Colwood fence rules: permits and height limits
Do I need a permit to build a fence, and how high can it be?
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.
Key facts
| Permit | 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.Building Bylaw No. 977 (consolidated to January 22, 2024), s. 1.1.3; Building Fees, Schedule A of the Building Bylaw, Appendix A, A.1(i) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingthe 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 Swimming Pool, Pool and Fence $100.00 |
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| Height, front yard | 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.Land Use Bylaw No. 151 (consolidated to August 24, 2026), s. 5.9.08(3) (R4 zone) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingThe maximum height of a fence within 5m of the front lines of a through lot shall be 1.3 m. |
| Height, side and rear yards | 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.Land Use Bylaw No. 151 (consolidated to August 24, 2026), s. 5.9.08(4) (R4 zone) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingThe 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. |
| Corner lots and sightlines | 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.Land Use Bylaw No. 151 (consolidated to August 24, 2026), s. 2.1.12; Land Use Bylaw No. 151 (consolidated to August 24, 2026), Definitions · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingshrub, 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 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 |
| Other rules | 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.Land Use Bylaw No. 151 (consolidated to August 24, 2026), s. 2.1.20; Building Bylaw No. 977 (consolidated to January 22, 2024), s. 6.2.1 and 6.2.3 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingNo 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 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 |
| Bylaw | 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)Land Use Bylaw No. 151 (consolidated to August 24, 2026), s. 2.1.12, 2.1.20, 5.9.08; Building Bylaw No. 977 (consolidated to January 22, 2024), Whole bylaw · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingColwood Land Use Bylaw No. 151, 1989 Building Bylaw No. 977, 2008 |
How it works
Building Bylaw 977 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.
Land Use Bylaw 151 sets no general front, side or rear yard fence height limit that we found. The only fence heights stated are 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.
- 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.
Some other zones mention fences only as screening, such as a solid decorative fence at least 1.5 m high along lot lines.
Steps
- Check where your property line is before building (see the property lines answer).
- Email building@colwood.ca or planning@colwood.ca, or call 250-478-5999, to confirm the rules for your zone and fence type.
- For a pool fence or a retaining wall over 1.2 m, apply for a building permit.
- Keep corners clear (see below).
Good to know
- 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.
- 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 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.
- The bylaws we read say nothing on how fence height is measured, or on barbed wire or electric fences. Ask the Building Department.
Official forms and pages
The same question in other places
View Royal · Esquimalt · Langford · Victoria · Metchosin · Highlands
Sources
- Land Use Bylaw No. 151 (consolidated to August 24, 2026) (PDF) (read 2026-11-05)
- Building Bylaw No. 977 (consolidated to January 22, 2024) (PDF) (read 2026-11-05)
- Building Fees, Schedule A of the Building Bylaw (PDF) (read 2026-11-05)
- Building Permits, City of Colwood (read 2026-11-05)
Checked by script, not yet by a person: the official wording behind 6 of 6 facts was matched to the official text. How answers are checked.