Gibsons fence rules: permits and height limits

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

Gibsons, British ColumbiaChecked against official textSources read 2026-11-06

How it works

The Building Bylaw does not apply to a fence, except for retaining walls (Part 11). So a fence needs no building permit. The Zoning Bylaw 1342 (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.