---
title: "Kent fence rules: permits and height limits"
question: "Do I need a permit to build a fence, and how high can it be?"
place: Kent, British Columbia, Canada
place_path: ca/bc/kent
category: Building, renovating and your property
owner: municipal
owner_body: District of Kent
sources_read: 2026-11-06
review: machine_checked
canonical: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/kent/fence-rules/"
json: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/kent/fence-rules.json"
---

# Kent fence rules: permits and height limits

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

**Short answer:** In the District of Kent a fence can be up to 1.8 m high in the front setback and 2.4 m elsewhere on the lot. The Homeowner Guide says an ordinary fence needs no building permit, but a pool fence does. Near corners, nothing may exceed 1 m in the sight triangle.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (District of Kent, https://www.kentbc.ca)  
**Cost:** No building permit is listed for an ordinary fence. A pool fence permit is $150. Retaining walls over 1 m need a building permit.  
**How long:** Not applicable for an ordinary fence.  
**Where:**
- Phone: Planning and Development Services, 604-796-2235
- Email: Planning and Development Services, planning@kentbc.ca
- In person: Municipal Hall, 7170 Cheam Avenue, Agassiz, BC V0M 1A0 (Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.)
- Phone: Building Department, 604-796-2235

## Key facts

- **Permit:** The Homeowner Guide lists fences among work that needs no building permit, but height must follow the zoning bylaw and intersection sightline rules. A swimming pool fence needs a permit ($150 per the fee schedule), and retaining walls over 1 m need a building permit.
  - Source: [Homeowner Guide, February 2025, s. 2(b)](https://kentbc-ca.govstack.com/media/dudkhejx/district-of-kent-a-guide-for-the-homeowner-february-2025.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Fences (fence height must comply with intersection sightline requirements and the" … "Construct retaining walls greater than 1 metre (3.28 feet) in height."
  - Source: [Homeowner Guide, February 2025, s. 2(a)](https://kentbc-ca.govstack.com/media/dudkhejx/district-of-kent-a-guide-for-the-homeowner-february-2025.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Construct retaining walls greater than 1 metre (3.28 feet) in height."
  - Source: [Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 1717, 2023 (PDF, consolidated), Sch. B item 15](https://media-003-ca.cdn.govstack.com/kentbc-ca/media/0tcgzwdh/bylaw1717consolidated.pdf)
  - Official wording: "For a permit to erect fencing around a swimming pool in accordance"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Height, front yard:** 1.8 m on any part of a lot within the required front lot line setback (subject to the 1 m vision-clearance rule at corners).
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 1219, 2001 (PDF, consolidated October 6, 2025), s. 7.10.1.1(a)](https://media-003-ca.cdn.govstack.com/kentbc-ca/media/5aefsox2/zoning-bylaw_consolidated-october-6-2025.pdf)
  - Official wording: "one point eight (1.8) metres on any portion of a lot within a required" … "front lot line setback;"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Height, side and rear yards:** 2.4 m on any part of a lot outside the required front setback. Exception: in the RS1 zone with a detached accessory dwelling unit accessed from a lane, fences within the rear lot line setback are limited to 1.8 m.
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 1219, 2001 (PDF, consolidated October 6, 2025), s. 7.10.1.1(b)](https://media-003-ca.cdn.govstack.com/kentbc-ca/media/5aefsox2/zoning-bylaw_consolidated-october-6-2025.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Two point four (2.4) metres on any portion of a lot outside the required" … "shall not exceed a height greater than one point eight (1.8) metres."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Corner lots and sightlines:** At a street corner, no fence, wall or structure (other than a principal building) may exceed 1.0 m (3 ft) within the triangle formed by the lot lines and a line joining points 18 m (60 ft) from their intersection; at a lane corner the distance is 6 m (20 ft). Hedges and shrubs may not obstruct vision there either.
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 1219, 2001 (PDF, consolidated October 6, 2025), s. 7.11](https://media-003-ca.cdn.govstack.com/kentbc-ca/media/5aefsox2/zoning-bylaw_consolidated-october-6-2025.pdf)
  - Official wording: "erected to a greater height than one (1.0) metre (3.0 feet) and no hedge, bush, shrub, tree or" … "eighteen (18) metres (60 feet) from their points of intersection." … "six (6.0) metres (20 feet) from their point of intersection."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Other rules:** Open mesh or chain link fences around a cemetery, public playground, park, playfield, school or utility yard may be up to 3 m. A fence on an engineer-approved retaining wall is limited to 1.8 m. Pool fences must be at least 1.1 m high, with no opening over 10 cm and a self-closing, self-latching gate.
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 1219, 2001 (PDF, consolidated October 6, 2025), s. 7.10.1.2-3](https://media-003-ca.cdn.govstack.com/kentbc-ca/media/5aefsox2/zoning-bylaw_consolidated-october-6-2025.pdf)
  - Official wording: "fences shall not exceed a height of three (3) metres" … "Fences placed on a retaining wall approved by the District Engineer during" … "subdivision or development shall not exceed one point eight (1.8) metres in"
  - Source: [Building Bylaw No. 1116, 1997 (PDF, 2009 consolidation), s. 18.01](https://www.kentbc.ca/media/mx2av5qt/doc_636886040467766759.pdf)
  - Official wording: "The fence shall be not less" … "than 1.1 metres (3 feet 6 inches) in height, with no openings greater than 10 cm" … "Access through the fence enclosing the"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Bylaw:** Zoning Bylaw No. 1219, 2001, ss. 7.10 and 7.11 (consolidated October 6, 2025); pool fences: Building Bylaw No. 1116, s. 18.01
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 1219, 2001 (PDF, consolidated October 6, 2025), cover](https://media-003-ca.cdn.govstack.com/kentbc-ca/media/5aefsox2/zoning-bylaw_consolidated-october-6-2025.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Zoning Bylaw No. 1219, 2001" … "CONSOLIDATED FOR CONVENIENCE ONLY"
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 1219, 2001 (PDF, consolidated October 6, 2025), s. 7.10](https://media-003-ca.cdn.govstack.com/kentbc-ca/media/5aefsox2/zoning-bylaw_consolidated-october-6-2025.pdf)
  - Official wording: "7.9 Building Height ............................................................................... 41 7.10 Fences ........................................................................................... 41 7.11 Vision Clearance at Intersections .................................................. 42" … "Zoning Bylaw No. 1219, 2001 February 2002"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06

