{"title":"Fort St. John 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/fort-st-john","name":"Fort St. John","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 Fort St. John","url":"https://www.fortstjohn.ca"},"short_answer":"No building permit is needed for a fence in Fort St. John. The Zoning Bylaw still sets the rules: in residential, commercial and institutional zones a fence can be 1.2 m high in a front yard and 1.8 m in a side or rear yard. Chain link is banned in residential zones.","aliases":["fence height fort st john","fence bylaw fort st john","backyard fence permit","chain link fence"],"cost":"No permit fee for an ordinary fence.","how_long":null,"where":[{"type":"phone","label":"City of Fort St. John","value":"250-787-8150","note":"Ask Building or Development Services staff to check your lot."},{"type":"online","label":"Fort St. John Interactive Map (parcel and zoning)","value":"https://gisapp.fortstjohn.ca/vertigisstudio/web/?app=b9231f6939714739abd23dd7d08c19ae"}],"documents":[],"forms":[{"title":"Zoning Bylaw 2470, 2019, section 4.13 Fencing (PDF)","url":"https://www.fortstjohn.ca/media/file/zoning-bylaw"},{"title":"Building Bylaw 2589, 2024 (PDF)","url":"https://www.fortstjohn.ca/media/file/building-bylaw"}],"related":[{"slug":"deck-shed-garage-permit","title":"Fort St. John permits for decks, sheds, carports and garages","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/fort-st-john/deck-shed-garage-permit/"},{"slug":"zoning-lookup","title":"Fort St. John zoning: find your zone and what it allows","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/fort-st-john/zoning-lookup/"},{"slug":"building-permit","title":"Fort St. John building permits: when you need one and how to apply","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/fort-st-john/building-permit/"}],"nearby":[{"place":"ca/bc/taylor","name":"Taylor","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/taylor/fence-rules/"},{"place":"ca/bc/dawson-creek","name":"Dawson Creek","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/dawson-creek/fence-rules/"},{"place":"ca/bc/pouce-coupe","name":"Pouce Coupe","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/pouce-coupe/fence-rules/"},{"place":"ca/bc/hudsons-hope","name":"Hudson's Hope","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/hudsons-hope/fence-rules/"},{"place":"ca/bc/chetwynd","name":"Chetwynd","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/chetwynd/fence-rules/"},{"place":"ca/bc/tumbler-ridge","name":"Tumbler Ridge","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/tumbler-ridge/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":"No building permit is needed for fence construction, repairs or alterations. A security fence (a temporary fence around a complex-building construction site) needs a Security Fence Permit.","short":"No building permit","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.fortstjohn.ca/media/file/building-bylaw","title":"Building Bylaw No. 2589, 2024 (PDF)","section":"s. 16","quotes":["A Building Permit is not required for fence construction, repairs, or alterations."]},{"url":"https://www.fortstjohn.ca/media/file/building-bylaw","title":"Building Bylaw No. 2589, 2024 (PDF)","section":"s. 31(h), s. 43","quotes":["a Security Fence Permit before construction of a security fence;","An Owner must install a security fence prior to constructing a complex building"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"height_front":{"label":"Height, front yard","value":"1.2 m in a front yard in R, C and INS zones. Height is measured from ground grade at the base of the fence to its highest point.","short":"1.2 m","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.fortstjohn.ca/media/file/zoning-bylaw","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 2470, 2019 (PDF, consolidated)","section":"s. 4.13.2-3","quotes":["No fence shall exceed a height of 1.2 m in a front yard and 1.8 m in a side and rear yard in R,","The height of a fence shall be measured as the vertical distance from the ground grade level"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"height_side_rear":{"label":"Height, side and rear yards","value":"1.8 m in side and rear yards in R, C and INS zones.","short":"1.8 m","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.fortstjohn.ca/media/file/zoning-bylaw","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 2470, 2019 (PDF, consolidated)","section":"s. 4.13.3","quotes":["No fence shall exceed a height of 1.2 m in a front yard and 1.8 m in a side and rear yard in R,"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"corner_lots":{"label":"Corner lots and sightlines","value":"On a corner parcel, nothing (landscaping, screening, building or structure) may be higher than 1 m above the street grade within the space formed by points 9.0 m back along the curb lines from the intersection (s. 4.11). Fences may go in required setbacks except the part inside a required sight triangle (s. 4.13.5).","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.fortstjohn.ca/media/file/zoning-bylaw","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 2470, 2019 (PDF, consolidated)","section":"s. 4.11.1","quotes":["on a corner parcel within the shaded space formed by the curb lines","9.0 m from the point of intersection of the curb lines","no landscaping, screening, building or structure may be planted","to a height greater than 1 m above the established grade of the street.","Fences may be constructed within any required