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

# Clearwater fence rules: permits and height limits

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

**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.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (District of Clearwater, https://www.districtofclearwater.com)  
**Cost:** No fee is stated for a fence.  
**How long:** Not applicable.  
**Where:**
- Phone: TNRD Planning (contracted by the District), 250-377-8673 (Email planning@tnrd.ca.)
- Phone: District of Clearwater office, 250-674-2257 (209 Dutch Lake Road. Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.)

## Key facts

- **Permit:** 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.
  - Source: [Building Regulations Bylaw No. 129, 2014 (PDF, consolidated to May 4, 2021), s. 2 Definitions, "Structure"; s. 1.4(h)](https://districtofclearwater.civicweb.net/document/55537/)
  - Official wording: "but specifically excludes landscaping, fences, paving and" … "(h) the design and construction of retaining walls where the difference in finish"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Height, front yard:** 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.
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 133, 2016 (PDF, consolidated to April 1, 2025), s. 5.11.1(a)](https://districtofclearwater.civicweb.net/document/105297/)
  - Official wording: "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: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Height, side and rear yards:** 2 m (6.5 ft) in the side yard and rear yard in the R-1, R-2 and R-3 zones.
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 133, 2016 (PDF, consolidated to April 1, 2025), s. 5.11.1(b)](https://districtofclearwater.civicweb.net/document/105297/)
  - Official wording: "2 metres (6.5 feet) in the side yard and rear yard."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Corner lots and sightlines:** 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.
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 133, 2016 (PDF, consolidated to April 1, 2025), s. 5.10](https://districtofclearwater.civicweb.net/document/105297/)
  - Official wording: "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: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Other rules:** 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.
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 133, 2016 (PDF, consolidated to April 1, 2025), s. 5.11.2 to 5.11.4](https://districtofclearwater.civicweb.net/document/105297/)
  - Official wording: "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;"
  - Source: [Building Permits and Inspections, District page](https://www.districtofclearwater.com/developers/building-permits-inspections/)
  - Official wording: "construct a retaining wall more than 1.2 metres (4 feet) in height;"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Bylaw:** District of Clearwater Zoning Bylaw No. 133, 2016, s. 5.11 (fence height) and s. 5.10 (corner vision triangle)
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 133, 2016 (PDF, consolidated to April 1, 2025), cover](https://districtofclearwater.civicweb.net/document/105297/)
  - Official wording: "ZONING BYLAW NO. 133, 2016" … "CONSOLIDATED APRIL 1, 2025"
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 133, 2016 (PDF, consolidated to April 1, 2025), s. 5.11](https://districtofclearwater.civicweb.net/document/105297/)
  - Official wording: "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: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08

## How it works

The 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/).

In the R-1, R-2 and R-3 zones:
- **Front yard** (and the part of a side yard that borders a street in front of the main building): 1.2 m (4 ft).
- **Side and rear yards:** 2 m (6.5 ft).

Height is measured from the base of the fence.

## Steps

1. Find your zone (see the zoning-lookup answer).
2. Check the height limit above, and keep the fence out of the corner sightline described below.
3. If you are building a retaining wall over 1.2 m, apply for a building permit through the TNRD (see the building-permit answer).
4. Questions? Call TNRD Planning at 250-377-8673 or the District office at 250-674-2257.

## Good to know

- **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.
- 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 part is at least 2.1 m above the ground.
- The bylaw sets no fence height limit for other zones, such as rural zones, in the sections we read. Ask TNRD Planning.
- We found no rule on electric fences or pool fencing in the Zoning or Building bylaws.

## Official forms and pages

- [Zoning Bylaw No. 133, 2016, s. 5.11 and 5.10 (consolidated)](https://districtofclearwater.civicweb.net/document/105297/)
- [Building Regulations Bylaw No. 129, 2014 (consolidated)](https://districtofclearwater.civicweb.net/document/55537/)

## Related questions

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

## The same question elsewhere

- [Fence height limits in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/fence-rules.md)
- [Barriere](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/barriere/fence-rules.md)
- [Sun Peaks](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/sun-peaks/fence-rules.md)
- [100 Mile House](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/100-mile-house/fence-rules.md)
- [Kamloops](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/kamloops/fence-rules.md)
- [Sicamous](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/sicamous/fence-rules.md)
- [Clinton](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/clinton/fence-rules.md)

## Sources

- [Zoning Bylaw No. 133, 2016 (PDF, consolidated to April 1, 2025)](https://districtofclearwater.civicweb.net/document/105297/) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Building Regulations Bylaw No. 129, 2014 (PDF, consolidated to May 4, 2021)](https://districtofclearwater.civicweb.net/document/55537/) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Building Permits and Inspections, District of Clearwater](https://www.districtofclearwater.com/developers/building-permits-inspections/) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Planning Department, District of Clearwater](https://www.districtofclearwater.com/developers/planning-department/) (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 Clearwater. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/clearwater/fence-rules/_