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Chilliwack fence rules: permits and height limits

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

Chilliwack, British ColumbiaChecked against official textSources read 2026-11-05

Short answer

In Chilliwack an ordinary fence does not need a building permit, but a screening fence over 2 m or a masonry wall over 1.2 m may. The City's Zoning Bylaw sets no residential fence height limit. Pool fences must be at least 1.2 m. Call Planning to confirm.

Key facts

PermitThe Building Regulation Bylaw does not apply to a fence permitted under the Zoning Bylaw, so an ordinary fence needs no building permit. But under the Zoning Bylaw a view-obstructing screening fence may need a building permit if over 2 m high, and masonry or concrete walls over 1.2 m high may need one.Building Regulation Bylaw 2003, No. 2970 (PDF, consolidated March 16, 2021), s. 15(1); Zoning Bylaw 2020, No. 5000, s. 4.09(3)(h)(iv)-(v) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-05
Official wording
a fence permitted to be constructed under the City’s Zoning Bylaw, in force from
masonry or concrete walls exceeding 1.2m in HEIGHT may require a BUILDING PERMIT
may require a BUILDING PERMIT if they exceed 2m in HEIGHT.
Height, front yardNone set. The City's Zoning Bylaw 5000 sets no maximum fence height for front, side or rear yards in residential zones.Read: Zoning Bylaw 2020, No. 5000
Height, side and rear yardsNone set. The City's Zoning Bylaw 5000 sets no maximum fence height for front, side or rear yards in residential zones.Read: Zoning Bylaw 2020, No. 5000
Corner lots and sightlinesNo fixed fence height for corner lots, but the Highway and Traffic Bylaw 2019, No. 4686, s. 17 says no owner or occupier of real property shall allow any obstruction to the line of vision from a highway intersection between 0.5 m and 3 m above the average height of the crown of the highway if it reduces the sight distance below the minimum in Schedule 7 (for example 45 m stopping sight distance at 40 km/h, 65 m at 50 km/h). The City reviews intersection visibility on a complaint basis.Zoning Bylaw 2020, No. 5000, s. 4.03(1)(b); Highway and Traffic Bylaw 2019, No. 4686, s. 17 and Schedule 7 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-05
Official wording
A HIGHWAY access or egress driveway that is within 7.5m of the point of intersection of the road
17. No owner or occupier of real property shall allow any obstruction to the line of vision from a
Highway Intersection between the height of 0.5m and 3m above the average height of the
crown of a Highway if the obstruction reduces the sight distance to less than the minimum set
Other rulesLivestock fences must not be barbed wire or electrified unless the zone permits livestock; electrified fences cannot run along lot lines next to a residential zone or a zone readily permitting public access. Security fences are allowed in all zones, with barbed wire or other potentially injurious elements at least 2 m above ground. Pool fences (pools over 9 m2 and deeper than 45 cm): at least 1.2 m high, no openings over 10 cm, gate self-closing with a locking latch; a certified safety cover may be used instead of a fence. Retaining walls over 1.22 m (4 ft) need a building permit and registered professional design (Building Regulation Bylaw s. 133-134); walls supporting soil under 4 feet on single-family parcels are exempt (s. 15(2)). The bylaws set no rule for how fence height is measured.Zoning Bylaw 2020, No. 5000, s. 4.09(1)(a)-(b); Swimming Pool Enclosure Bylaw 2011, No. 3811, s. 4(1)-(2); Building Regulation Bylaw 2003, No. 2970 (PDF, consolidated March 16, 2021), s. 5 definition 'retaining wall'; ss. 133-134 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-05
Official wording
fences shall not be constructed of barbed wire nor electrified, unless located in a ZONE
electrified fences may not be located along LOT LINES adjacent to a Residential ZONE or a
SECURITY FENCES are permitted in all ZONES but, barbed wire or other potentially injurious
have a minimum height of 1.2m;
have no openings greater than 10cm; and
have a self-closing and locking latch; and
if the wall exceeds 1.22m (4ft) in height above the lesser of natural or finished
134. No person may construct, or structurally repair, a retaining wall without a valid and
BylawZoning Bylaw 2020, No. 5000, s. 4.09 (Fencing, Landscaping, Screening); Building Regulation Bylaw 2003, No. 2970, s. 15(1) (fences) and ss. 133-134 (retaining walls); Swimming Pool Enclosure Bylaw 2011, No. 3811, s. 4; Highway and Traffic Bylaw 2019, No. 4686, s. 17 (sightlines at intersections)Zoning Bylaw 2020, No. 5000, s. 4.09; Building Regulation Bylaw 2003, No. 2970 (PDF, consolidated March 16, 2021), s. 15(1); Swimming Pool Enclosure Bylaw 2011, No. 3811, s. 4; Highway and Traffic Bylaw 2019, No. 4686, s. 17 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-05
Official wording
4.09 FENCING, LANDSCAPING, SCREENING
This Bylaw does not apply to:
Every owner of a swimming pool shall ensure that the swimming pool is
17. No owner or occupier of real property shall allow any obstruction to the line of vision from a

