---
title: "Dawson Creek fence rules: permits and height limits"
question: "Do I need a permit to build a fence, and how high can it be?"
place: Dawson Creek, British Columbia, Canada
place_path: ca/bc/dawson-creek
category: Building, renovating and your property
owner: municipal
owner_body: City of Dawson Creek
sources_read: 2026-11-05
review: machine_checked
canonical: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/dawson-creek/fence-rules/"
json: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/dawson-creek/fence-rules.json"
---

# Dawson Creek fence rules: permits and height limits

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

**Short answer:** Dawson Creek does not require a permit to build a fence, but Zoning Bylaw 4625 sets height limits. On a residential lot, a fence between the front building line and the front property line can be up to 1.2 m (4 ft) high, and elsewhere up to 1.8 m (6 ft).

**Who handles it:** Municipal (City of Dawson Creek, https://www.dawsoncreek.ca)  
**Cost:** No permit fee.  
**Where:**
- Email: Building Inspection (if unsure), buildinginspection@dawsoncreek.ca
- Phone: City Hall, 250-784-3600

## Key facts

- **Permit:** No permit is needed to build a fence, but you must follow the Zoning Bylaw (s. 5.12) and call BC 1 Call and DigShaw before starting.
  - Source: [Building and Renovating, Building a fence](https://www.dawsoncreek.ca/business-development/building-and-renovating/)
  - Official wording: "You do not need a permit to build a fence."
  - Source: [Building and Renovating, Examples of when you do not need a permit](https://www.dawsoncreek.ca/business-development/building-and-renovating/)
  - Official wording: "- fencing - flooring - flower beds and boxes"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Height, front yard:** 1.2 m (4 ft) on residential parcels, for a fence between the front building line and the front parcel line.
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw 4625, 2026, s. 5.12.5(a)](https://dawsoncreek.civicweb.net/document/143791)
  - Official wording: "On any parcel used for residential and comprehensive development purposes:" … "a fence located in the setback between the front building line and the front parcel line shall not exceed 1.2 m in height"
  - Source: [Building and Renovating, Height of fence](https://www.dawsoncreek.ca/business-development/building-and-renovating/)
  - Official wording: "The maximum height is 1.2m (4ft)"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Height, side and rear yards:** 1.8 m (6 ft) on residential parcels, for a fence between the front building line and the rear parcel line (side and rear yards).
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw 4625, 2026, s. 5.12.5(b)](https://dawsoncreek.civicweb.net/document/143791)
  - Official wording: "a fence located in the setback between the front line and the rear parcel line shall not exceed 1.8 m in height"
  - Source: [Building and Renovating, Height of fence](https://www.dawsoncreek.ca/business-development/building-and-renovating/)
  - Official wording: "The maximum height is 1.8m (6ft)"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Corner lots and sightlines:** Within the site clearance triangle at intersections shown in the bylaw, nothing (fence, screening, landscaping) may be taller than 1.0 m above street grade. The City page says within 8 m of the pavement edge at a corner, fences, trees and hedges can be no taller than 1 m.
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw 4625, 2026, s. 5.10.1](https://dawsoncreek.civicweb.net/document/143791)
  - Official wording: "No landscaping, screening, fencing, building, structure or object may be planted or erected to a height greater than 1.0 m above the established grade of the street"
  - Source: [Building and Renovating, Corner properties](https://www.dawsoncreek.ca/business-development/building-and-renovating/)
  - Official wording: "any fence, tree, or hedge within 8m (26ft 3in) of the pavement edge cannot be taller than 1m (3ft 3in) above the pavement of the road." … "Trim branches of trees or shrubs back from the ground level up to a height of 3m (10ft) so they do not hang in this area."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Other rules:** Fence must be on your own property, not City land, rights-of-way or easements. Height is measured from the ground beside the fence (from the bottom of a retaining wall if built on one). Electrified or dangerous fences are banned. Pool fences must be at least 1.83 m (6 ft) high.
  - Source: [Building and Renovating, Height of fence](https://www.dawsoncreek.ca/business-development/building-and-renovating/)
  - Official wording: "Measure the height of your fence from the ground right next to your fence to the highest point of your fence." … "If you are building on top of a retaining wall, measure from the bottom of the wall to the highest point of your fence." … "It cannot be on City property, or any city right-of-way or easement areas."
  - Source: [Property Maintenance Bylaw No. 4190, 2013 (consolidated), s. 3.20](https://dawsoncreek.civicweb.net/document/112534)
  - Official wording: "No person will erect or maintain any fence within the City that is electrically charged or otherwise dangerous in any way."
  - Source: [Building Regulation Bylaw 4287 (consolidated), s. 20.3](https://dawsoncreek.civicweb.net/document/112177)
  - Official wording: "Every swimming pool shall be enclosed within a fence at least 1.83m (6 ft) from the pool and having a minimum height of 1.83m (6 ft)"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Bylaw:** Zoning Bylaw No. 4625, 2026, s. 5.12 (fences) and s. 5.10 (site clearance at intersections)
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw 4625, 2026, s. 1](https://dawsoncreek.civicweb.net/document/143791)
  - Official wording: "This Bylaw may be cited as “ZONING BYLAW NO. 4625, 2026"
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw 4625, 2026, s. 5.12.5](https://dawsoncreek.civicweb.net/document/143791)
  - Official wording: "shall not exceed 1.2 m in height"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06

