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Invermere fence rules: permits and height limits

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

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

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.

Key facts

PermitNo 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.Building Bylaw No. 1677, 2026, s. 3.3(a); s. 11.1; Zoning Bylaw No. 1145, 2002, consolidated, s. 3.10(1) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
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
The siting provisions of this bylaw do not apply to fences and screening, except
Height, front yard1.0 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.Zoning Bylaw No. 1145, 2002, consolidated, s. 3.10(3) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
Official wording
1.0 m in required front yard
2.0 m in all other yards
R-MP 2.0 m
Height, side and rear yards2.0 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.Zoning Bylaw No. 1145, 2002, consolidated, ss. 3.10(3), 3.12(3) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
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.
Corner lots and sightlinesNo 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.Zoning Bylaw No. 1145, 2002, consolidated, s. 3.11 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
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,
Other rulesBarbed 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.Zoning Bylaw No. 1145, 2002, consolidated, ss. 3.10(2), 2 (definition of Fence); Building Bylaw No. 1677, 2026, ss. 14.2-14.3 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
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.
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
BylawZoning Bylaw No. 1145, 2002, ss. 3.10, 3.11 and 3.12(3); Building Bylaw No. 1677, 2026, Parts 11 and 14Zoning Bylaw No. 1145, 2002, consolidated, s. 3.10(3); Building Bylaw No. 1677, 2026, s. 1.1 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
Official wording
Height requirements for fences and screening are in accordance with the
Building Bylaw No. 1677, 2026

How it works

In Invermere the Building Bylaw No. 1677 does not apply to a fence, except retaining walls, so an ordinary fence needs no building permit. The Zoning Bylaw No. 1145 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

The same question in other places

Radium Hot Springs · Canal Flats · Kaslo · Elkford · Kimberley · Cranbrook

Fence height limits in British Columbia, by municipality →

Sources

  1. Zoning Bylaw No. 1145, 2002, consolidated (PDF), District of Invermere (read 2026-11-08)
  2. Building Bylaw No. 1677, 2026 (PDF), District of Invermere (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.