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Lake Country fence rules: permits and height limits

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

Lake Country, British ColumbiaChecked against official textSources read 2026-11-06

Short answer

In Lake Country an ordinary fence generally does not need a building permit. In residential and rural residential zones a fence can be 2.0 m high (2.4 m next to agricultural or commercial zones). Pool fences do need a permit and must be at least 1.22 m high.

Key facts

PermitGenerally no building permit: the Building Regulation Bylaw does not apply to a fence, except where it is in a development permit area under the Official Community Plan or could possibly create a hazard. Swimming pool fences do need a permit.Building Regulation Bylaw 1070, 2018 (consolidated), s. 2.3(a); Building Regulation Bylaw 1070, 2018 (consolidated), s. 8.1(r) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
Official wording
Except where located within a development permit area under the District’s Official Community Plan or could possibly create a hazard, this bylaw does not apply to
except as set out in Section 11 of this bylaw, a fence;
(r) construction of swimming pool fences;
Height, front yard2.0 m at natural grade in residential and rural residential zones (2.4 m where abutting an agricultural or commercial zone). The Zoning Bylaw sets no separate front-yard height.Zoning Bylaw 561, 2007 (consolidated), s. 8.5 Fencing and Retaining Walls; Zoning Bylaw 561, 2007 (consolidated), s. 8.5 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
Official wording
No fence constructed at the natural grade in rural residential or residential zones shall
exceed 2.0 m in height except where abutting an agricultural or commercial zone, the
maximum height is 2.4 m.
Fences and retaining walls are not subject to required setbacks and may be built to
front, side and rear lot lines.
Height, side and rear yards2.0 m at natural grade in residential and rural residential zones (2.4 m where abutting an agricultural or commercial zone). Fences may be built to the side and rear lot lines.Zoning Bylaw 561, 2007 (consolidated), s. 8.5 Fencing and Retaining Walls; Zoning Bylaw 561, 2007 (consolidated), s. 8.5 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
Official wording
No fence constructed at the natural grade in rural residential or residential zones shall
exceed 2.0 m in height except where abutting an agricultural or commercial zone, the
maximum height is 2.4 m.
Fences and retaining walls are not subject to required setbacks and may be built to
front, side and rear lot lines.
Corner lots and sightlinesAt a corner lot at an intersection, no fence, retaining wall or vegetation may be between 1.0 m and 3.0 m above the finished grade of the abutting highways within the sight-line triangle, which reaches no more than 7.5 m back along each property line. Fences that contain or exclude animals on farms may be taller if they do not block visibility.Highways Bylaw 1189, 2022 (consolidated), s. 10.2, 10.3 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
Official wording
No Owner or Occupier of a corner lot at any Intersection shall Permit any Fence, retaining wall or vegetation to
is within the vertical area contained between 1.0 and 3.0 metres above the finished grade of the
no more than a distance of seven and a half (7.5) metres measured back along both the abutting and
Fences intended to contain or exclude animals, which do not block visibility from an intersecting
Other rulesNo barbed wire in rural residential, urban residential or institutional zones, except in RR1 and RR2 for livestock enclosures. No opaque fences in W1 or W2 zones. Pool fences must be at least 1.22 m high. Pickets and finials must not extend above a horizontal rail.Zoning Bylaw 561, 2007 (consolidated), s. 8.5; Building Regulation Bylaw 1070, 2018 (consolidated), s. 16.1 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
Official wording
No barbed wire fencing shall be allowed in any rural residential, urban residential, or
institutional zones except in RR1 and RR2 zones for use in livestock enclosures.
No opaque fences are permitted in W1 or W2 zones.
No fence shall allow the ends of fence pickets or finials to extend above a
(b) is a minimum height of 1.22 m;
BylawZoning Bylaw 561, 2007, s. 8.5 (Fencing and Retaining Walls); Building Regulation Bylaw 1070, 2018, s. 2.3 and s. 16; Highways Bylaw 1189, 2022, s. 10 (sight lines)Zoning Bylaw 561, 2007 (consolidated), s. 8.5; Highways Bylaw 1189, 2022 (consolidated), s. 10 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
Official wording
8.5. Fencing and Retaining Walls
Sight lines at all Intersections in the District shall be maintained in accordance with this section and Figure 10.1.

How it works

In the District of Lake Country, the Building Regulation Bylaw does not apply to a fence, except where the fence is in a development permit area under the Official Community Plan or could possibly create a hazard. Swimming pool fences do need a permit. Height and materials are set by the Zoning Bylaw (s. 8.5), which applies with or without a permit.

Steps

  1. Find your property lines.
  2. Check the height limit below for your zone, or call Planning (250-766-6674).
  3. If the fence is on a retaining wall, a pool fence, or in a development permit area, call the Building Department (250-766-6675) first.

Good to know

  • Height: 2.0 m at natural grade in residential and rural residential zones, or 2.4 m where the lot abuts an agricultural or commercial zone. The bylaw sets no separate front-yard height, and fences may be built to the side and rear lot lines. Commercial and industrial zones: 2.4 m.
  • Fence on a retaining wall at or within 1.5 m of the property line: 2.0 m combined, measured from natural grade of the higher property. Retaining walls 1.22 m or higher need a permit.
  • Corner lots: within the sight-line triangle at an intersection (reaching no more than 7.5 m back along each property line), no fence, retaining wall or vegetation may be between 1.0 m and 3.0 m above the road grade, under the Highways Bylaw. Animal fences on farms may be taller if they do not block visibility.
  • Materials: no barbed wire in rural residential, urban residential or institutional zones, except in RR1 and RR2 for livestock enclosures. No opaque fences in W1 or W2 zones. Screen fences must be opaque double-sided construction. Pickets and finials must not extend above a horizontal rail.
  • Pool fences: at least 1.22 m high, no openings over 100 mm, no climbable footholds, and closed and locked when not in use.

Official forms and pages

The same question in other places

Kelowna · Vernon · Coldstream · West Kelowna · Lumby · Peachland

Fence height limits in British Columbia, by municipality →

Sources

  1. Zoning Bylaw 561, 2007 (consolidated) (PDF), District of Lake Country (read 2026-11-06)
  2. Building Regulation Bylaw 1070, 2018 (consolidated) (PDF), District of Lake Country (read 2026-11-06)
  3. Highways Bylaw 1189, 2022 (consolidated) (PDF), District of Lake Country (read 2026-11-06)
  4. Contact Us, District of Lake Country (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. How answers are checked.