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

# Fruitvale fence rules: permits and height limits

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

**Short answer:** In Fruitvale a fence does not need a building permit, but it must meet Zoning Bylaw 846. Fences may be up to 2.0 m high, and must be under 1.3 m where they sit closer to the street than the building setbacks. Ask the Village to confirm before you build.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (Village of Fruitvale, https://fruitvale.ca)  
**Cost:** No permit fee is stated for fences.  
**How long:** Not applicable; no permit is needed for an ordinary fence.  
**Where:**
- In person: Village Office, 1947 Beaver Street, Fruitvale, BC V0G 1L0 (Monday to Thursday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.)
- Phone: Village Office, 250-367-7551
- Email: Village Office, info@village.fruitvale.bc.ca

## Key facts

- **Permit:** No building permit is needed for a fence: Bylaw 698 does not treat fences as "structures", and the RDKB pamphlet lists fencing as non-structural work. Fence height must still meet Zoning Bylaw 846 s. 8.5.
  - Source: [Building Permit Information brochure, Pamphlet, 'A building permit is not required'](https://fruitvale.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Building-Permit-Information-brochure.pdf)
  - Official wording: "- fencing (fence height must comply with Municipal and"
  - Source: [Building and Plumbing Bylaw No. 698, 2003, s. 2, definition of STRUCTURE](https://fruitvale.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/698-Building-Bylaw.pdf)
  - Official wording: "but specifically excludes landscaping, fences,"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Height, front yard:** Fencing under 2.0 m may be on any part of a lot, but must be under 1.3 m when closer to a street than the building setbacks for the zone.
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 846, 2013, consolidated, s. 8.5.3](https://fruitvale.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/846-Zoning-Bylaw-Final-Consolidated.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Fencing which is less than 2.0 m in height may be sited on any portion of a lot provided" … "less than 1.3 m in height when sited closer to any street than the building"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Height, side and rear yards:** No more than 2.0 m at natural grade in rural residential and residential zones (2.4 m where abutting a commercial or industrial zone). Non-residential zones: 2.4 m.
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 846, 2013, consolidated, ss. 8.5.4, 8.5.5](https://fruitvale.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/846-Zoning-Bylaw-Final-Consolidated.pdf)
  - Official wording: "shall exceed 2.0 m in height except where abutting a commercial or industrial zone, the" … "No fence in a non-residential zone shall exceed 2.4 m."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Corner lots and sightlines:** None set. Zoning Bylaw 846 states no separate corner-lot or sight-line fence rule.
- **Other rules:** On a slope, panel fences are measured at the mid-point of each panel. No barbed wire in any zone except livestock enclosures in the Rural Large Parcel zone. Retaining walls on residential lots: 1.5 m maximum from lower grade, separated by at least 1.5 m (higher where the natural grade is lower than the neighbour). A fence on a retaining wall at the property line: combined 2.0 m. Pool fences at least 1.2 m high with a self-closing gate.
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 846, 2013, consolidated, ss. 8.5.4, 8.5.7, 8.5.8, 8.5.10, 7.1.4](https://fruitvale.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/846-Zoning-Bylaw-Final-Consolidated.pdf)
  - Official wording: "each section shall be measured at the mid-point of each panel." … "No barbed wire fencing shall be allowed in any zone" … "must not exceed a height of 1.5 m measured from grade on the lower side" … "shall not exceed 2.0 m, measured from natural grade at the abutting" … "not less than 1.2 m in height above grade level."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Bylaw:** Village of Fruitvale Zoning Bylaw No. 846, 2013, s. 8.5 (Fencing and Retaining Walls) and s. 7.1.4 (pool fences)
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 846, 2013, consolidated, s. 8.5](https://fruitvale.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/846-Zoning-Bylaw-Final-Consolidated.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Fencing and Retaining Walls"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08

## How it works

The Village's [Zoning Bylaw No. 846](https://fruitvale.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/846-Zoning-Bylaw-Final-Consolidated.pdf), s. 8.5 (Fencing and Retaining Walls), sets fence rules. A building permit is not needed for a fence: Building Bylaw 698 does not treat fences as "structures", and the RDKB building brochure lists fencing as non-structural work. The bylaw does not say this in so many words, so confirm with the Village.

- Front: fencing under 2.0 m may be on any part of a lot, but must be under 1.3 m when closer to a street than the building setbacks for the zone.
- Side and rear: no more than 2.0 m at natural grade in rural residential and residential zones (2.4 m where the lot abuts a commercial or industrial zone). Non-residential zones: 2.4 m.
- Corner lots: the bylaw states no separate corner-lot or sight-line fence rule. Ask the Village.

## Steps

1. Find your property lines and your zone.
2. Check the heights above against where your fence will sit.
3. Call the Village Office (250-367-7551) if you are unsure, especially on a corner lot.

## Good to know

- On a slope, panel fences are measured at the mid-point of each panel.
- Barbed wire is not allowed in any zone, except for livestock enclosures in the Rural Large Parcel zone.
- Retaining walls on residential lots may be 1.5 m high at most from the lower grade, with at least 1.5 m between walls. A higher wall is allowed where natural grade is lower than the neighbour's. A fence on a retaining wall at the property line may be 2.0 m combined.
- Pool fences must be at least 1.2 m high with a self-closing gate (s. 7.1.4).
- Fines: a bylaw notice is $100 (Bylaw 976); a municipal ticket is $250, or $200 if paid within 30 days (Bylaw 921).

## Official forms and pages

- [Zoning Bylaw No. 846, 2013, consolidated (PDF)](https://fruitvale.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/846-Zoning-Bylaw-Final-Consolidated.pdf)

## Related questions

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

## The same question elsewhere

- [Fence height limits in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/fence-rules.md)
- [Montrose](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/montrose/fence-rules.md)
- [Trail](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/trail/fence-rules.md)
- [Warfield](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/warfield/fence-rules.md)
- [Rossland](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/rossland/fence-rules.md)
- [Salmo](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/salmo/fence-rules.md)
- [Castlegar](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/castlegar/fence-rules.md)

## Sources

- [Zoning Bylaw No. 846, 2013, consolidated (PDF)](https://fruitvale.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/846-Zoning-Bylaw-Final-Consolidated.pdf) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Building and Plumbing Bylaw No. 698, 2003 (PDF)](https://fruitvale.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/698-Building-Bylaw.pdf) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Building Permit Information brochure (PDF)](https://fruitvale.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Building-Permit-Information-brochure.pdf) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 976 (PDF)](https://fruitvale.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/976-2024-Notice-Enforcement-Bylaw.pdf) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Municipal Ticket Information Bylaw No. 921 (PDF)](https://fruitvale.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/921-Municipal-Ticket-Information-Bylaw.pdf) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Contact, Village of Fruitvale](https://fruitvale.ca/contact/) (read 2026-11-08)

_Checked by script, not yet by a person: the official wording behind 5 of 6 facts was matched to the official text; 1 is recorded as not set. Gov Handbook is an independent guide, not affiliated with Village of Fruitvale. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/fruitvale/fence-rules/_