{"title":"Clearwater 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/clearwater","name":"Clearwater","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":"District of Clearwater","url":"https://www.districtofclearwater.com"},"short_answer":"In Clearwater a fence does not need a building permit. In the R-1, R-2 and R-3 zones a fence can be 1.2 m high in the front yard and 2 m in the side and rear yards. Retaining walls over 1.2 m do need a permit.","aliases":["fence height clearwater","fence permit clearwater","fence bylaw clearwater","how high can my fence be clearwater"],"cost":"No fee is stated for a fence.","how_long":"Not applicable.","where":[{"type":"phone","label":"TNRD Planning (contracted by the District)","value":"250-377-8673","note":"Email planning@tnrd.ca."},{"type":"phone","label":"District of Clearwater office","value":"250-674-2257","note":"209 Dutch Lake Road. Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m."}],"documents":[],"forms":[{"title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 133, 2016, s. 5.11 and 5.10 (consolidated)","url":"https://districtofclearwater.civicweb.net/document/105297/"},{"title":"Building Regulations Bylaw No. 129, 2014 (consolidated)","url":"https://districtofclearwater.civicweb.net/document/55537/"}],"related":[{"slug":"deck-shed-garage-permit","title":"Clearwater permits for decks, sheds, carports and garages","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/clearwater/deck-shed-garage-permit/"},{"slug":"zoning-lookup","title":"Clearwater zoning: find your zone and what it allows","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/clearwater/zoning-lookup/"},{"slug":"building-permit","title":"Clearwater building permits: when you need one and how to apply","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/clearwater/building-permit/"}],"nearby":[{"place":"ca/bc/barriere","name":"Barriere","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/barriere/fence-rules/"},{"place":"ca/bc/sun-peaks","name":"Sun Peaks","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/sun-peaks/fence-rules/"},{"place":"ca/bc/100-mile-house","name":"100 Mile House","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/100-mile-house/fence-rules/"},{"place":"ca/bc/kamloops","name":"Kamloops","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/kamloops/fence-rules/"},{"place":"ca/bc/sicamous","name":"Sicamous","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/sicamous/fence-rules/"},{"place":"ca/bc/clinton","name":"Clinton","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/clinton/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: Building Regulations Bylaw 129 defines a structure as excluding fences. A retaining wall over 1.2 m (4 ft) does need a permit. Zoning Bylaw height and corner-sightline rules still apply.","short":"No building permit","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://districtofclearwater.civicweb.net/document/55537/","title":"Building Regulations Bylaw No. 129, 2014 (PDF, consolidated to May 4, 2021)","section":"s. 2 Definitions, \"Structure\"; s. 1.4(h)","quotes":["but specifically excludes landscaping, fences, paving and","(h) the design and construction of retaining walls where the difference in finish"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}},"height_front":{"label":"Height, front yard","value":"1.2 m (4 ft) in the R-1, R-2 and R-3 zones, in the front yard and the part of a side yard that abuts a street in front of the principal building. Subject to the corner vision triangle.","short":"1.2 m","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://districtofclearwater.civicweb.net/document/105297/","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 133, 2016 (PDF, consolidated to April 1, 2025)","section":"s. 5.11.1(a)","quotes":["the following maximum height restrictions shall apply to fences in the R-1, R-2, R-","1.2 metres (4 feet) in the front yard and that portion of a side yard that abuts a street in"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}},"height_side_rear":{"label":"Height, side and rear yards","value":"2 m (6.5 ft) in the side yard and rear yard in the R-1, R-2 and R-3 zones.","short":"2 m","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://districtofclearwater.civicweb.net/document/105297/","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 133, 2016 (PDF, consolidated to April 1, 2025)","section":"s. 5.11.1(b)","quotes":["2 metres (6.5 feet) in the side yard and rear yard."]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}},"corner_lots":{"label":"Corner lots and sightlines","value":"In a residential zone at a street intersection, no landscaping, building or structure over 1 m (3.3 ft) high (above the established grade of the intersecting street) may be placed in a triangle 6 m (20 ft) along the lot lines from the intersection.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://districtofclearwater.civicweb.net/document/105297/","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 133, 2016 (PDF, consolidated to April 1, 2025)","section":"s. 5.10","quotes":["a lot in a residential zone at the intersection of any","metre (3.3 ft) in height above the established grade","triangular plane 6 metres (20 ft) along the lot lines"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}},"other_rules":{"label":"Other rules","value":"Height is measured from the base of the fence. Open mesh or chain link fences for tennis courts, schools, utilities and Civic and Industrial zones may be up to 5 m. Barbed wire is allowed in Commercial, Industrial and Public and Institutional zones if the barbed portion is at least 2.1 m above grade. A building permit is needed for a retaining wall over 1.2 m.