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Fort St. John fence rules: permits and height limits

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

Fort St. John, British ColumbiaChecked against official textSources read 2026-11-05

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.

Key facts

PermitNo 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.Building Bylaw No. 2589, 2024, s. 16; Building Bylaw No. 2589, 2024, s. 31(h), s. 43 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
Official wording
A Building Permit is not required for fence construction, repairs, or alterations.
a Security Fence Permit before construction of a security fence;
An Owner must install a security fence prior to constructing a complex building
Height, front yard1.2 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.Zoning Bylaw No. 2470, 2019 (PDF, consolidated), s. 4.13.2-3 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
Official wording
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
Height, side and rear yards1.8 m in side and rear yards in R, C and INS zones.Zoning Bylaw No. 2470, 2019 (PDF, consolidated), s. 4.13.3 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
Official wording
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,
Corner lots and sightlinesOn 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).Zoning Bylaw No. 2470, 2019 (PDF, consolidated), s. 4.11.1; Zoning Bylaw No. 2470, 2019 (PDF, consolidated), s. 4.13.5 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
Official wording
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
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
Other rulesBarbed 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.Zoning Bylaw No. 2470, 2019 (PDF, consolidated), s. 4.13.6-9; Zoning Bylaw No. 2470, 2019 (PDF, consolidated), Schedule B; Building Bylaw No. 2589, 2024, s. 70 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
Official wording
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.
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
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
BylawZoning Bylaw No. 2470, 2019, s. 4.13 (Fencing) and s. 4.11 (Sight Clearance)Zoning Bylaw No. 2470, 2019 (PDF, consolidated), s. 4.13; Zoning Bylaw No. 2470, 2019 (PDF, consolidated), cover · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
Official wording
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
ZONING BYLAW 2470, 2019

How it works

The Building Bylaw says a building permit is not required for fence construction, repairs or alterations. Fences must still meet Zoning Bylaw 2470, 2019, 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.

Steps

  1. Check your zone on the City's interactive map.
  2. 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.
  3. Keep clear of any sight triangle at a corner, and of watercourse setbacks. Otherwise fences may go in required setbacks.
  4. Call the City if your lot is unusual, in an A, I or P zone, or next to a highway.

Good to know

  • 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.
  • 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.
  • Fences next to a highway must be see-through; next to the Alaska Highway they must be opaque.
  • 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).
  • An over-height fence is $100 per offence per day, and so is obstructing corner vision.
  • A temporary security fence around a complex-building construction site needs a Security Fence Permit.

Official forms and pages

The same question in other places

Taylor · Dawson Creek · Pouce Coupe · Hudson's Hope · Chetwynd · Tumbler Ridge

Fence height limits in British Columbia, by municipality →

Sources

  1. Building Bylaw No. 2589, 2024 (PDF) (read 2026-11-05)
  2. Zoning Bylaw No. 2470, 2019 (PDF, consolidated) (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.