Greenwood fence rules: permits and height limits
Do I need a permit to build a fence, and how high can it be?
Short answer
Greenwood's Zoning Bylaw limits solid screening, such as a fence, wall or hedge, to 1.3 metres (4 feet) closer to a street than the building setbacks allow. Open fencing has no height or location limit. The bylaw does not mention a fence permit; ask City Hall.
Key facts
| Permit | Not confirmed. The Zoning Bylaw does not say whether a fence needs a permit. |
|---|---|
| Height, front yard | Screening (fences, walls, hedges) 2 m (6.5 ft) or less is limited to 1.3 m (4 ft) when closer to any street than the required building setbacks for the zone. Open fencing is not restricted as to height or location.Zoning Bylaw No. 683, 1997, s. 305(1), (3) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingscreening shall be limited to a maximum height of 1.3 metres (4 feet) when sited closer to any street than the required Open fencing shall not be restricted as to height or location. |
| Height, side and rear yards | Screening 2 m (6.5 ft) or less may be sited on any portion of a lot (subject to the 1.3 m limit near a street). Screening over 2 m must meet the building setbacks of the zone. Open fencing is not restricted.Zoning Bylaw No. 683, 1997, s. 305(1)-(3) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingscreening which is 2 metres (6.5 feet) or less in height may be sited on any portion of a lot Screening greater than 2 metres (6.5 feet) in height shall be sited in accordance with the Open fencing shall not be restricted as to height or location. |
| Corner lots and sightlines | None set. The Zoning Bylaw does not give a separate rule for corner lots.Read: Zoning Bylaw No. 683, 1997 |
| Other rules | Zoning Bylaw s. 305 regulates 'screening', defined as a fence, wall, berm, vegetative barrier or similar buffer. No rules on barbed wire, electric fences, retaining walls or pool fences were found in the bylaw.Zoning Bylaw No. 683, 1997, s. 103 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wording"FENCE" means a linear structure which provides a separating, protective or confining barrier; "SCREENING" means a fence, wall, berm, vegetative barrier or similar buffer, and any |
| Bylaw | Zoning Bylaw No. 683, 1997, s. 305 (Screening and Fences)Zoning Bylaw No. 683, 1997, s. 305 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wording305. Screening and Fences |
How it works
Zoning Bylaw No. 683, 1997 section 305 regulates "screening", defined as a fence, wall, berm, vegetative barrier or similar buffer.
- Screening 2 metres (6.5 feet) or less may go on any part of a lot, but it is limited to 1.3 metres (4 feet) when it is closer to a street than the required building setbacks for the zone.
- Screening over 2 metres must meet the building setbacks of the zone.
- Open fencing is not restricted as to height or location.
Steps
- Check your lot's zone and setbacks with City Hall at 250-445-6644.
- Ask City Hall and the RDKB (250-442-2708) whether your fence needs a permit. The bylaw does not say.
Good to know
- The bylaw does not give a separate rule for corner lots.
- No rules on barbed wire, electric fences, retaining walls or pool fences were found in the bylaw.
Official forms and pages
The same question in other places
Grand Forks · Osoyoos · Rossland · Oliver · Warfield · Trail
Sources
- Zoning Bylaw No. 683, 1997 (PDF), City of Greenwood (read 2026-11-05)
- Forms & Permits, City of Greenwood (read 2026-11-05)
Checked by script, not yet by a person: the official wording behind 4 of 6 facts was matched to the official text; 1 is recorded as not set; 1 could not be confirmed. How answers are checked.