---
title: "Gibsons fence rules: permits and height limits"
question: "Do I need a permit to build a fence in Gibsons, and how high can it be?"
place: Gibsons, British Columbia, Canada
place_path: ca/bc/gibsons
category: Building, renovating and your property
owner: municipal
owner_body: Town of Gibsons
sources_read: 2026-11-06
review: machine_checked
canonical: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/gibsons/fence-rules/"
json: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/gibsons/fence-rules.json"
---

# Gibsons fence rules: permits and height limits

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

**Short answer:** In Gibsons a fence needs no building permit, but zoning sets the height. Fences and hedges are limited to 1.5 m in front; behind the front setback of the principal building they may reach 2.4 m. Retaining walls and pool fences have their own rules.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (Town of Gibsons, https://www.gibsons.ca)  
**Cost:** No permit fee for a fence. A retaining wall that needs a building permit pays the fees in the building-permit-fees answer.  
**How long:** No permit is needed for a fence, so there is no processing time.  
**Where:**
- Phone: Planning and Development, 604-886-2274
- Email: Planning and Development, planning@gibsons.ca
- Phone: Building Department, 604-886-2274
- Email: Building Department, building@gibsons.ca

## Key facts

- **Permit:** No building permit for a fence: the Building Bylaw does not apply to a fence except as set out in Part 11 (Retaining Walls). A retaining wall needs a building permit (s. 11.1), though s. 3.3(c) excludes a soil wall under 1.22 m on a single-family parcel. Pool fences fall under the pool permit. Zoning height rules still apply.
  - Source: [https://gibsons.civicweb.net/document/85212/, s. 3.3(a)](https://gibsons.civicweb.net/document/85212/)
  - Official wording: "except as set out in Part 11 [Retaining Walls] of this bylaw, a fence;"
  - Source: [https://gibsons.civicweb.net/document/85212/, s. 11.1](https://gibsons.civicweb.net/document/85212/)
  - Official wording: "No person may construct, or structurally repair, a retaining wall without a building permit."
  - Source: [Building Bylaw No. 1284, 2020, s. 3.3, 11.1](https://gibsons.civicweb.net/document/89642/)
  - Official wording: "except as set out in Part 11 [Retaining Walls] of this bylaw, a fence;" … "a wall supporting soil that is less than 1.22 metres in height" … "No person may construct, or structurally repair, a retaining wall without a building permit."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Height, front yard:** 1.5 m. Fences and hedges over 1.5 m (up to 2.4 m) are allowed only behind the front lot line setback required for the principal building.
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 1342, 2025, s. 3.4.1(1)](https://gibsons.civicweb.net/document/89468/)
  - Official wording: "fences and Landscape Screens, including hedges, not exceeding 1.5 m in height may be sited in any location on a Lot"
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 1342, 2025, s. 3.4.1(2)](https://gibsons.civicweb.net/document/89468/)
  - Official wording: "may be located anywhere on a Lot behind the Front Lot Line Setback for a Principal Building"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Height, side and rear yards:** 2.4 m, anywhere on the lot behind the front lot line setback for the principal building.
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 1342, 2025, s. 3.4.1(2)](https://gibsons.civicweb.net/document/89468/)
  - Official wording: "Fences and Landscape Screens, including hedges not exceeding 2.4 m in height" … "may be located anywhere on a Lot behind the Front Lot Line Setback for a Principal Building"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Corner lots and sightlines:** Sight triangle: nothing may block visibility between 1 m and 2 m above the road surface within a triangle formed by points 9 m from the corner of two streets (6 m from a street-and-lane corner).
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 1342, 2025, s. 3.4.1(7)](https://gibsons.civicweb.net/document/89468/)
  - Official wording: "a line joining points 9 m from the intersection of two Streets" … "a line joining points 6 m from the intersection of a Street and a Lane" … "visibility between 1 m and 2 m in height above the adjacent road surface within a sight triangle"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Other rules:** Retaining walls under 1.2 m high may go anywhere on the lot (tiered walls need 1.2 m separation, two tiers max); over 1.2 m must meet zone setbacks. Swimming pool, spa or hot tub fences: at least 1.22 m high, no openings over 100 mm, self-closing and self-latching gate.
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 1342, 2025, s. 3.4.1(3), (4)](https://gibsons.civicweb.net/document/89468/)
  - Official wording: "Retaining Walls with a height greater than 1.2 m must meet Setbacks as provided in the zone."
  - Source: [https://gibsons.civicweb.net/document/85212/, s. 14.3](https://gibsons.civicweb.net/document/85212/)
  - Official wording: "having a minimum height of 1.22 metres and no openings greater than 100 mm at their greatest"
  - Source: [https://gibsons.civicweb.net/document/85212/, s. 14.4](https://gibsons.civicweb.net/document/85212/)
  - Official wording: "a self-closing and self-latching gate"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Bylaw:** Zoning Bylaw No. 1342, 2025 (s. 3.4.1) and Building Bylaw No. 1284, 2020 (s. 3.3 and Part 11)
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 1342, 2025, s. 3.4.1](https://gibsons.civicweb.net/document/89468/)
  - Official wording: "3.4.1. Fences, Retaining Walls and Landscape Screens"
  - Source: [https://gibsons.civicweb.net/document/85212/, title](https://gibsons.civicweb.net/document/85212/)
  - Official wording: "BUILDING BYLAW NO. 1284, 2020"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06

