---
title: "Fraser Lake fence rules: permits and height limits"
question: "Do I need a permit to build a fence in Fraser Lake, and how high can it be?"
place: Fraser Lake, British Columbia, Canada
place_path: ca/bc/fraser-lake
category: Building, renovating and your property
owner: municipal
owner_body: Village of Fraser Lake
sources_read: 2026-11-08
review: machine_checked
canonical: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/fraser-lake/fence-rules/"
json: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/fraser-lake/fence-rules.json"
---

# Fraser Lake fence rules: permits and height limits

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

**Short answer:** In Fraser Lake a fence does not need a building permit. On a residential lot it can be up to 1.2 m (4 feet) high along the front and exterior lot lines, and up to 2 m (6 feet) high along the rear and interior lot lines.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (Village of Fraser Lake, https://www.fraserlake.ca)  
**Cost:** No building permit is needed for a fence, so there is no permit fee.  
**How long:** Not applicable; no permit is needed for a fence.  
**Where:**
- Phone: Village of Fraser Lake office, 250-699-6257 (Weekdays, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.)
- Email: Chief Administrative Officer (bylaw questions), cao@fraserlake.ca

## Key facts

- **Permit:** No building permit: the Building Bylaw does not apply to a fence.
  - Source: [Bylaw 878, 2026 Building Bylaw, s. 4.2(a)](https://www.fraserlake.ca/media/518)
  - Official wording: "This bylaw does not apply to:" … "Retaining Walls or a fence;"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Height, front yard:** 1.2 m (4 feet) along the front and exterior lot lines on a residential lot.
  - Source: [Bylaw 875, 2025 Zoning Bylaw, s. 4.3](https://www.fraserlake.ca/media/480)
  - Official wording: "On a lot designated for Residential Use, a fence shall not exceed:" … "A height of 1.2 m (4 feet) along the front and exterior lot lines;"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Height, side and rear yards:** 2 m (6 feet) along the rear and interior lot lines on a residential lot.
  - Source: [Bylaw 875, 2025 Zoning Bylaw, s. 4.3](https://www.fraserlake.ca/media/480)
  - Official wording: "A height of 2 m (6 feet) along the rear and interior lot lines;"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Corner lots and sightlines:** Nothing may be placed within the corner visibility triangle to a height greater than 1.2 m. The triangle extends at least 6.0 m along the parcel lines from the corner.
  - Source: [Bylaw 875, 2025 Zoning Bylaw, s. 3.6.1](https://www.fraserlake.ca/media/480)
  - Official wording: "No hedge, planting, tree, fence, signs, or other structures shall be" … "erected, placed, or maintained within the corner visibility triangle to" … "a height greater than 1.2 m." … "a minimum of 6.0 m boundary along the parcel lines"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Other rules:** Fences are allowed within required setbacks. Retaining walls over 1.2 m must be engineer-designed and need a Building Permit; walls may be built to lot lines. A fence in disrepair is a ticketable offence ($100). (Sources differ: The Building Bylaw s. 4.2(a) says it does not apply to retaining walls or a fence, while Zoning s. 4.1.3.1 requires a Building Permit for retaining walls over 1.2 m. Materials (barbed wire, electric) and pool fences are not covered in posted text.)
  - Source: [Bylaw 875, 2025 Zoning Bylaw, ss. 3.5.2, 4.1.3](https://www.fraserlake.ca/media/480)
  - Official wording: "The following are permitted within the area of the setback required by this" … "Retaining walls exceeding 1.2 metres in height must be designed and" … "require the issuance of a Building Permit."
  - Source: [Bylaw 788 and Bylaw Notice Schedule A, Schedule A, Bylaw 788](https://www.fraserlake.ca/media/566)
  - Official wording: "6.8 Fences in disrepair $100 $50 $150 Yes"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Bylaw:** Bylaw 875, 2025 Zoning Bylaw, s. 4.3 (Fencing)
  - Source: [Bylaw 875, 2025 Zoning Bylaw, s. 4.3](https://www.fraserlake.ca/media/480)
  - Official wording: "The maximum fence height is as follows:"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08

## How it works

The [Bylaw 878, 2026 Building Bylaw](https://www.fraserlake.ca/media/518) does not apply to a fence, so no building permit is needed. Height limits come from section 4.3 of the [Bylaw 875, 2025 Zoning Bylaw](https://www.fraserlake.ca/media/480).

On a residential lot a fence may not exceed 1.2 m (4 feet) along the front and exterior lot lines (on a corner lot, the side facing a street), or 2 m (6 feet) along the rear and interior lot lines. Fences are allowed within required setbacks.

## Steps

1. Measure which lot lines the fence will follow and keep to the height for each.
2. On a corner lot, keep anything in the corner visibility triangle to 1.2 m or lower. The triangle extends at least 6.0 m along the parcel lines from the corner.
3. If the fence is part of a retaining wall, check the retaining wall rule below.

## Good to know

- Retaining walls over 1.2 m must be engineer-designed and need a building permit; walls may be built to lot lines. The Building Bylaw says it does not apply to retaining walls, so the two bylaws differ; confirm with the Village.
- A fence in disrepair is a ticketable offence. A bylaw notice is $100.
- Posted text does not cover fence materials (such as barbed wire or electric fences) or pool fences. Ask the Village office, 250-699-6257.

## Official forms and pages

- [Bylaw 875, 2025 Zoning Bylaw (PDF)](https://www.fraserlake.ca/media/480)
- [Bylaw 878, 2026 Building Bylaw (PDF)](https://www.fraserlake.ca/media/518)

## Related questions

- [Fraser Lake building permits: when you need one and how to apply](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/fraser-lake/building-permit.md)
- [Fraser Lake zoning: find your zone and what it allows](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/fraser-lake/zoning-lookup.md)
- [Fraser Lake permits for decks, sheds, carports and garages](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/fraser-lake/deck-shed-garage-permit.md)

## The same question elsewhere

- [Fence height limits in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/fence-rules.md)
- [Vanderhoof](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/vanderhoof/fence-rules.md)
- [Fort St James](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/fort-st-james/fence-rules.md)
- [Burns Lake](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/burns-lake/fence-rules.md)
- [Houston](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/houston/fence-rules.md)
- [Prince George](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/prince-george/fence-rules.md)
- [Granisle](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/granisle/fence-rules.md)

## Sources

- [Bylaw 875, 2025 Zoning Bylaw (PDF)](https://www.fraserlake.ca/media/480) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Bylaw 878, 2026 Building Bylaw (PDF)](https://www.fraserlake.ca/media/518) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Bylaw 788 and Bylaw Notice Schedule A, Village of Fraser Lake (PDF)](https://www.fraserlake.ca/media/566) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Contact, Village of Fraser Lake](https://www.fraserlake.ca/contact) (read 2026-11-08)

_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 Village of Fraser Lake. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/fraser-lake/fence-rules/_