{"title":"Kimberley fence rules: permits and height limits","question":"Do I need a permit to build a fence, and how high can it be?","slug":"fence-rules","place":{"path":"ca/bc/kimberley","name":"Kimberley","region":{"code":"bc","name":"British Columbia"},"country":{"code":"ca","name":"Canada"}},"category":{"slug":"building-and-renovating","name":"Building, renovating and your property"},"owner":"municipal","owner_label":"Municipal","owner_body":{"name":"City of Kimberley","url":"https://www.kimberley.ca"},"short_answer":"In Kimberley a fence needs no building permit, because the Building Bylaw does not apply to fences (retaining walls are covered separately). Zoning Bylaw 1850 limits fences to 2.15 m (7 ft) in every yard, in all zones except Industrial and Public zones. Corner-lot sight triangles and pool fences have their own rules.","aliases":["fence height kimberley","fence permit kimberley","how tall can my fence be kimberley bc","retaining wall permit kimberley"],"cost":"No fee for a fence itself is stated in the bylaws. A building permit for a retaining wall or pool follows the building permit fees.","how_long":null,"where":[{"type":"phone","label":"Building Official","value":"250-427-9655"},{"type":"email","label":"Planning Services","value":"planning@kimberley.ca"},{"type":"email","label":"Building Official","value":"building.official@kimberley.ca"}],"documents":[],"forms":[{"title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 1850, 1994 (consolidated, PDF)","url":"https://kimberley.civicweb.net/document/133474"},{"title":"Alpine Resort Zoning Bylaw No. 2016, 1999 (consolidated, PDF)","url":"https://kimberley.civicweb.net/document/133475"},{"title":"Building Bylaw No. 2620, 2018 (PDF)","url":"https://kimberley.civicweb.net/document/122885"}],"related":[{"slug":"deck-shed-garage-permit","title":"Kimberley permits for decks, sheds, carports and garages","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/kimberley/deck-shed-garage-permit/"},{"slug":"zoning-lookup","title":"Kimberley zoning: find your zone and what it allows","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/kimberley/zoning-lookup/"},{"slug":"building-permit","title":"Kimberley building permits: when you need one and how to apply","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/kimberley/building-permit/"}],"nearby":[{"place":"ca/bc/cranbrook","name":"Cranbrook","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/cranbrook/fence-rules/"},{"place":"ca/bc/canal-flats","name":"Canal Flats","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/canal-flats/fence-rules/"},{"place":"ca/bc/fernie","name":"Fernie","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/fernie/fence-rules/"},{"place":"ca/bc/creston","name":"Creston","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/creston/fence-rules/"},{"place":"ca/bc/kaslo","name":"Kaslo","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/kaslo/fence-rules/"},{"place":"ca/bc/sparwood","name":"Sparwood","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/sparwood/fence-rules/"}],"topic":{"title":"Fence height limits in British Columbia, by municipality","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/fence-rules/"},"facts":{"permit":{"label":"Permit","value":"No building permit: the Building Bylaw does not apply to a fence (retaining walls are covered separately). Zoning rules on height and location still apply.","short":"No building permit","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://kimberley.civicweb.net/document/122885","title":"Building Bylaw No. 2620, 2018 (PDF), City of Kimberley","section":"s. 3.3(a)","quotes":["a fence, except as set out in Part 11 [Retaining Walls] of this bylaw;"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"height_front":{"label":"Height, front yard","value":"2.15 m (7 ft). The bylaw sets one limit for all yards in all zones except Industrial and Public zones; it has no separate front-yard limit.","short":"2.15 m (no separate front limit)","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://kimberley.civicweb.net/document/133474","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 1850, 1994 (consolidated to Jan. 14, 2026) (PDF), City of Kimberley","section":"s. 4.11(9)","quotes":["All Zones, except Industrial and Public Zones:","The maximum height of a fence in all yards shall be 2.15 metres (7 ft)."]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"height_side_rear":{"label":"Height, side and rear yards","value":"2.15 m (7 ft) in all yards (same limit as the front yard), in all zones except Industrial and Public zones.","short":"2.15 m","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://kimberley.civicweb.net/document/133474","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 1850, 1994 (consolidated to Jan. 14, 2026) (PDF), City of Kimberley","section":"s. 4.11(9)","quotes":["The maximum height of a fence in all yards shall be 2.15 metres (7 ft)."]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"corner_lots":{"label":"Corner lots and sightlines","value":"Bylaw 1850 (residential and CD zones): nothing over 1 m high that blocks more than 20% of visibility within the triangle formed by the parcel lines and a line joining points 3 m from where they meet. Alpine Resort Bylaw 2016: nothing over 1 m may obstruct vision within 6 m (3 m in RHA and LA zones).","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://kimberley.civicweb.net/document/133474","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 1850, 1994 (consolidated to Jan. 14, 2026) (PDF), City of Kimberley","section":"s. 4.09(3)(c)","quotes":["no buildings, structures, fences, landscaping or other objects in excess of","1m (3.2 ft) in height, and that","obstruct visibility by more than","from their points of intersection."]