Clearwater fence rules: permits and height limits

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

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

How it works

The District's Building Regulations Bylaw No. 129 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.

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.