{"title":"Colwood 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/colwood","name":"Colwood","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":"City of Colwood","url":"https://www.colwood.ca"},"short_answer":"In Colwood an ordinary fence does not need a building permit, but a fence around a swimming pool does, and so do retaining walls over 1.2 m. The bylaws we read set no general fence height limit; the only limits found are in the R4 zone. Confirm with the Building Department.","aliases":["fence height colwood","colwood fence bylaw","pool fence permit colwood","neighbour fence colwood"],"cost":"No permit fee for an ordinary fence. A swimming pool and fence permit is $100.","how_long":null,"where":[{"type":"email","label":"Building Department","value":"building@colwood.ca"},{"type":"email","label":"Planning (zoning)","value":"planning@colwood.ca"},{"type":"phone","label":"City Hall","value":"250-478-5999"}],"documents":[],"forms":[{"title":"Land Use Bylaw 151 (PDF)","url":"https://colwood.civicweb.net/document/1999"},{"title":"Building Bylaw 977 (PDF)","url":"https://colwood.civicweb.net/document/164"}],"related":[{"slug":"building-permit","title":"Colwood building permits: when you need one and how to apply","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/colwood/building-permit/"},{"slug":"deck-shed-garage-permit","title":"Colwood permits for decks, sheds, carports and garages","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/colwood/deck-shed-garage-permit/"}],"nearby":[{"place":"ca/bc/view-royal","name":"View Royal","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/view-royal/fence-rules/"},{"place":"ca/bc/esquimalt","name":"Esquimalt","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/esquimalt/fence-rules/"},{"place":"ca/bc/langford","name":"Langford","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/langford/fence-rules/"},{"place":"ca/bc/victoria","name":"Victoria","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/victoria/fence-rules/"},{"place":"ca/bc/metchosin","name":"Metchosin","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/metchosin/fence-rules/"},{"place":"ca/bc/highlands","name":"Highlands","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/highlands/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":"The Building Bylaw does not require a building permit for an ordinary fence: it defines 'structure' to exclude fences. A fence enclosing a swimming pool needs a building permit (pool and fence fee $100), as do retaining walls over 1.2 m high. Confirm with the Building Department.","short":"No building permit (yes for pool fences)","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://colwood.civicweb.net/document/164","title":"Building Bylaw No. 977 (consolidated to January 22, 2024) (PDF)","section":"s. 1.1.3","quotes":["the construction or alteration of a fence that encloses a swimming pool or pool ladder or access point","retaining walls over 1.2 metres in height","excludes landscaping, fences, paving, and retaining structures less than 1.2 metres in height","Every application for a building permit for a fence enclosing a pool, ladder, or access point to a pool"]},{"url":"https://www.colwood.ca/sites/default/files/2024-06/Building%20Fees%20-%20Schedule%20A%20of%20the%20Building%20Bylaw.pdf","title":"Building Fees, Schedule A of the Building Bylaw (PDF)","section":"Appendix A, A.1(i)","quotes":["Swimming Pool, Pool and Fence $100.00"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"height_front":{"label":"Height, front yard","value":"The only stated limit is in the R4 zone: a fence within 5 m of the front lot lines of a through lot may be at most 1.3 m high. No general front-yard fence limit found.","short":"No general limit found","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://colwood.civicweb.net/document/1999","title":"Land Use Bylaw No. 151 (consolidated to August 24, 2026) (PDF)","section":"s. 5.9.08(3) (R4 zone)","quotes":["The maximum height of a fence within 5m of the front lines of a through lot shall be 1.3 m."]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"height_side_rear":{"label":"Height, side and rear yards","value":"No general side or rear yard fence height limit found. R4 zone only: a fence on a rear lot line where a detached dwelling backs on to a park may be at most 5 m high, as the bylaw is written.","short":"No general limit found","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://colwood.civicweb.net/document/1999","title":"Land Use Bylaw No. 151 (consolidated to August 24, 2026) (PDF)","section":"s. 5.9.08(4) (R4 zone)","quotes":["The maximum height of a fence on a rear lot line where a detached dwelling use backs on to a park use shall be 5 m."]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"corner_lots":{"label":"Corner lots and sightlines","value":"At an intersection of highways 6 m or more wide, no fence or other structure wider than 0.6 m may be placed within the sight triangle (6 m along each road boundary from the corner) if it blocks the view: an eye 0.9 m above one road must see an object 0.9 m above the other.