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

# Township of Langley 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 Township of Langley (not the City of Langley) fences are 1 m high at most in the front yard setback and 2 m elsewhere on the lot in most residential zones. Fences are outside the Building Bylaw's definition of a structure, but retaining walls over 1.2 m need a permit. Check your zone.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (Township of Langley, https://www.tol.ca)  
**Cost:** No building permit fee is stated for an ordinary fence. Retaining walls need a permit; see the building-permit-fees answer.  
**How long:** Not applicable for an ordinary fence.  
**Where:**
- Phone: Permits, Licences and Inspections (building), 604-533-6018
- Phone: Development inquiries (zoning), 604-533-6034
- In person: Civic Facility (Municipal Hall), 20338 - 65 Avenue, Langley, BC V2Y 3J1 (Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (building permit applications accepted 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.))

## Key facts

- **Permit:** Fences are excluded from the Building Bylaw definition of "Structure", so no building permit on that wording (the Township does not say so directly). Retaining walls: bylaw s. 16.1 requires a permit; the Township guide says over 1.2 m. Pool fences must be at least 1,070 mm high.
  - Source: [Langley Building Bylaw 2008, No. 4642, s. 2.0 ("Structure")](https://www.tol.ca/en/services/resources/bylaw-services/bylaws/Building-Bylaws/Langley-Building-Bylaw-(No.-4642%29.pdf)
  - Official wording: "specifically excludes paving, fences, and landscaping" … "but specifically excludes paving, fences," … "not less than 1070 mm in height with no openings greater than 100" … "The Construction of retaining walls or other similar types of Structures is not"
  - Source: [Residential Construction Guide: Additions, Alterations and Accessory Buildings, Guide, first page](https://www.tol.ca/en/building-development/resources/building/bulletins-forms-resources/Document-Feed-Building-Forms/PLI---Residential-Construction---Additions,-Alterations-and-Accessory-Buildings.pdf)
  - Official wording: "construct retaining walls over 1.2 m in height"
  - Source: [Langley Building Bylaw 2008, No. 4642, s. 15.2](https://www.tol.ca/en/services/resources/bylaw-services/bylaws/Building-Bylaws/Langley-Building-Bylaw-(No.-4642%29.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Swimming pools must be enclosed by a fence or Structure."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Height, front yard:** 1 m on any portion of a lot within the front yard setback, in R, SR (except agricultural use), RM, MH, CRE and residential CD zones.
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw 1987, No. 2500, Section 100 Administration, s. 111.6 1)](https://www.tol.ca/en/services/resources/bylaw-services/bylaws/Zoning-Bylaws/Section-100-Administration.pdf)
  - Official wording: "In an 'R', 'SR' (except for an agricultural use), 'RM', 'MH', 'CRE' or residential 'CD'" … "1m on any portion of a lot within the front yard setback requirements of this"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Height, side and rear yards:** 2 m on any other portion of a lot, in R, SR (except agricultural use), RM, MH, CRE and residential CD zones.
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw 1987, No. 2500, Section 100 Administration, s. 111.6 3)](https://www.tol.ca/en/services/resources/bylaw-services/bylaws/Zoning-Bylaws/Section-100-Administration.pdf)
  - Official wording: "3) 2m on any other portion of a lot."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Corner lots and sightlines:** Fences and walls are limited to 1 m in the triangle formed by points 7.5 m back from the front of the lot on each lot line at an intersection. On corner lots nothing may project into that triangle above 1 m. In the R-1A zone the distance is 6.0 m on local streets and lanes.
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw 1987, No. 2500, Section 100 Administration, s. 111.6 2)](https://www.tol.ca/en/services/resources/bylaw-services/bylaws/Zoning-Bylaws/Section-100-Administration.pdf)
  - Official wording: "2) 1m within the triangular area created by a line joining two (2) points 7.5m from"
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw 1987, No. 2500, Section 100 Administration, s. 104.4 4)](https://www.tol.ca/en/services/resources/bylaw-services/bylaws/Zoning-Bylaws/Section-100-Administration.pdf)
  - Official wording: "No part of any building, structure or fence located on a corner lot shall project"
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw 1987, No. 2500, Section 400 Residential Zones, s. 401.5, note (2)](https://www.tol.ca/en/services/resources/bylaw-services/bylaws/Zoning-Bylaws/Section-400-Residential-(R,-MH,-FH-and-CRE%29-Zones.pdf)
  - Official wording: "a) 6.0m from the projected lot lines abutting a local street and/or lane; and"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Other rules:** Height is measured from average finished grade at the perimeter of a building or structure to its highest point. Barbed wire is not permitted except in RU and SR zones, and in M, C and P zones on a fence or wall above 2 m. Fences and retaining walls may be sited anywhere on a lot, subject to corner and height rules.
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw 1987, No. 2500, Section 100 Administration, s. 111.7](https://www.tol.ca/en/services/resources/bylaw-services/bylaws/Zoning-Bylaws/Section-100-Administration.pdf)
  - Official wording: "111.7 Barbed wire shall not be permitted except:" … "in an 'RU' Rural or 'SR' Suburban Residential zone; and" … "means the vertical distance measured from the average finished grade at the" … "perimeter of a building or structure to:"
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw 1987, No. 2500, Section 100 Administration, s. 104.4 5)](https://www.tol.ca/en/services/resources/bylaw-services/bylaws/Zoning-Bylaws/Section-100-Administration.pdf)
  - Official wording: "a fence or retaining wall may be"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Bylaw:** Township of Langley Zoning Bylaw 1987 No. 2500, s. 111.6 (fence height), s. 111.7 (barbed wire), s. 104.4 4) (corner lots)
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw 1987, No. 2500, Section 100 Administration, s. 101.1](https://www.tol.ca/en/services/resources/bylaw-services/bylaws/Zoning-Bylaws/Section-100-Administration.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Township of Langley Zoning Bylaw 1987 No. 2500"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06

