{"title":"Lantzville fence rules: permits and height limits","question":"Do I need a permit to build a fence in Lantzville, and how high can it be?","slug":"fence-rules","place":{"path":"ca/bc/lantzville","name":"Lantzville","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":"District of Lantzville","url":"https://www.lantzville.ca"},"short_answer":"In Lantzville you do not need a building permit for a fence, but zoning rules still apply. Maximum fence height is set zone by zone: most zones allow 1.8 m or 2 m. Check your zone in the Zoning Bylaw, or ask Planning.","aliases":["fence permit lantzville","fence height lantzville","fence rules lantzville","how high can my fence be lantzville"],"cost":"No building permit fee for a fence. Height limits are set in each zone's table.","how_long":"Not applicable.","where":[{"type":"email","label":"Planning Department","value":"planning@lantzville.ca"},{"type":"phone","label":"Planning Department","value":"250-933-8093"},{"type":"in_person","label":"Municipal Hall","value":"7192 Lantzville Road, Lantzville, BC V0R 2H0","note":"Monday to Friday (excluding statutory holidays): by phone or email 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.; in-person payments and document drop-off 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.; call or email for appointments for other services"}],"documents":[],"forms":[{"title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 180, 2020 (PDF, consolidated to Bylaw No. 433, 2026), District of Lantzville","url":"https://www.lantzville.ca/cms/wpattachments/wpID478atID7360.pdf"},{"title":"Building Bylaw No. 182, 2020 (PDF, consolidated), District of Lantzville","url":"https://www.lantzville.ca/cms/wpattachments/wpID478atID7183.pdf"},{"title":"Good Neighbour Bylaw No. 200, 2021 (PDF), District of Lantzville","url":"https://www.lantzville.ca/cms/wpattachments/wpID921atID6520.pdf"}],"related":[{"slug":"building-permit","title":"Lantzville building permits: when you need one and how to apply","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/lantzville/building-permit/"},{"slug":"zoning-lookup","title":"Lantzville zoning: find your zone and what it allows","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/lantzville/zoning-lookup/"},{"slug":"deck-shed-garage-permit","title":"Lantzville permits for decks, sheds, carports and garages","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/lantzville/deck-shed-garage-permit/"}],"nearby":[{"place":"ca/bc/nanaimo","name":"Nanaimo","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/nanaimo/fence-rules/"},{"place":"ca/bc/parksville","name":"Parksville","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/parksville/fence-rules/"},{"place":"ca/bc/qualicum-beach","name":"Qualicum Beach","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/qualicum-beach/fence-rules/"},{"place":"ca/bc/sechelt","name":"Sechelt","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/sechelt/fence-rules/"},{"place":"ca/bc/ladysmith","name":"Ladysmith","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/ladysmith/fence-rules/"},{"place":"ca/bc/gibsons","name":"Gibsons","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/gibsons/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 is needed for a fence. Zoning rules and any development permit area rules still apply.","short":"No building permit","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.lantzville.ca/cms/wpattachments/wpID478atID7183.pdf","title":"Building Bylaw No. 182, 2020 (PDF, consolidated), District of Lantzville","section":"s. 2.4(a), s. 2.5","quotes":["fences, trellises, arbours, pergolas, or other similar landscape structures, retaining walls, swimming pools, playground structures, and pre-manufactured plastic coverall structures and sheds","an exemption from the requirement to obtain a building permit from the Municipality does not relieve any person from the requirement to comply with all provisions of the Building Code, the Zoning Bylaw and any other applicable bylaws"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}},"height_front":{"label":"Height, front yard","value":"Set zone by zone. Most zones allow 1.8 m or 2 m for a fence anywhere on the parcel. Exceptions: Foothills zone front yard 1.2 m; Village Commercial zone lists a front-yard fence maximum of 0 m.","short":"Varies by zone","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.lantzville.ca/cms/wpattachments/wpID478atID7360.pdf","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 180, 2020 (PDF, consolidated to Bylaw No. 433, 2026), District of Lantzville","section":"Foothills zone (FH) s. 6","quotes":["Fence - Front 1.2 m","Fence (within front yard) 0m 0m"]},{"url":"https://www.lantzville.ca/cms/wpattachments/wpID478atID7360.pdf","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 180, 2020 (PDF, consolidated to Bylaw No. 433, 2026), District of Lantzville","section":"Residential 1 zone (R1) s. 4","quotes":["Carriage House without Garage Below 6m Secondary Structure 6m Fence 1.8 m Parcel Coverage 5. The maximum parcel coverage is 35%."]