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://colwood.civicweb.net/document/1999","title":"Land Use Bylaw No. 151 (consolidated to August 24, 2026) (PDF)","section":"s. 2.1.12","quotes":["shrub, plant, fence or other structure with horizontal dimension exceeding 0.6 m within the sight triangle","above an elevation such that an eye 0.9 m above the surface elevation of one highway cannot see an object","0.9 m above the surface elevation of the other highway"]},{"url":"https://colwood.civicweb.net/document/1999","title":"Land Use Bylaw No. 151 (consolidated to August 24, 2026) (PDF)","section":"Definitions","quotes":["means the area formed by a triangle in the angle formed by the highway right of way boundaries or boundaries produced and two points on those boundaries 6m from the point of intersection"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"other_rules":{"label":"Other rules","value":"Retaining walls: 1.2 m maximum; a series of walls must be spaced at a maximum 1:1 ratio of height to horizontal separation. Pool fences: close boarded lumber, chain link, solid masonry or 9 mm plywood; at least 1.5 m high; no more than 10 cm gap under it; openings 5 cm or less; self-latching gates. Nothing found on barbed wire or electric fences.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://colwood.civicweb.net/document/1999","title":"Land Use Bylaw No. 151 (consolidated to August 24, 2026) (PDF)","section":"s. 2.1.20","quotes":["No portion of a retaining wall may exceed a height of 1.2 meters.","walls must be spaced at a maximum 1:1 ratio of height to horizontal separation"]},{"url":"https://colwood.civicweb.net/document/164","title":"Building Bylaw No. 977 (consolidated to January 22, 2024) (PDF)","section":"s. 6.2.1 and 6.2.3","quotes":["Every fence and gate which encloses a pool shall be not less than 1.5 metres ( 4.9 feet) in height above the ground at any point","having no openings greater than 5cm (2 inches)","All gates to a pool shall be operated by self-latching spring hinge","Every pool shall be enclosed within a fence constructed of close boarded lumber, chain link wire, solid","clear the ground by not more than 10cm ( 4 inches) at any point"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"bylaw":{"label":"Bylaw","value":"Land Use Bylaw No. 151, 1989 (s. 2.1.12 sight triangle, s. 2.1.20 retaining walls, s. 5.9.08 R4 zone); Building Bylaw No. 977, 2008 (s. 1.1.3, Part 6 pools)","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://colwood.civicweb.net/document/1999","title":"Land Use Bylaw No. 151 (consolidated to August 24, 2026) (PDF)","section":"s. 2.1.12, 2.1.20, 5.9.08","quotes":["Colwood Land Use Bylaw No. 151, 1989"]},{"url":"https://colwood.civicweb.net/document/164","title":"Building Bylaw No. 977 (consolidated to January 22, 2024) (PDF)","section":"Whole bylaw","quotes":["Building Bylaw No. 977, 2008"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}}},"facts_summary":{"total":6,"stated":6,"matched":6,"none":0,"unknown":0},"body_markdown":"## How it works\n\n[Building Bylaw 977](https://colwood.civicweb.net/document/164) does not require a building permit for an ordinary fence, because it defines \"structure\" to leave fences out. It does require a permit for a fence that encloses a swimming pool (the pool and fence fee is $100) and for retaining walls over 1.2 m high. Confirm with the Building Department for your project.\n\n[Land Use Bylaw 151](https://colwood.civicweb.net/document/1999) sets no general front, side or rear yard fence height limit that we found. The only fence heights stated are in the R4 zone:\n\n- A fence within 5 m of the front lot lines of a through lot may be at most 1.3 m high.\n- A fence on a rear lot line where a detached dwelling backs on to a park may be at most 5 m high, as the bylaw is written. That figure looks unusually high, so confirm it with Planning.\n\nSome other zones mention fences only as screening, such as a solid decorative fence at least 1.5 m high along lot lines.\n\n## Steps\n\n1. Check where your property line is before building (see the property lines answer).\n2. Email building@colwood.ca or planning@colwood.ca, or call 250-478-5999, to confirm the rules for your zone and fence type.\n3. For a pool fence or a retaining wall over 1.2 m, apply for a building permit.\n4. Keep corners clear (see below).\n\n## Good to know\n\n- At an intersection of roads 6 m or more wide, no fence or other structure wider than 0.6 m may block the view in the sight triangle (6 m along each road boundary from the corner). An eye 0.9 m above one road must see an object 0.9 m above the other. A bylaw notice for impairing visibility is $100, and a municipal ticket is $100.\n- Retaining walls: 1.2 m maximum. A series of walls must be spaced at a maximum 1:1 ratio of height to horizontal separation.\n- Pool fences must be close boarded lumber, chain link, solid masonry or 9 mm plywood, at least 1.5 m high, with no more than a 10 cm gap under it, openings of 5 cm or less, and self-latching gates. These rules apply to private pools, hot tubs and spas 0.6 m or deeper. A pool rim 1.5 m or more above grade needs only a fence around the ladder or access points.\n- The bylaws we read say nothing on how fence height is measured, or on barbed wire or electric fences. Ask the Building Department.","sources":[{"url":"https://colwood.civicweb.net/document/1999","title":"Land Use Bylaw No. 151 (consolidated to August 24, 2026) (PDF)","accessed":"2026-11-05"},{"url":"https://colwood.civicweb.net/document/164","title":"Building Bylaw No. 977 (consolidated to January 22, 2024) (PDF)","accessed":"2026-11-05"},{"url":"https://www.colwood.ca/sites/default/files/2024-06/Building%20Fees%20-%20Schedule%20A%20of%20the%20Building%20Bylaw.pdf","title":"Building Fees, Schedule A of the Building Bylaw (PDF)","accessed":"2026-11-05"},{"url":"https://www.colwood.ca/business-building-development/building/building-permits","title":"Building Permits, City of Colwood","accessed":"2026-11-05"}],"sources_read":"2026-11-05","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/colwood/fence-rules/","markdown":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/colwood/fence-rules.md","json":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/colwood/fence-rules.json"}}