},{"url":"https://kimberley.civicweb.net/document/133475","title":"Alpine Resort Zoning Bylaw No. 2016, 1999 (consolidated to Jan. 14, 2026) (PDF), City of Kimberley","section":"s. 4.11","quotes":["No person shall obstruct vision at an intersection on corner parcels by buildings,","in the RHA and LA zones : 3.0 metres (9.9 ft.)","in all other zones : 6.0 metres (19.6 ft.)"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"other_rules":{"label":"Other rules","value":"Barbed, electrified or razor wire is banned (limited barbed-wire exception in M-1, M-2, P-2 zones). A fence on a retaining wall at or within 1.2 m of a property line is measured from grade on the high side. Retaining wall faces: 2 m maximum. Pool, spa or hot tub fences: at least 1.2 m high, no openings over 100 mm, self-closing self-latching gate.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://kimberley.civicweb.net/document/133474","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 1850, 1994 (consolidated to Jan. 14, 2026) (PDF), City of Kimberley","section":"s. 4.11","quotes":["Barbed, electrified, or razor wire must not be used as a fencing material in any","Zone, except barbed wire may be used","the high side of the","retaining wall.","The exposed face of any retaining wall must not exceed height of 2 metres.","All fencing, retaining walls, screening and landscaping must be maintained in"]},{"url":"https://kimberley.civicweb.net/document/122885","title":"Building Bylaw No. 2620, 2018 (PDF), City of Kimberley","section":"Part 14, ss. 14.2-14.3","quotes":["having a minimum height of 1.2 metres and no openings greater than 100 mm at their greatest","self-closing and self-latching gate"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"bylaw":{"label":"Bylaw","value":"Zoning Bylaw No. 1850, 1994, ss. 4.09(3)(c) and 4.11; Alpine Resort Zoning Bylaw No. 2016, 1999, ss. 4.11 and 4.14; Building Bylaw No. 2620, 2018, s. 3.3(a) and Part 14 (pool fences).","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://kimberley.civicweb.net/document/133474","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 1850, 1994 (consolidated to Jan. 14, 2026) (PDF), City of Kimberley","section":"s. 4.11","quotes":["RETAINING WALLS, FENCING, SCREENING AND LANDSCAPING"]},{"url":"https://kimberley.civicweb.net/document/122885","title":"Building Bylaw No. 2620, 2018 (PDF), City of Kimberley","section":"s. 3.3(a)","quotes":["a fence, except as set out in Part 11 [Retaining Walls] of this bylaw;"]},{"url":"https://kimberley.civicweb.net/document/133475","title":"Alpine Resort Zoning Bylaw No. 2016, 1999 (consolidated to Jan. 14, 2026) (PDF), City of Kimberley","section":"s. 4.14","quotes":["The maximum height of a fence in all yards shall be 2.15 metres (7 ft)."]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}}},"facts_summary":{"total":6,"stated":6,"matched":6,"none":0,"unknown":0},"body_markdown":"## How it works\n\n[Building Bylaw 2620](https://kimberley.civicweb.net/document/122885), s. 3.3(a), does not apply to a fence, so no building permit is issued for one. Zoning rules on height and location still apply. Most of Kimberley is under [Zoning Bylaw 1850](https://kimberley.civicweb.net/document/133474); the alpine resort area has its own [Alpine Resort Zoning Bylaw 2016](https://kimberley.civicweb.net/document/133475). Check which one covers your lot.\n\n## Steps\n\n1. Confirm your lot lines before building.\n2. Keep the fence at or below 2.15 m (7 ft). Zoning Bylaw 1850 sets one limit for all yards, with no separate front-yard limit.\n3. On a corner lot, check the sight triangle below.\n4. If you want to build over the limit, ask Planning Services about options.\n\n## Good to know\n\n- The 2.15 m limit does not apply in Industrial and Public zones, which have their own limits. Open mesh and chain link fences around cemeteries, sports fields, parks and similar are exempt from the maximum heights.\n- Barbed, electrified or razor wire is banned, with a limited barbed-wire exception in M-1, M-2 and P-2 zones.\n- Sight triangle, Bylaw 1850 (residential and CD zones): nothing over 1 m high may block more than 20% of visibility within the triangle formed by the parcel lines and a line joining points 3 m from where they meet. In the Alpine Resort area, nothing over 1 m may obstruct vision within 6 m (3 m in RHA and LA zones).\n- A fence on a retaining wall at or within 1.2 m of a property line is measured from grade on the high side. A retaining wall face may be 2 m at most.\n- Retaining walls: the Building Bylaw says in one place that walls under 1.5 m are exempt, and in another that 1.2 m or higher needs a permit. Confirm with the Building Official.\n- Pool, spa or hot tub fences (Building Bylaw Part 14): at least 1.2 m high, no openings over 100 mm, and a self-closing, self-latching gate.","sources":[{"url":"https://kimberley.civicweb.net/document/133474","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 1850, 1994 (consolidated to Jan. 14, 2026) (PDF), City of Kimberley","accessed":"2026-11-05"},{"url":"https://kimberley.civicweb.net/document/133475","title":"Alpine Resort Zoning Bylaw No. 2016, 1999 (consolidated to Jan. 14, 2026) (PDF), City of Kimberley","accessed":"2026-11-05"},{"url":"https://kimberley.civicweb.net/document/122885","title":"Building Bylaw No. 2620, 2018 (PDF), City of Kimberley","accessed":"2026-11-05"},{"url":"https://www.kimberley.ca/development/building/permits-inspections","title":"Building Permits & Inspections, City of Kimberley","accessed":"2026-11-05"}],"sources_read":"2026-11-05","review":{"status":"machine_checked","badge":"Checked against official text","label":"Checked by script, not yet by a person: the official wording behind 6 of 6 facts was matched to the official text."},"urls":{"html":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/kimberley/fence-rules/","markdown":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/kimberley/fence-rules.md","json":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/kimberley/fence-rules.json"}}