{"title":"Invermere fence rules: permits and height limits","question":"Do I need a permit to build a fence in Invermere, and how high can it be?","slug":"fence-rules","place":{"path":"ca/bc/invermere","name":"Invermere","region":{"code":"bc","name":"British Columbia"},"country":{"code":"ca","name":"Canada"}},"category":{"slug":"building-and-renovating","name":"Building, renovating and your property"},"owner":"municipal","owner_label":"Municipal","owner_body":{"name":"District of Invermere","url":"https://invermere.net"},"short_answer":"In Invermere an ordinary fence needs no building permit. In most residential zones a fence may be 1.0 m high in the required front yard and 2.0 m in other yards; no fence may exceed 2.0 m. A pool, spa or hot tub needs a permit and a fence at least 1.22 m high.","aliases":["fence permit invermere","fence height invermere","fence bylaw invermere","backyard fence rules invermere"],"cost":"No fee for an ordinary fence; the District's pages mention no fence permit.","how_long":"Not applicable for an ordinary fence.","where":[{"type":"phone","label":"Planning (Director of Development Services)","value":"250-342-9281 ext. 1235"},{"type":"email","label":"Planning","value":"planning@invermere.net"},{"type":"phone","label":"Building Official","value":"250-342-9281 ext. 1227"}],"documents":[],"forms":[{"title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 1145, 2002, consolidated (PDF)","url":"https://invermere.civicweb.net/document/20335/"},{"title":"Building Bylaw No. 1677, 2026 (PDF)","url":"https://invermere.net/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/bylaw-1677-building-bylaw.pdf"}],"related":[{"slug":"building-permit","title":"Invermere building permits: when you need one and how to apply","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/invermere/building-permit/"},{"slug":"deck-shed-garage-permit","title":"Invermere permits for decks, sheds, carports and garages","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/invermere/deck-shed-garage-permit/"},{"slug":"zoning-lookup","title":"Invermere zoning: find your zone and what it allows","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/invermere/zoning-lookup/"}],"nearby":[{"place":"ca/bc/radium-hot-springs","name":"Radium Hot Springs","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/radium-hot-springs/fence-rules/"},{"place":"ca/bc/canal-flats","name":"Canal Flats","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/canal-flats/fence-rules/"},{"place":"ca/bc/kaslo","name":"Kaslo","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/kaslo/fence-rules/"},{"place":"ca/bc/elkford","name":"Elkford","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/elkford/fence-rules/"},{"place":"ca/bc/kimberley","name":"Kimberley","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/kimberley/fence-rules/"},{"place":"ca/bc/cranbrook","name":"Cranbrook","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/cranbrook/fence-rules/"}],"topic":{"title":"Fence height limits in British Columbia, by municipality","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/fence-rules/"},"facts":{"permit":{"label":"Permit","value":"No building permit for an ordinary fence: the Building Bylaw does not apply to a fence, except retaining walls (over 1.22 m). A swimming pool, spa or hot tub needs a building permit and an enclosing fence at least 1.22 m high. The zoning bylaw's siting rules do not apply to fences, but its height rules do.","short":"No building permit","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://invermere.net/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/bylaw-1677-building-bylaw.pdf","title":"Building Bylaw No. 1677, 2026 (PDF), District of Invermere","section":"s. 3.3(a); s. 11.1","quotes":["except as set out in Part 11 [Retaining Walls] of this bylaw, a fence;","No person may construct, or structurally repair, a retaining wall without a building","a person must not construct, or structurally repair, a swimming pool without a valid building permit","having a minimum height of 1.22 metres and no openings greater"]},{"url":"https://invermere.civicweb.net/document/20335/","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 1145, 2002, consolidated (PDF), District of Invermere","section":"s. 3.10(1)","quotes":["The siting provisions of this bylaw do not apply to fences and screening, except"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}},"height_front":{"label":"Height, front yard","value":"1.0 m in the required front yard in the R-1, R-1(A), R-1(MH), R-2, R-2(A), RM-1, R-3, R-4 and R-5 zones. In the R-MP, RR-1, RR-2, P-1 and P-2 zones the limit is 2.0 m with no separate front-yard figure.","short":"1.0 m (2.0 m in R-MP, RR, P zones)","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://invermere.civicweb.net/document/20335/","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 1145, 2002, consolidated (PDF), District of Invermere","section":"s. 3.10(3)","quotes":["1.0 m in required front yard","2.0 m in all other yards","R-MP 2.0 m"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}},"height_side_rear":{"label":"Height, side and rear yards","value":"2.0 m in all other yards in the R-1, R-1(A), R-1(MH), R-2, R-2(A), RM-1, R-3, R-4 and R-5 zones, and 2.0 m in the R-MP, RR-1, RR-2, P-1 and P-2 zones. No fence may exceed 2.0 m (s. 3.12(3)); the open mesh or chain link exception is subject to s. 3.10. RES-3 zone: 1.8 m.","short":"2.0 m","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://invermere.civicweb.net/document/20335/","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 1145, 2002, consolidated (PDF), District of Invermere","section":"ss. 3.10(3), 3.12(3)","quotes":["2.0 m in all other yards","no person shall construct a","fence higher than 2.0 m (6.6 ft) from ground level except for open mesh or chain link type","fence higher than 2.0 m (6.6 ft) from ground level except for open mesh or chain link type fences, subject to Section 3.10.","(a) No fence shall exceed 1.8 m in height."]