## How it works

The City says you do not need a permit to build a fence, but you must follow section 5.12 of [Zoning Bylaw 4625](https://dawsoncreek.civicweb.net/document/143791) and call BC 1 Call and DigShaw before starting to locate utilities.

## Steps

1. Measure height from the ground beside the fence to its highest point. On a retaining wall, measure from the bottom of the wall.
2. Keep to the residential limit: 1.2 m (4 ft) between the front building line and the front parcel line, and 1.8 m (6 ft) between the front building line and the rear parcel line (side and rear yards).
3. Keep the fence on your own property. The City says finding your property lines is your responsibility and suggests hiring a BC Land Surveyor.
4. Call BC 1 Call and DigShaw before digging.

## Good to know

- The fence cannot be on City property, a right-of-way or an easement.
- Corner lots: the bylaw says nothing in the site clearance triangle at an intersection (fence, screening or landscaping) may be over 1.0 m above street grade. The City page gives a simpler rule, within 8 m of the pavement edge, 1 m. The bylaw prevails, so confirm with the City.
- Commercial, public and institutional parcels: 1.8 m. Industrial, aviation and agricultural parcels: 1.8 m in front and 2.4 m behind the front building line.
- Electrified or dangerous fences are banned ([Property Maintenance Bylaw 4190](https://dawsoncreek.civicweb.net/document/112534), s. 3.20). Pool fences must be at least 1.83 m (6 ft) high.
- The City has no jurisdiction over shared-fence disputes; those are provincial and civil matters.

## Official forms and pages

- [Zoning Bylaw 4625, section 5.12 Fences and Screening (PDF)](https://dawsoncreek.civicweb.net/document/143791)
- [Dawson Creek Map](https://www.dawsoncreek.ca/business-development/dawson-creek-map/)

## Related questions

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

## The same question elsewhere

- [Fence height limits in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/fence-rules.md)
- [Pouce Coupe](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/pouce-coupe/fence-rules.md)
- [Taylor](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/taylor/fence-rules.md)
- [Fort St. John](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/fort-st-john/fence-rules.md)
- [Chetwynd](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/chetwynd/fence-rules.md)
- [Tumbler Ridge](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/tumbler-ridge/fence-rules.md)
- [Hudson's Hope](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/hudsons-hope/fence-rules.md)

## Sources

- [Building and Renovating, City of Dawson Creek](https://www.dawsoncreek.ca/business-development/building-and-renovating/) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Zoning Bylaw 4625, 2026 (PDF)](https://dawsoncreek.civicweb.net/document/143791) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Building Regulation Bylaw 4287 (consolidated)](https://dawsoncreek.civicweb.net/document/112177) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Property Maintenance Bylaw No. 4190, 2013 (consolidated)](https://dawsoncreek.civicweb.net/document/112534) (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. Gov Handbook is an independent guide, not affiliated with City of Dawson Creek. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/dawson-creek/fence-rules/_