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Hope fence rules: permits and height limits

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

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

Short answer

Hope's bylaws do not require a permit for an ordinary fence, except for swimming pool fences. Fences can be 1.2 m high in the front yard, and 2 m (RS-1 zone) or 2.5 m (other zones) at the side and rear. Ask Community Development to confirm.

Key facts

PermitNot confirmed. No ordinary fence permit rule turned up in Hope's Zoning or Building Bylaw.
Height, front yard1.2 m in the front yard and in the part of a side yard that abuts a street in front of the principal building. The bylaw exempts the Rural Zones (L-1, AG-1, RU-1, CR-1) from fence height limits, though clause (a) also says 'in all zones'; confirm with Planning.Sources differ: Rural Zones in the bylaw are L-1, AG-1, RU-1 and CR-1 (s. 8.6.3). The limits are 'subject to visibility provisions of this Bylaw'. Zoning Bylaw consolidated to March 20, 2025.Zoning Bylaw No. 1324, 2012, consolidated to March 20, 2025, s. 7.14.1 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
Official wording
1.2 metres in the front yard and that portion of a side yard that abuts a street in front of the
except in the Rural Zones where no
restrictions are applicable
Height, side and rear yardsSide and rear yards: 2 m in the Small-Scale Multi-Unit Housing (RS-1) zone (1.2 m for the rear yard fence where a detached accessory dwelling unit is reached from the lane); 2.5 m in all other zones; no limit in Rural Zones. Fences needed for screening may be 2.5 m; tennis or basketball court enclosures 3.5 m.Zoning Bylaw No. 1324, 2012, consolidated to March 20, 2025, s. 7.14.1 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
Official wording
2 metres in the side yard and rear yard in the Small-Scale Multi-Unit Housing (RS-1) Zone, except
rear yard fence shall be 1.2 metres
2.5 metres in the side yard and rear yard in all other zones
3.5 metres for tennis or basketball court enclosures
Corner lots and sightlinesOn a residential-zone parcel at a street intersection, no landscaping, building or structure over 1 m high above the street grade is allowed within a triangle 5 m along the lot lines from the intersection (clear vision triangle). Fences must not obstruct vision at an intersection.Zoning Bylaw No. 1324, 2012, consolidated to March 20, 2025, s. 5.12.1; Zoning Bylaw No. 1324, 2012, consolidated to March 20, 2025, s. 5.8.3 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
Official wording
exceeding 1 metre (~3.5 feet) in height above the established grade of the intersecting highway or
within a triangular plane 5 metres (~16.5 feet) along the lot lines from the intersecting highway
provided that they do not obstruct vision at an intersection
Other rulesFence height is measured from the base of the fence. Outside Rural Zones and some comprehensive development zones, no barbed, electrified or razor wire except for commercial or industrial security or to keep people from a hazardous area (then at least 2 m up). Swimming pool fences: at least 1.1 m, no openings over 10 cm, self-closing gate; a permit is needed.Zoning Bylaw No. 1324, 2012, consolidated to March 20, 2025, s. 7.14.2, s. 7.5.3; Building Bylaw No. 972, consolidated to June 2024, s. 18.01, s. 12.01(c) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
Official wording
The height of a fence shall be measured from the base of the fence.
no fence shall be constructed of barbed, electrified or razor wire
The fence shall be not less than 1.1 metres in height, with no openings greater than 10 cm in their least
the installation, alteration or repair of fencing around a swimming pool as
BylawZoning Bylaw No. 1324, 2012, s. 7.14 (fence height), s. 7.5.3 and s. 5.12 (consolidated to March 20, 2025); Building Bylaw No. 972, s. 18.01 (pool fences)Zoning Bylaw No. 1324, 2012, consolidated to March 20, 2025, s. 7.14; Building Bylaw No. 972, consolidated to June 2024, s. 18 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
Official wording
FENCE HEIGHT RESTRICTIONS
(CONSOLIDATED TO MARCH 20, 2025)
FENCING OF SWIMMING POOLS

How it works

Fence height rules are in section 7.14 of the Zoning Bylaw No. 1324. Height is measured from the base of the fence. The Building Bylaw No. 972 mentions fences only for swimming pools. No ordinary fence permit rule turned up in either bylaw, so ask Community Development whether your fence needs one.

Location Maximum height
Front yard, and the side yard part that abuts a street in front of the house 1.2 m
Side and rear yard, Small-Scale Multi-Unit Housing (RS-1) zone 2 m (1.2 m for a rear fence where a detached accessory dwelling unit is reached from the lane)
Side and rear yard, other zones 2.5 m
Rural Zones (L-1, AG-1, RU-1, CR-1) No limit stated

A fence required for screening can be 2.5 m, and tennis or basketball court enclosures 3.5 m.

Steps

  1. Check your zone and lot lines, then email planning@hope.ca or call 604-869-5671 to confirm the permit question.
  2. Keep the fence out of the clear vision triangle at street corners (below).
  3. For a pool, apply for a building permit first.

Good to know

  • The bylaw contradicts itself for rural zones. Clause (a) says the front-yard limit applies "in all zones", but the section exempts Rural Zones from fence height limits. Confirm with Planning.
  • On a corner lot in a residential zone, nothing over 1 m high above street grade is allowed within 5 m along the lot lines from the intersection.
  • Outside Rural Zones and some comprehensive development zones, barbed, electrified or razor wire is not allowed, except for commercial or industrial security or to keep people from a hazardous area (then at least 2 m up).
  • Pool fences (pools over 13.9 m² and deeper than 0.46 m): at least 1.1 m high, no openings over 10 cm, self-closing gate, and a permit is needed.
  • Zoning offences: a bylaw notice is $500 ($400 if paid early); a municipal ticket is $1,000.

Official forms and pages

The same question in other places

Kent · Harrison Hot Springs · Chilliwack · Princeton · Abbotsford · Mission

Fence height limits in British Columbia, by municipality →

Sources

  1. Community Development - Hope, BC (read 2026-11-06)
  2. Zoning Bylaw No. 1324, 2012, consolidated to March 20, 2025 (PDF), District of Hope (read 2026-11-06)
  3. Building Bylaw No. 972, consolidated to June 2024 (PDF), District of Hope (read 2026-11-06)
  4. Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 1627, 2026 (PDF), District of Hope (read 2026-11-06)
  5. Municipal Ticket Information Bylaw No. 1628, 2026 (PDF), District of Hope (read 2026-11-06)

Checked by script, not yet by a person: the official wording behind 5 of 6 facts was matched to the official text; 1 could not be confirmed. How answers are checked.