---
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?"
place: Invermere, British Columbia, Canada
place_path: ca/bc/invermere
category: Building, renovating and your property
owner: municipal
owner_body: District of Invermere
sources_read: 2026-11-08
review: machine_checked
canonical: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/invermere/fence-rules/"
json: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/invermere/fence-rules.json"
---

# 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?

**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.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (District of Invermere, https://invermere.net)  
**Cost:** No fee for an ordinary fence; the District's pages mention no fence permit.  
**How long:** Not applicable for an ordinary fence.  
**Where:**
- Phone: Planning (Director of Development Services), 250-342-9281 ext. 1235
- Email: Planning, planning@invermere.net
- Phone: Building Official, 250-342-9281 ext. 1227

## Key facts

- **Permit:** 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.
  - Source: [Building Bylaw No. 1677, 2026, s. 3.3(a); s. 11.1](https://invermere.net/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/bylaw-1677-building-bylaw.pdf)
  - Official wording: "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"
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 1145, 2002, consolidated, s. 3.10(1)](https://invermere.civicweb.net/document/20335/)
  - Official wording: "The siting provisions of this bylaw do not apply to fences and screening, except"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Height, front yard:** 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.
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 1145, 2002, consolidated, s. 3.10(3)](https://invermere.civicweb.net/document/20335/)
  - Official wording: "1.0 m in required front yard" … "2.0 m in all other yards" … "R-MP 2.0 m"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Height, side and rear yards:** 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.
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 1145, 2002, consolidated, ss. 3.10(3), 3.12(3)](https://invermere.civicweb.net/document/20335/)
  - Official wording: "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: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Corner lots and sightlines:** 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.
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 1145, 2002, consolidated, s. 3.11](https://invermere.civicweb.net/document/20335/)
  - Official wording: "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: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Other rules:** 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.
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 1145, 2002, consolidated, ss. 3.10(2), 2 (definition of Fence)](https://invermere.civicweb.net/document/20335/)
  - Official wording: "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."
  - Source: [Building Bylaw No. 1677, 2026, ss. 14.2-14.3](https://invermere.net/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/bylaw-1677-building-bylaw.pdf)
  - Official wording: "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: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Bylaw:** Zoning Bylaw No. 1145, 2002, ss. 3.10, 3.11 and 3.12(3); Building Bylaw No. 1677, 2026, Parts 11 and 14
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 1145, 2002, consolidated, s. 3.10(3)](https://invermere.civicweb.net/document/20335/)
  - Official wording: "Height requirements for fences and screening are in accordance with the"
  - Source: [Building Bylaw No. 1677, 2026, s. 1.1](https://invermere.net/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/bylaw-1677-building-bylaw.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Building Bylaw No. 1677, 2026"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08

## How it works

In 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.

## Steps

1. Check your zone on the zoning map (see the zoning-lookup answer).
2. Keep the fence within the height limits below, measured from ground level.
3. On a corner lot, keep the corner clear (see below).
4. If you build a pool, spa or hot tub, or a retaining wall over 1.22 m, apply for a building permit.

## Good to know

- 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.
- 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.
- Livestock and wildlife fencing in the Rural Residential and Rural Resource zones is not subject to the maximum heights.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- A development permit may be needed in a development permit area.

## Official forms and pages

- [Zoning Bylaw No. 1145, 2002, consolidated (PDF)](https://invermere.civicweb.net/document/20335/)
- [Building Bylaw No. 1677, 2026 (PDF)](https://invermere.net/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/bylaw-1677-building-bylaw.pdf)

## Related questions

- [Invermere building permits: when you need one and how to apply](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/invermere/building-permit.md)
- [Invermere permits for decks, sheds, carports and garages](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/invermere/deck-shed-garage-permit.md)
- [Invermere zoning: find your zone and what it allows](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/invermere/zoning-lookup.md)

## The same question elsewhere

- [Fence height limits in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/fence-rules.md)
- [Radium Hot Springs](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/radium-hot-springs/fence-rules.md)
- [Canal Flats](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/canal-flats/fence-rules.md)
- [Kaslo](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/kaslo/fence-rules.md)
- [Elkford](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/elkford/fence-rules.md)
- [Kimberley](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/kimberley/fence-rules.md)
- [Cranbrook](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/cranbrook/fence-rules.md)

## Sources

- [Zoning Bylaw No. 1145, 2002, consolidated (PDF), District of Invermere](https://invermere.civicweb.net/document/20335/) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Building Bylaw No. 1677, 2026 (PDF), District of Invermere](https://invermere.net/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/bylaw-1677-building-bylaw.pdf) (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. Gov Handbook is an independent guide, not affiliated with District of Invermere. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/invermere/fence-rules/_