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Houston fence rules: permits and height limits

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

Houston, British ColumbiaChecked against official textSources read 2026-11-08

Short answer

The District of Houston's pages and bylaws list no fence permit. Under the Zoning Bylaw a fence can be up to 1.2 m high in a front yard and 1.8 m in a side or rear yard. Check the highway exception and the corner-lot rule below.

Key facts

PermitFences are excluded from the definition of "structure" in both the Building Regulations Bylaw and the Zoning Bylaw. The District's building permit page lists no fence permit; it lists retaining walls over 1.22 m (4 ft) that are part of a building or structure supporting occupancy.Building Regulations Bylaw No. 906, 2005, s. 1.10; Zoning Bylaw No. 1225, 2026, s. 3 (definition of "structure"); Building Permits and Inspections, Building Permits and Inspections page, "Accessory Buildings & Structures" · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
Official wording
specifically excludes landscaping, fences, paving and retaining structures not supporting an occupancy
the following shall not be Structures: • a fence;
Building retaining walls over 1.22 meters (4.0 feet) in height
Height, front yard1.2 m. Exception: 1.8 m for a lot in a Rural or Residential zone that abuts a provincial highway, or an arterial or collector road designated in the Official Community Plan.Sources differ: The Zoning page gives 1.2 m for residential front yards and leaves out the 1.8 m highway and arterial exception in s. 5.6(3). The bylaw (adopted October 6, 2026) governs.Zoning Bylaw No. 1225, 2026, s. 5.6(2)(a) and 5.6(3); Zoning, "Fencing, Screening and Landscaping" · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
Official wording
(a) 1.2 metres when located within a front yard; and
the maximum height of a fence located within a front yard is 1.8 metres.
for any lot within a Rural or Residential zone abutting a provincial highway, or an arterial or collector road as designated by the Official Community Plan
For Residential properties, the front yard fence has a maximum height of 1.2 meters.
Height, side and rear yards1.8 m in a rear or side yard.Zoning Bylaw No. 1225, 2026, s. 5.6(2)(b); Zoning, "Fencing, Screening and Landscaping" · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
Official wording
(b) 1.8 metres when located within a rear or side yard.
Fences may not exceed 1.8 meters in height on any property inside the District.
Corner lots and sightlinesOn a corner lot, no fence, wall, building, landscaping or other object may be over 1.0 m high inside the triangle formed by measuring 6.0 m along the two adjoining exterior lot lines and joining the ends.Zoning Bylaw No. 1225, 2026, s. 5.7 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
Official wording
On any corner lot, no building, structure, fence, retaining wall, landscaping, screening, or
maximum height of 1.0 metre within the triangular space formed by measuring 6.0 metres along the two adjoining exterior lot lines
Other rulesHeight is measured from the mean landscape grade 1.0 m from both sides of the fence. Retaining walls, alone or with a fence: 1.8 m in Residential zones, 2.4 m in Rural, Commercial, Industrial and Public Use zones. Required landscape screens cannot be plywood, corrugated metal or chain link without slats.Zoning Bylaw No. 1225, 2026, s. 5.6(1), 5.6(4) and 5.8.3(4) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
Official wording
The height of a fence shall be determined by measurement from the mean landscape grade 1.0 m from both sides of the fence.
Residential Zones 1.8 metres 1.8 metres
Rural, Commercial, Industrial, and Public 2.4 metres 2.4 metres
A landscape screen shall not consist of plywood, corrugated metal, or chain link fencing, except for chain link fencing that contains slat inserts.
BylawZoning Bylaw No. 1225, 2026, s. 5.6 (fences and retaining walls) and s. 5.7 (visual clearance at intersections).Zoning Bylaw No. 1225, 2026, s. 1.1, 5.6, 5.7 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
Official wording
This Bylaw will be cited as “Zoning Bylaw No. 1225, 2026.”
5.6 FENCES AND RETAINING WALLS
5.7 VISUAL CLEARANCE AT INTERSECTIONS

How it works

Fences are excluded from the definition of "structure" in both the Building Regulations Bylaw No. 906, 2005 and the Zoning Bylaw No. 1225, 2026. The District's building permit page lists no fence permit, but it does list retaining walls over 1.22 m (4 ft) that are part of a building or structure supporting occupancy. A fence must still meet the height rules in section 5.6 of the Zoning Bylaw.

Steps

  1. Check the height limits below for your yard.
  2. If your lot is on a corner, check the visibility triangle.
  3. Call the Community Development Department at 250-845-2238 if you are unsure.

Good to know

  • Front yard: 1.2 m. The exception is 1.8 m for a lot in a Rural or Residential zone that abuts a provincial highway, or an arterial or collector road designated in the Official Community Plan.
  • Rear or side yard: 1.8 m.
  • Corner lots: no fence, wall, building, landscaping or other object may be over 1.0 m high inside the triangle formed by measuring 6.0 m along the two adjoining exterior lot lines and joining the ends.
  • Height is measured from the mean landscape grade 1.0 m from both sides of the fence.
  • Retaining walls, alone or with a fence: 1.8 m in Residential zones, 2.4 m in Rural, Commercial, Industrial and Public Use zones.
  • Required landscape screens cannot be plywood, corrugated metal or chain link without slats.
  • The District's Zoning page gives 1.2 m for front yards and leaves out the highway exception. The bylaw governs; confirm with the District.
  • We found no rule on barbed wire, electric fences or swimming pool fences. Ask the Community Development Department.

Official forms and pages

The same question in other places

Telkwa · Smithers · Granisle · Burns Lake · New Hazelton · Hazelton

Fence height limits in British Columbia, by municipality →

Sources

  1. Zoning Bylaw No. 1225, 2026 (PDF), District of Houston (read 2026-11-08)
  2. Building Regulations Bylaw No. 906, 2005 (PDF), District of Houston (read 2026-11-08)
  3. Building Permits and Inspections, District of Houston (read 2026-11-08)
  4. Zoning, District of Houston (read 2026-11-08)

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