## How it works

The Township of Langley (a separate municipality from the City of Langley) sets fence height in [Zoning Bylaw No. 2500](https://www.tol.ca/en/services/resources/bylaw-services/bylaws/Zoning-Bylaws/Section-100-Administration.pdf), section 111.6. In residential and similar zones (R, SR except agricultural use, RM, MH, CRE and residential CD), a fence or wall may be 1 m high on any part of the lot within the front yard setback, and 2 m high on any other part of the lot. Rural (RU) zones are not covered by that section, and we found no fence height for them.

The [Building Bylaw](https://www.tol.ca/en/services/resources/bylaw-services/bylaws/Building-Bylaws/Langley-Building-Bylaw-(No.-4642).pdf) leaves fences, paving and landscaping out of its definition of "Structure", so a fence does not need a building permit on that wording. The Township does not say this in so many words, so confirm before you build. Zoning rules still apply.

## Steps

1. Find your zone (see the zoning-lookup answer) and your property lines.
2. Check the heights above against your zone's rules. Fences and retaining walls may be sited anywhere on a lot, subject to the corner and height rules.
3. For a retaining wall, call Permits, Licences and Inspections (604-533-6018). The Building Bylaw (s. 16.1) requires a permit, and the Township's guide says walls over 1.2 m.

## Good to know

- Height is measured from average finished grade at the perimeter of a building or structure to its highest point.
- Corner lots: fences and walls are limited to 1 m in the triangle formed by points 7.5 m back from the front of the lot on each lot line at an intersection. In the R-1A zone the distance is 6.0 m on local streets and lanes. Other zones may set their own distances, so check your zone.
- Barbed wire is not permitted except in RU and SR zones, and in M, C and P zones on a fence or wall above 2 m.
- Pool fences must be at least 1,070 mm high.
- The Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw lists a $100 notice for exceeding fence height and a $100 notice for barbed wire where prohibited. The section numbers it cites look out of date, so confirm with the Township.

## Official forms and pages

- [Zoning Bylaw 1987, No. 2500, Section 100 Administration (PDF)](https://www.tol.ca/en/services/resources/bylaw-services/bylaws/Zoning-Bylaws/Section-100-Administration.pdf)
- [Zoning Bylaw 1987, No. 2500, Section 400 Residential Zones (PDF)](https://www.tol.ca/en/services/resources/bylaw-services/bylaws/Zoning-Bylaws/Section-400-Residential-(R,-MH,-FH-and-CRE%29-Zones.pdf)
- [Langley Building Bylaw 2008, No. 4642 (PDF)](https://www.tol.ca/en/services/resources/bylaw-services/bylaws/Building-Bylaws/Langley-Building-Bylaw-(No.-4642%29.pdf)

## Related questions

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

## The same question elsewhere

- [Fence height limits in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/fence-rules.md)
- [Langley City](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/langley/fence-rules.md)
- [Surrey](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/surrey/fence-rules.md)
- [White Rock](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/white-rock/fence-rules.md)
- [Maple Ridge](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/maple-ridge/fence-rules.md)
- [Port Coquitlam](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/port-coquitlam/fence-rules.md)
- [Mission](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/mission/fence-rules.md)

## Sources

- [Zoning Bylaw 1987, No. 2500, Section 100 Administration (PDF)](https://www.tol.ca/en/services/resources/bylaw-services/bylaws/Zoning-Bylaws/Section-100-Administration.pdf) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Zoning Bylaw 1987, No. 2500, Section 400 Residential Zones (PDF)](https://www.tol.ca/en/services/resources/bylaw-services/bylaws/Zoning-Bylaws/Section-400-Residential-(R,-MH,-FH-and-CRE%29-Zones.pdf) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Langley Building Bylaw 2008, No. 4642 (PDF)](https://www.tol.ca/en/services/resources/bylaw-services/bylaws/Building-Bylaws/Langley-Building-Bylaw-(No.-4642%29.pdf) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Residential Construction Guide: Additions, Alterations and Accessory Buildings (PDF)](https://www.tol.ca/en/building-development/resources/building/bulletins-forms-resources/Document-Feed-Building-Forms/PLI---Residential-Construction---Additions,-Alterations-and-Accessory-Buildings.pdf) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw 2008, No. 4703 (PDF)](https://www.tol.ca/en/services/resources/bylaw-services/bylaws/Other-Bylaws/Bylaw-Notice-Enforcement-Bylaw-2008-(No.-4703%29.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 Township of Langley. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/langley-township/fence-rules/_