---
title: "Kelowna fence rules: permits and height limits"
question: "Do I need a fence permit in Kelowna, and how high can my fence be?"
place: Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada
place_path: ca/bc/kelowna
category: Building, renovating and your property
owner: municipal
owner_body: City of Kelowna
sources_read: 2026-11-09
review: machine_checked
canonical: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/kelowna/fence-rules/"
json: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/kelowna/fence-rules.json"
---

# Kelowna fence rules: permits and height limits

**Question:** Do I need a fence permit in Kelowna, and how high can my fence be?

**Short answer:** Kelowna generally limits residential fencing along a street to 1.2 metres. Side and rear yards can usually have fencing up to 2 metres. Check which lot lines face a street before selecting panels.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (City of Kelowna, https://www.kelowna.ca)  
**Where:**
- Phone: The planning office, 250-469-8626

## Key facts

- **Permit:** Not confirmed. Checked FAQs, Zoning Bylaw No. 12375; not found there.
- **Height, front yard:** Kelowna generally limits residential fencing along a street to 1.2 metres.
  - Source: [FAQs](https://www.kelowna.ca/homes-building/planning-development/faqs)
  - Official wording: "· Property lines that are fronting a street are typically limited to a maximum fence height of 1.2 meters from the ground where the fencing will be installed to the top of the fence panel."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-09
- **Height, side and rear yards:** Usually up to 2 metres in a side or rear yard.
  - Source: [FAQs](https://www.kelowna.ca/homes-building/planning-development/faqs)
  - Official wording: "· Taller fencing is permitted along both side and rear yards and allows for a maximum height of 2.0 meters."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-09
- **Corner lots and sightlines:** Not confirmed. Checked FAQs; not found there.
- **Other rules:** Install fencing within the property boundaries. On the street frontage, measure from the ground where the fence is installed to the top of its panel.
  - Source: [FAQs, Residential property boundaries and fence measurement](https://www.kelowna.ca/homes-building/planning-development/faqs)
  - Official wording: "Where can fencing be installed on a residential property? · Fencing can be installed on any residential property within the property lines, also called the “property boundary”. · Property lines that are fronting a street are typically limited to a maximum fence height of 1.2 meters from the ground where the fencing will be installed to the top of the fence panel. · Taller fencing is permitted along both side and rear yards and allows for a maximum height of 2.0 meters. · For additional information on fencing requirements refer to Section 7.5 of the City of Kelowna Zoning Bylaw."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-09
- **Bylaw:** City of Kelowna Zoning Bylaw, section 7.5, Fencing and Retaining Walls.
  - Source: [FAQs, Residential fence guidance, section 7.5 of the Zoning Bylaw](https://www.kelowna.ca/homes-building/planning-development/faqs)
  - Official wording: "Where can fencing be installed on a residential property? · Fencing can be installed on any residential property within the property lines, also called the “property boundary”. · Property lines that are fronting a street are typically limited to a maximum fence height of 1.2 meters from the ground where the fencing will be installed to the top of the fence panel. · Taller fencing is permitted along both side and rear yards and allows for a maximum height of 2.0 meters. · For additional information on fencing requirements refer to Section 7.5 of the City of Kelowna Zoning Bylaw."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-09

## How it works

Sketch the lot before choosing a fence height. Show the street, the front of the building, each length of proposed fence and any intersection or driveway near it. The same fence can cross more than one regulated area. Usually up to 2 metres in a side or rear yard.

## Steps

1. Check the fence provisions in [FAQs](https://www.kelowna.ca/homes-building/planning-development/faqs). Find the rule for each segment and the point from which height is measured. Mark where a segment changes from one yard or regulated area to another.
2. For a corner lot, also check visibility requirements. If the site slopes or the fence sits on a retaining wall, describe that to the planning office before ordering panels.

## Good to know

- Install fencing within the property boundaries. On the street frontage, measure from the ground where the fence is installed to the top of its panel.
- Open Kelowna’s zoning map and find your parcel.
- Include any gates, screens or changes in material on your sketch. Ask planning to identify the applicable clause if it is unclear where a limit changes.
- For a question about which yard the fence crosses and whether the corner has a sightline requirement, call the planning office at 250-469-8626. A sketch showing the street, house and proposed fence will help identify which limits you need.

## Related questions

- [Kelowna secondary suite and carriage house rules](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/kelowna/secondary-suite.md)
- [Kelowna tree removal rules and permits](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/kelowna/tree-removal.md)
- [Kelowna zoning: find your zone and what it allows](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/kelowna/zoning-lookup.md)

## The same question elsewhere

- [Fence height limits in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/fence-rules.md)
- [West Kelowna](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/west-kelowna/fence-rules.md)
- [Lake Country](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/lake-country/fence-rules.md)
- [Peachland](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/peachland/fence-rules.md)
- [Coldstream](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/coldstream/fence-rules.md)
- [Vernon](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/vernon/fence-rules.md)
- [Summerland](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/summerland/fence-rules.md)

## Sources

- [FAQs](https://www.kelowna.ca/homes-building/planning-development/faqs) (read 2026-11-09)
- [Zoning Bylaw](https://www.kelowna.ca/homes-building/planning-development/zoning-bylaw) (read 2026-11-09)
- [Kelowna municipal office contact information](https://www.kelowna.ca/parks-recreation/recreation-facilities/city-hall) (read 2026-11-09)
- [Development Planning | City of Kelowna](https://www.kelowna.ca/city-hall/contact-us/development-planning) (read 2026-11-09)

_Checked by script, not yet by a person: the official wording behind 4 of 6 facts was matched to the official text; 2 could not be confirmed. Gov Handbook is an independent guide, not affiliated with City of Kelowna. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/kelowna/fence-rules/_