## How it works

The District's [Zoning Bylaw No. 1219](https://media-003-ca.cdn.govstack.com/kentbc-ca/media/5aefsox2/zoning-bylaw_consolidated-october-6-2025.pdf) (sections 7.10 and 7.11) sets fence heights. A fence may be 1.8 m high on any part of a lot within the required front setback, and 2.4 m on any part outside it. In the RS1 zone, where there is a detached accessory dwelling unit reached from a lane, fences within the rear setback are limited to 1.8 m. The front limit does not apply in the industrial zones (Light, Heavy, Special and Enclosed Storage).

The [Homeowner Guide](https://kentbc-ca.govstack.com/media/dudkhejx/district-of-kent-a-guide-for-the-homeowner-february-2025.pdf) lists fences among work that needs no building permit, but the height must follow zoning and the intersection sightline rules. Because that comes from the Guide and not the bylaw, confirm with Planning before you build.

## Steps

1. Find your property lines first.
2. Check your zone and the height limits with Planning at 604-796-2235 or planning@kentbc.ca.
3. If you are building a swimming pool fence or a retaining wall over 1 m, ask the Building Department about a building permit.

## Good to know

- At a street corner, no fence, wall or structure other than a principal building may exceed 1.0 m (3 ft) within the triangle formed by the lot lines and a line joining points 18 m (60 ft) from where they meet. At a lane corner the distance is 6 m (20 ft). Hedges and shrubs may not block vision there either.
- Open mesh or chain link fences around a cemetery, public playground, park, playfield, school or utility yard may be up to 3 m. A fence on an engineer-approved retaining wall is limited to 1.8 m.
- Pool fences must be at least 1.1 m high, with no opening over 10 cm and a self-closing, self-latching gate. A pool fence needs a permit ($150 in the fee schedule).
- The bylaws and Guide do not say how fence height is measured or set rules for barbed wire or electric fences. Ask Planning.

## Official forms and pages

- [Zoning Bylaw No. 1219, 2001 (PDF, consolidated October 6, 2025)](https://media-003-ca.cdn.govstack.com/kentbc-ca/media/5aefsox2/zoning-bylaw_consolidated-october-6-2025.pdf)
- [Homeowner Guide, February 2025 (PDF)](https://kentbc-ca.govstack.com/media/dudkhejx/district-of-kent-a-guide-for-the-homeowner-february-2025.pdf)
- [Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 1717, 2023 (PDF, consolidated)](https://media-003-ca.cdn.govstack.com/kentbc-ca/media/0tcgzwdh/bylaw1717consolidated.pdf)

## Related questions

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

## The same question elsewhere

- [Fence height limits in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/fence-rules.md)
- [Harrison Hot Springs](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/harrison-hot-springs/fence-rules.md)
- [Chilliwack](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/chilliwack/fence-rules.md)
- [Hope](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/hope/fence-rules.md)
- [Abbotsford](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/abbotsford/fence-rules.md)
- [Mission](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/mission/fence-rules.md)
- [Maple Ridge](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/maple-ridge/fence-rules.md)

## Sources

- [Zoning Bylaw No. 1219, 2001 (PDF, consolidated October 6, 2025)](https://media-003-ca.cdn.govstack.com/kentbc-ca/media/5aefsox2/zoning-bylaw_consolidated-october-6-2025.pdf) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Homeowner Guide, February 2025 (PDF)](https://kentbc-ca.govstack.com/media/dudkhejx/district-of-kent-a-guide-for-the-homeowner-february-2025.pdf) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 1717, 2023 (PDF, consolidated)](https://media-003-ca.cdn.govstack.com/kentbc-ca/media/0tcgzwdh/bylaw1717consolidated.pdf) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Building Bylaw No. 1116, 1997 (PDF, 2009 consolidation)](https://www.kentbc.ca/media/mx2av5qt/doc_636886040467766759.pdf) (read 2026-11-06)

_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 Kent. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/kent/fence-rules/_