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}},"corner_lots":{"label":"Corner lots and sightlines","value":"No one may obstruct vision at an intersection on a corner parcel within the triangle formed by the two parcel lines and a line joining them 6.0 m from where they meet.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://invermere.civicweb.net/document/20335/","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 1145, 2002, consolidated (PDF), District of Invermere","section":"s. 3.11","quotes":["No person shall obstruct vision at an intersection on corner parcels by any means within a","triangular area bounded by the two parcel lines adjacent to the highway right-of-way and a","straight line joining each parcel line at a distance of 6.0 m (19.7 ft) from their point of intersection,"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}},"other_rules":{"label":"Other rules","value":"Barbed wire is prohibited in the R-1, R-1(A), R-1(MH), R-2, R-2(A), RM-1, R-3, R-4, R-5 and R-MP zones. A fence includes a wall or trellis. Pool, spa and hot tub fences must be at least 1.22 m high with no openings over 100 mm and a self-closing, self-latching gate.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://invermere.civicweb.net/document/20335/","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 1145, 2002, consolidated (PDF), District of Invermere","section":"ss. 3.10(2), 2 (definition of Fence)","quotes":["The use of barbed wire is prohibited within the R-1, R-1(A), R-1(MH), R-2, R-","parcel from adjacent parcels or part of a parcel from an adjacent part of a parcel and includes a","wall or trellis."]},{"url":"https://invermere.net/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/bylaw-1677-building-bylaw.pdf","title":"Building Bylaw No. 1677, 2026 (PDF), District of Invermere","section":"ss. 14.2-14.3","quotes":["having a minimum height of 1.22 metres and no openings greater","than 100 mm at their greatest dimension.","through a self-closing and self-latching gate designed and constructed or installed"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}},"bylaw":{"label":"Bylaw","value":"Zoning Bylaw No. 1145, 2002, ss. 3.10, 3.11 and 3.12(3); Building Bylaw No. 1677, 2026, Parts 11 and 14","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://invermere.civicweb.net/document/20335/","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 1145, 2002, consolidated (PDF), District of Invermere","section":"s. 3.10(3)","quotes":["Height requirements for fences and screening are in accordance with the"]},{"url":"https://invermere.net/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/bylaw-1677-building-bylaw.pdf","title":"Building Bylaw No. 1677, 2026 (PDF), District of Invermere","section":"s. 1.1","quotes":["Building Bylaw No. 1677, 2026"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}}},"facts_summary":{"total":6,"stated":6,"matched":6,"none":0,"unknown":0},"body_markdown":"## How it works\n\nIn Invermere the [Building Bylaw No. 1677](https://invermere.net/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/bylaw-1677-building-bylaw.pdf) does not apply to a fence, except retaining walls, so an ordinary fence needs no building permit. The [Zoning Bylaw No. 1145](https://invermere.civicweb.net/document/20335/) sets fence heights (ss. 3.10 to 3.12); its siting rules do not apply to fences, but its height rules do. A fence includes a wall or trellis.\n\n## Steps\n\n1. Check your zone on the zoning map (see the zoning-lookup answer).\n2. Keep the fence within the height limits below, measured from ground level.\n3. On a corner lot, keep the corner clear (see below).\n4. If you build a pool, spa or hot tub, or a retaining wall over 1.22 m, apply for a building permit.\n\n## Good to know\n\n- In the R-1, R-1(A), R-1(MH), R-2, R-2(A), RM-1, R-3, R-4 and R-5 zones, the limit is 1.0 m in the required front yard and 2.0 m in other yards. In the R-MP, RR-1, RR-2, P-1 and P-2 zones it is 2.0 m with no separate front-yard figure. In the RES-3 zone it is 1.8 m.\n- Commercial, tourist and industrial zones list a minimum 2.0 m fence where the parcel line abuts a residential use; that is a minimum, not a maximum.\n- Livestock and wildlife fencing in the Rural Residential and Rural Resource zones is not subject to the maximum heights.\n- Barbed wire is prohibited in the R-1, R-1(A), R-1(MH), R-2, R-2(A), RM-1, R-3, R-4, R-5 and R-MP zones. The bylaw does not mention electric fences.\n- On a corner parcel, no one may obstruct vision within the triangle formed by the two parcel lines and a line joining them 6.0 m from where they meet. The text sets no separate fence height there; ask Planning.\n- A pool, spa or hot tub needs a building permit and an enclosing fence at least 1.22 m high, with no openings over 100 mm and a self-closing, self-latching gate.\n- A development permit may be needed in a development permit area.","sources":[{"url":"https://invermere.civicweb.net/document/20335/","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 1145, 2002, consolidated (PDF), District of Invermere","accessed":"2026-11-08"},{"url":"https://invermere.net/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/bylaw-1677-building-bylaw.pdf","title":"Building Bylaw No. 1677, 2026 (PDF), District of Invermere","accessed":"2026-11-08"}],"sources_read":"2026-11-08","review":{"status":"machine_checked","badge":"Checked against official text","label":"Checked by script, not yet by a person: the official wording behind 6 of 6 facts was matched to the official text."},"urls":{"html":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/invermere/fence-rules/","markdown":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/invermere/fence-rules.md","json":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/invermere/fence-rules.json"}}