GovHandbook

Kamloops fence rules: permits and height limits

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

Kamloops, British ColumbiaChecked against official textSources read 2026-11-05

Short answer

Kamloops does not require a building permit for an ordinary fence, but Zoning Bylaw 55 sets height limits. In most residential zones a fence may be 1.2 m high in a required front or street-side yard and 2 m in interior side and rear yards. Swimming pool fences need a pool permit.

Key facts

PermitNo building permit is needed for a fence, except swimming pool fences, which fall under Part 19 (Pool Permits) of the Building Regulation Bylaw.Building Regulation Bylaw 11-84, s. 6.4(a); Part 19; Apply by ePermit, Homeowners · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
Official wording
a fence, except as set out in Part 19 of this bylaw;
Without limiting Section 6.4 of this bylaw, a person must not Construct, or structurally
fences, sidewalks, and planters
Height, front yard1.2 m within a required front yard, a required side street yard, or a required rear yard that backs onto a street with vehicle access. In country residential zones (CR-1, CR-2, CR-3), up to 2 m in any yard.Zoning Bylaw 55, Sections 5.7 to 5.9, s. 5.7.1(a), (c)(ii) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
Official wording
In all CR, R, RM, commercial, comprehensive development, P2, I1S, and I1 zones,
1.2 m within a required Front Yard, Required Side Street Yard, or
in all country residential Zones (CR-1, CR-2, and CR-3),
Fences to a maximum of 2 m high shall be permitted in any
Height, side and rear yards2 m within an interior side yard or rear yard (including a rear yard backing onto a street with no vehicle access, such as an arterial road or highway), and 2 m behind the setback line of a required front or side street yard. Exceptions: 1.2 m in CNS and CBD zones; 2.5 m in I1 and I1S side and rear yards.Zoning Bylaw 55, Sections 5.7 to 5.9, s. 5.7.1(b), (c) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
Official wording
2 m outside (behind the Setback line of) a Required Front Yard, or
2 m within an interior Side Yard, or Rear Yard, including a Rear Yard that
in the CNS and CBD Zones, the maximum Fence height in all
Fences to a maximum of 2.5 m shall be
Corner lots and sightlinesOn a corner lot, nothing from fencing, hedges or landscaping may block the line of vision above 1 m within the area bounded by the street centre lines and a line joining points 25 m from their intersection. At provincial highway corners the limit is 0.6 m in a 6 m triangle; at lanes or walkways, a 1.5 m triangle. Side street yard fences are also capped at 1.2 m.Zoning Bylaw 55, Sections 5.7 to 5.9, s. 5.7.1(a); Zoning Bylaw 55, Sections 5.7 to 5.9, s. 2.2, definitions · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
Official wording
1.2 m within a required Front Yard, Required Side Street Yard, or
Notwithstanding Sections 5.7 and 5.8 above, there shall be, from any landscaping,
on a Corner Lot, above the 1 m level measured from the average height
above the 0.6 m level within an area formed by a
Lot Line, and a straight line which intersects the two Lot Lines 1.5 m from
“Corner Cut” means a triangular area formed on a Corner Lot by the two
intersects them 4.5 m from the corner where they meet
Other rulesHedges in a required yard abutting a street follow the same height limits. Barbed wire is prohibited in single-detached, two-unit and multi-unit residential zones (allowed in agricultural and rural residential zones); razor wire is prohibited in all residential zones. A fence in the rear yard of an interior lot that abuts a street needs a 0.8 m gate. Pool fences: at least 1.5 m high, with a self-closing, self-latching gate.Zoning Bylaw 55, Sections 5.7 to 5.9, ss. 5.7.2, 5.7.3, 5.8.5; Building Regulation Bylaw 11-84, ss. 19.4, 19.8 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
Official wording
they shall comply with the height
a 0.8 m gate must be installed in the Fence for maintenance purposes.
Use of barbed wire as a fencing material is prohibited in all Single-Detached, Single-
is permitted in the Agricultural and Rural Residential Zones.
Use of razor wire in conjunction with fencing is prohibited in all residential Zones,
having a minimum height of 1.5 m and no openings
closing and self-latching gate designed and constructed or installed so as to cause
BylawZoning Bylaw No. 55, 2021, ss. 5.7 and 5.8 (Screening and Fencing) and s. 5.9 (Site Lines); Building Regulation Bylaw No. 11-84, 2025, Part 19 for pool fencesZoning Bylaw 55, Sections 5.7 to 5.9, s. 1.1.1; Zoning Bylaw 55, Sections 5.7 to 5.9, s. 5.7; Building Regulation Bylaw 11-84, s. 1.1 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
Official wording
This bylaw may be cited as “Zoning Bylaw No. 55, 2021”.
Notwithstanding Sections 5.7 and 5.8 above, there shall be, from any landscaping,
SCREENING AND FENCING - GENERAL REGULATIONS
Building Regulation Bylaw No. 11-84, 2025

How it works

The City of Kamloops Building Regulation Bylaw 11-84 does not require a building permit for a fence, except swimming pool fences. The Zoning Bylaw still controls how tall a fence can be and where it can go. The bylaws do not say how fence height is measured, so ask Planning if it matters.

Height limits (most residential zones)

  • 1.2 m within a required front yard, a required side street yard, or a required rear yard that backs onto a street with vehicle access.
  • 2 m behind the setback line of a required front or side street yard, and in interior side and rear yards (including a rear yard backing onto a street with no vehicle access, such as an arterial road or highway).
  • Country residential zones (CR-1 to CR-3): up to 2 m in any yard.
  • Exceptions: 1.2 m in the CNS and CBD zones; 2.5 m in side and rear yards in I1 and I1S zones; up to 3 m in a rear yard that directly abuts a railway.

Good to know

  • Corner lots: above 1 m, nothing from fencing, hedges or landscaping may block the line of vision within the area bounded by the street centre lines and a line joining points 25 m from their intersection (Zoning Bylaw s. 5.9.1). At provincial highway corners the limit is 0.6 m in a 6 m triangle; at lanes or walkways, a 1.5 m triangle.
  • Hedges in a required yard next to a street follow the same height limits.
  • A fence in the rear yard of an interior lot that abuts a street needs a 0.8 m maintenance gate.
  • Barbed wire is prohibited in single-detached, two-unit and multi-unit residential zones; razor wire is prohibited in all residential zones.
  • Pool fences must be at least 1.5 m high with a self-closing, self-latching gate (Building Regulation Bylaw Part 19).
  • A retaining wall of 1.2 m or higher needs a building permit.
  • Planning at 250-828-3561 can confirm your zone and limits.

Official forms and pages

The same question in other places

Sun Peaks · Barriere · Logan Lake · Ashcroft · Cache Creek · Merritt

Fence height limits in British Columbia, by municipality →

Sources

  1. Zoning Bylaw 55, Sections 5.7 to 5.9 (PDF), City of Kamloops (read 2026-11-05)
  2. Building Regulation Bylaw 11-84 (PDF), City of Kamloops (read 2026-11-05)
  3. Apply by ePermit, City of Kamloops (read 2026-11-05)
  4. Zoning Information Request, City of Kamloops (read 2026-11-05)

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.