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://districtofclearwater.civicweb.net/document/105297/","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 133, 2016 (PDF, consolidated to April 1, 2025)","section":"s. 5.11.2 to 5.11.4","quotes":["The height of a fence shall be measured from the base of the fence.","shall not exceed a height of 5 metres (16.5 ft).","b) barbed fences are permitted in Commercial, Industrial and Public and Institutional zones","provided the barbed wire portion is a minimum of 2.1 metres (7ft) above grade at any point;"]},{"url":"https://www.districtofclearwater.com/developers/building-permits-inspections/","title":"Building Permits and Inspections, District of Clearwater","section":"District page","quotes":["construct a retaining wall more than 1.2 metres (4 feet) in height;"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}},"bylaw":{"label":"Bylaw","value":"District of Clearwater Zoning Bylaw No. 133, 2016, s. 5.11 (fence height) and s. 5.10 (corner vision triangle)","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://districtofclearwater.civicweb.net/document/105297/","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 133, 2016 (PDF, consolidated to April 1, 2025)","section":"cover","quotes":["ZONING BYLAW NO. 133, 2016","CONSOLIDATED APRIL 1, 2025"]},{"url":"https://districtofclearwater.civicweb.net/document/105297/","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 133, 2016 (PDF, consolidated to April 1, 2025)","section":"s. 5.11","quotes":["5.10 CORNER VISION TRIANGLE ........................................................................................................................ 22 5.11 FENCE HEIGHT RESTRICTIONS .................................................................................................................. 23 5.12 LANDSCAPING AND SCREENING REQUIREMENTS ...................................................................................... 23","DISTRICT OF CLEARWATER ZONING BYLAW NO. 133, 2016 CONSOLIDATED APRIL 1, 2025"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}}},"facts_summary":{"total":6,"stated":6,"matched":6,"none":0,"unknown":0},"body_markdown":"## How it works\n\nThe District's [Building Regulations Bylaw No. 129](https://districtofclearwater.civicweb.net/document/55537/) defines a structure as excluding fences, so a fence does not need a building permit. A retaining wall over 1.2 m (4 ft) does. Height rules are in section 5.11 of the [Zoning Bylaw No. 133](https://districtofclearwater.civicweb.net/document/105297/).\n\nIn the R-1, R-2 and R-3 zones:\n- **Front yard** (and the part of a side yard that borders a street in front of the main building): 1.2 m (4 ft).\n- **Side and rear yards:** 2 m (6.5 ft).\n\nHeight is measured from the base of the fence.\n\n## Steps\n\n1. Find your zone (see the zoning-lookup answer).\n2. Check the height limit above, and keep the fence out of the corner sightline described below.\n3. If you are building a retaining wall over 1.2 m, apply for a building permit through the TNRD (see the building-permit answer).\n4. Questions? Call TNRD Planning at 250-377-8673 or the District office at 250-674-2257.\n\n## Good to know\n\n- **Corner lots:** in a residential zone at a street corner, nothing over 1 m (3.3 ft) high may be placed in a triangle 6 m (20 ft) along the lot lines from the intersection. Fences may be placed anywhere on a lot only if they do not block vision at an intersection.\n- Open mesh or chain link fences for tennis courts, schools, utilities and Civic and Industrial zones may be up to 5 m.\n- Barbed wire is allowed in Commercial, Industrial and Public and Institutional zones if the barbed part is at least 2.1 m above the ground.\n- The bylaw sets no fence height limit for other zones, such as rural zones, in the sections we read. Ask TNRD Planning.\n- We found no rule on electric fences or pool fencing in the Zoning or Building bylaws.","sources":[{"url":"https://districtofclearwater.civicweb.net/document/105297/","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 133, 2016 (PDF, consolidated to April 1, 2025)","accessed":"2026-11-08"},{"url":"https://districtofclearwater.civicweb.net/document/55537/","title":"Building Regulations Bylaw No. 129, 2014 (PDF, consolidated to May 4, 2021)","accessed":"2026-11-08"},{"url":"https://www.districtofclearwater.com/developers/building-permits-inspections/","title":"Building Permits and Inspections, District of Clearwater","accessed":"2026-11-08"},{"url":"https://www.districtofclearwater.com/developers/planning-department/","title":"Planning Department, District of Clearwater","accessed":"2026-11-08"}],"sources_read":"2026-11-08","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/clearwater/fence-rules/","markdown":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/clearwater/fence-rules.md","json":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/clearwater/fence-rules.json"}}