How it works

The City of Chilliwack's Building Regulation Bylaw does not apply to a fence permitted under the Zoning Bylaw, so an ordinary fence needs no building permit. The Zoning Bylaw adds that a view-obstructing screening fence over 2 m high, or a masonry or concrete wall over 1.2 m high, may need one. These screening rules mainly cover required screening, such as between commercial and residential zones.

The City's Zoning Bylaw 5000 sets no maximum fence height for front, side or rear yards in residential zones, and no bylaw says how height is measured. Call Planning to confirm before you build.

Steps

  1. Find your property lines first, since a fence on the wrong side can lead to a dispute.
  2. Call Planning (604-793-2906) to confirm height limits for your zone.
  3. For a retaining wall over 1.22 m (4 feet), or a pool enclosure, ask the Building Department (604-793-2905). Retaining walls over 1.22 m need a building permit and a registered professional's design.

Good to know

  • Swimming pool fences (pools over 9 m² and deeper than 45 cm) must be at least 1.2 m high with no openings over 10 cm. Gates must be 1.2 m high and self-closing with a locking latch. A certified safety cover may be used instead of a fence.
  • Livestock fences must not be barbed wire or electrified unless the zone permits livestock. Security fences are allowed in all zones, with barbed wire or similar elements at least 2 m above ground.
  • Corner lots have no fixed fence height, but the Highway and Traffic Bylaw bars anything that blocks the line of sight at an intersection between 0.5 m and 3 m above the road if it cuts sight distance below the bylaw minimum (for example 45 m at 40 km/h). The City checks this on a complaint basis.
  • Retaining structures under 1.22 m, and walls supporting soil under 4 feet on single-family lots, are exempt from the Building Regulation Bylaw.
  • Under the Community Standards Bylaw, deteriorated fences can count as an unsightly property.

Official forms and pages

The same question in other places

Harrison Hot Springs · Kent · Abbotsford · Mission · Hope · Township of Langley

Fence height limits in British Columbia, by municipality →

Sources

  1. Building Regulation Bylaw 2003, No. 2970 (PDF, consolidated March 16, 2021) (read 2026-11-05)
  2. Zoning Bylaw 2020, No. 5000 (PDF) (read 2026-11-05)
  3. Swimming Pool Enclosure Bylaw 2011, No. 3811 (PDF) (read 2026-11-05)
  4. Highway and Traffic Bylaw 2019, No. 4686 (PDF) (read 2026-11-05)
  5. Property Maintenance, City of Chilliwack (read 2026-11-05)

Checked by script, not yet by a person: the official wording behind 4 of 6 facts was matched to the official text; 2 are recorded as not set. How answers are checked.