setback, with the exception of setbacks","required for a watercourse and to the portion of a parcel that is within a required sight"]},{"url":"https://www.fortstjohn.ca/media/file/zoning-bylaw","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 2470, 2019 (PDF, consolidated)","section":"s. 4.13.5","quotes":["Fences may be constructed within any required setback, with the exception of setbacks","required for a watercourse and to the portion of a parcel that is within a required sight"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"other_rules":{"label":"Other rules","value":"Barbed wire only in A1, M1 and M2 zones. Chain link banned in all R and RM zones and on front and flanking yards in C zones. Fences next to a highway must be see-through (opaque next to the Alaska Highway). A pool, hot tub or spa deeper than 0.75 m needs a non-climbable fence at least 1.2 m high. Over-height fence: $100 per offence per day.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.fortstjohn.ca/media/file/zoning-bylaw","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 2470, 2019 (PDF, consolidated)","section":"s. 4.13.6-9","quotes":["Barbed wire included in fencing is only permitted in the A1, M1 and M2 zone.","Fences adjacent to a highway shall be constructed from a see-through style material, except","Chain link fencing is prohibited in all R and RM zones.","Chain link fencing is prohibited on the front and flanking yards in all C zones."]},{"url":"https://www.fortstjohn.ca/media/file/zoning-bylaw","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 2470, 2019 (PDF, consolidated)","section":"Schedule B","quotes":["32.6.3, 32.7.3, 32.8.3 Obstructing corner vision 4.11 $100.00/offence/day Over height fence 4.13 $100.00/offence/day Accessory building infringement 4.18 $100.00/offence/day Insufficient parking 5.0, 5.5, 5.8 $100.00/offence/day","30.7.3, 30.8.3, 30.9.3, 30.10.3, 31.7, 32.6.3, 32.7.3, 32.8.3 Obstructing corner vision 4.11 $100.00/offence/day Over height fence 4.13 $100.00/offence/day Accessory building infringement 4.18 $100.00/offence/day"]},{"url":"https://www.fortstjohn.ca/media/file/building-bylaw","title":"Building Bylaw No. 2589, 2024 (PDF)","section":"s. 70","quotes":["shall be surrounded by a non-climbable fence least 1.2 meters in height.","private swimming pool, wading pool, hot tub or spa having a depth greater than 0.75 meters at any point"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"bylaw":{"label":"Bylaw","value":"Zoning Bylaw No. 2470, 2019, s. 4.13 (Fencing) and s. 4.11 (Sight Clearance)","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.fortstjohn.ca/media/file/zoning-bylaw","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 2470, 2019 (PDF, consolidated)","section":"s. 4.13","quotes":["4.0 General Regulations 4.13 Fencing (continued) 7. Fences adjacent to a highway shall be constructed from a see-through style material, except","City of Fort St. John - Zoning Bylaw","Zoning Bylaw No. 2470, 2019 (Consolidated Version) This consolidated Version includes the following"]},{"url":"https://www.fortstjohn.ca/media/file/zoning-bylaw","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 2470, 2019 (PDF, consolidated)","section":"cover","quotes":["ZONING BYLAW 2470, 2019"]}],"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\nThe [Building Bylaw](https://www.fortstjohn.ca/media/file/building-bylaw) says a building permit is not required for fence construction, repairs or alterations. Fences must still meet [Zoning Bylaw 2470, 2019](https://www.fortstjohn.ca/media/file/zoning-bylaw), s. 4.13. Height is measured from ground grade at the base of the fence to its highest point. \"Fence\" includes a gate, screen, trellis and wall.\n\n## Steps\n\n1. Check your zone on the City's interactive map.\n2. Keep to the height limits: 1.2 m in a front yard and 1.8 m in a side or rear yard in R, C and INS zones. In M zones no fence may exceed 2.4 m in any yard.\n3. Keep clear of any sight triangle at a corner, and of watercourse setbacks. Otherwise fences may go in required setbacks.\n4. Call the City if your lot is unusual, in an A, I or P zone, or next to a highway.\n\n## Good to know\n\n- Chain link is banned in all R and RM zones, and on front and flanking yards in C zones. Barbed wire is allowed only in A1, M1 and M2 zones.\n- On a corner parcel, nothing may be higher than 1 m above the street grade within the space formed by points 9.0 m back along the curb lines from the intersection.\n- Fences next to a highway must be see-through; next to the Alaska Highway they must be opaque.\n- A pool, hot tub or spa deeper than 0.75 m needs a non-climbable fence at least 1.2 m high (Building Bylaw s. 70). Pools, hot tubs and spas less than 6.5 meters in area are exempt (Building Bylaw s. 71).\n- An over-height fence is $100 per offence per day, and so is obstructing corner vision.\n- A temporary security fence around a complex-building construction site needs a Security Fence Permit.","sources":[{"url":"https://www.fortstjohn.ca/media/file/building-bylaw","title":"Building Bylaw No. 2589, 2024 (PDF)","accessed":"2026-11-05"},{"url":"https://www.fortstjohn.ca/media/file/zoning-bylaw","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 2470, 2019 (PDF, consolidated)","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/fort-st-john/fence-rules/","markdown":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/fort-st-john/fence-rules.md","json":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/fort-st-john/fence-rules.json"}}