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Chetwynd fence rules: permits and height limits

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

Chetwynd, British ColumbiaChecked against official textSources read 2026-11-08

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.

Key facts

PermitNo building permit is needed for a fence. The District's guide says this holds for fences that follow the Zoning Bylaw's requirements.Building Bylaw No. 973, 2012, consolidated to Bylaw 1028, s. 3.8(d); Building Permit Guide, October 2024, Guide, "Exceptions" · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
Official wording
this Bylaw does not apply to:
fences;
Fences in accordance with the Zoning Bylaw requirements.
Height, front yardIn R and RU zones, no fence may exceed 1.0 m (3 ft) in a front yard.Zoning Bylaw No. 1150, 2023, with Amendment 1162 and maps, s. 4.14(1)(j) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
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
Height, side and rear yardsIn 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.Zoning Bylaw No. 1150, 2023, with Amendment 1162 and maps, s. 4.14(1)(j) and (k) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
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.
Corner lots and sightlinesAt 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).Zoning Bylaw No. 1150, 2023, with Amendment 1162 and maps, s. 4.20; Property Maintenance and Unsightly Premises Bylaw No. 912, 2009, s. 4.8 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
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.
Buildings, landscaping or structures at intersections must be in accordance with
Other rulesHeight 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.Zoning Bylaw No. 1150, 2023, with Amendment 1162 and maps, s. 4.14(1)(c)-(e); Property Maintenance and Unsightly Premises Bylaw No. 912, 2009, s. 4.7; Building Bylaw No. 973, 2012, consolidated to Bylaw 1028, s. 8.6 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
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
An owner of a fence shall paint or stain and maintain the fence in good
condition and repair.
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
BylawZoning Bylaw No. 1150, 2023, s. 4.14 (Screening and Fencing) and s. 4.20 (Vision Clearance at Intersections).Zoning Bylaw No. 1150, 2023, with Amendment 1162 and maps, Title · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
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

How it works

Fence rules are in section 4.14 of the District of Chetwynd's Zoning Bylaw No. 1150. 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

The same question in other places

Hudson's Hope · Tumbler Ridge · Fort St. John · Taylor · Dawson Creek · Pouce Coupe

Fence height limits in British Columbia, by municipality →

Sources

  1. Zoning Bylaw No. 1150, 2023, with Amendment 1162 and maps (PDF), District of Chetwynd (read 2026-11-08)
  2. Building Bylaw No. 973, 2012, consolidated to Bylaw 1028 (PDF), District of Chetwynd (read 2026-11-08)
  3. Building Permit Guide, October 2024 (PDF), District of Chetwynd (read 2026-11-08)
  4. Property Maintenance and Unsightly Premises Bylaw No. 912, 2009 (PDF), District of Chetwynd (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. How answers are checked.