## How it works

The [Building Bylaw](https://gibsons.civicweb.net/document/89642/) does not apply to a fence, except for retaining walls (Part 11). So a fence needs no building permit. The [Zoning Bylaw 1342](https://gibsons.civicweb.net/document/89468/) (s. 3.4.1) still sets height limits, and the Town's guide lists fences and patios less than two feet off the ground as exempt.

Height limits:

- **Front:** 1.5 m. Fences and hedges over 1.5 m, up to 2.4 m, are allowed only behind the front lot line setback required for the principal building.
- **Side and rear:** 2.4 m, anywhere on the lot behind that front setback.
- Hedges and landscape screens count as fences for height.
- Exceptions: up to 3.5 m on PR or PO lots to screen tennis courts and similar, and in CI-1, CI-2, CM-1, CM-2 or CF zones to screen permitted outdoor storage.

Corner lots: nothing may block visibility between 1 m and 2 m above the road surface within a triangle formed by points 9 m from the corner of two streets (6 m from a street-and-lane corner). This applies to fences, hedges, retaining walls and other vegetation.

## Steps

1. Check your zone and setbacks with Planning (604-886-2274, planning@gibsons.ca).
2. Keep the fence within the height limits above.
3. If you are building a retaining wall or pool fence, read the points below first.

## Good to know

- A retaining wall needs a building permit (s. 11.1), except a wall supporting soil under 1.22 m on a single-family parcel (s. 3.3). Under zoning, retaining walls under 1.2 m high may go anywhere on the lot; tiered walls need 1.2 m of separation, two tiers at most. Walls over 1.2 m must meet zone setbacks.
- Pool, spa or hot tub fences must be at least 1.22 m high, with no openings over 100 mm and a self-closing, self-latching gate. They fall under the pool permit.
- The bylaws read do not state how fence height is measured, or any rule on barbed wire or electric fences. Ask Planning.

## Official forms and pages

- [Zoning Bylaw No. 1342, 2025](https://gibsons.civicweb.net/document/89468/)
- [Building Bylaw No. 1284, 2020 (adopted copy)](https://gibsons.civicweb.net/document/89642/)

## Related questions

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

## The same question elsewhere

- [Fence height limits in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/fence-rules.md)
- [Bowen Island](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/bowen-island/fence-rules.md)
- [West Vancouver](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/west-vancouver/fence-rules.md)
- [Lions Bay](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/lions-bay/fence-rules.md)
- [Sechelt](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/sechelt/fence-rules.md)
- [District of North Vancouver](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/north-vancouver-district/fence-rules.md)
- [North Vancouver](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/north-vancouver/fence-rules.md)

## Sources

- [Zoning Bylaw No. 1342, 2025, Town of Gibsons](https://gibsons.civicweb.net/document/89468/) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Building Bylaw No. 1284, 2020, Town of Gibsons](https://gibsons.civicweb.net/document/89642/) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Building Permit Application Guide, July 2024 (PDF), Town of Gibsons](https://gibsons.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/2024-07-Building-permit-guide-1.pdf) (read 2026-11-06)
- [https://gibsons.civicweb.net/document/85212/](https://gibsons.civicweb.net/document/85212/) (read 2026-11-06)

_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 Town of Gibsons. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/gibsons/fence-rules/_