochetwynd.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/Building-Bylaw-No.-973-2012-Consolidated-Version-for-website-Oct-6-2015.pdf) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Building Permit Guide, October 2024 (PDF), District of Chetwynd](https://www.gochetwynd.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Building-Permit-Guide_Chetwynd_October-2024.pdf) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Property Maintenance and Unsightly Premises Bylaw No. 912, 2009 (PDF), District of Chetwynd](https://www.gochetwynd.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/Property-Maintenance-Unsightly-Premises-Bylaw-No.-912-2009.pdf) (read 2026-11-08)

_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 District of Chetwynd. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/chetwynd/fence-rules/_