},{"url":"https://www.lantzville.ca/cms/wpattachments/wpID478atID7360.pdf","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 180, 2020 (PDF, consolidated to Bylaw No. 433, 2026), District of Lantzville","section":"Estate zone (EST) s. 5","quotes":["2 storeys 9 m and 2 storeys (north side of Lantzville Road) Fence 2m 2m Fence (within front yard) 0m 0m Parcel Coverage"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}},"height_side_rear":{"label":"Height, side and rear yards","value":"Same zone-by-zone maximum: 1.8 m in most residential zones, 2 m in Estate, Rural and some others. Foothills zone side and rear yards: 1.8 m.","short":"Varies by zone: 1.8 m or 2 m","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.lantzville.ca/cms/wpattachments/wpID478atID7360.pdf","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 180, 2020 (PDF, consolidated to Bylaw No. 433, 2026), District of Lantzville","section":"Foothills zone (FH) s. 6","quotes":["Fence – Side and Rear 1.8m"]},{"url":"https://www.lantzville.ca/cms/wpattachments/wpID478atID7360.pdf","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 180, 2020 (PDF, consolidated to Bylaw No. 433, 2026), District of Lantzville","section":"Rural zone (RU) s. 5","quotes":["Any Structure 9m Fence 2m Schedule 'A' to District of Lantzville Zoning Bylaw No. 180, 2020 18"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}},"corner_lots":{"label":"Corner lots and sightlines","value":"At an intersection of two highways, nothing (building, structure or vegetation) may block the line of vision in the area bounded by the corner and a line 6 m back along each parcel line.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.lantzville.ca/cms/wpattachments/wpID478atID7360.pdf","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 180, 2020 (PDF, consolidated to Bylaw No. 433, 2026), District of Lantzville","section":"s. 2.10 Intersection Visibility","quotes":["there must not be any visual obstruction, either by buildings, structures or vegetation, to the line of vision in an area bounded by the centreline of intersecting parcel lines and a line adjoining each of the parcel lines 6 m from their point of intersection"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}},"other_rules":{"label":"Other rules","value":"Height is measured from the lower of natural or finished grade to the top, including lattice or wires. No barbed, razor or electric wire except in Agriculture and Light Industry zones or farm animal enclosures. Retaining walls: 1.2 m maximum unless supporting a house foundation or approved by development permit. Pools need a fence at least 1.2 m high with a self-closing gate.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.lantzville.ca/cms/wpattachments/wpID478atID7360.pdf","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 180, 2020 (PDF, consolidated to Bylaw No. 433, 2026), District of Lantzville","section":"s. 2.4 Fences","quotes":["Fence height is determined by measuring vertically from either natural grade or finished grade, whichever is lower, to the highest portion of the fence, including lattice or wires on top of the main structure of the fence.","a fence must not include barbed wire, razor wire, electric wire, ultra-barrier","Swimming pools must be fully enclosed by a perimeter fence at least 1.2 m in height","Except as required to support the foundation of a house, as determined by a Professional Engineer and approved by the Building Official, or as approved through a Development Permit issued by the Municipality, the maximum height of a single retaining wall is 1.2 m."]},{"url":"https://www.lantzville.ca/cms/wpattachments/wpID478atID7360.pdf","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 180, 2020 (PDF, consolidated to Bylaw No. 433, 2026), District of Lantzville","section":"s. 2.5 Retaining Walls","quotes":["the maximum height of a single retaining wall is 1.2 m"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}},"bylaw":{"label":"Bylaw","value":"District of Lantzville Zoning Bylaw No. 180, 2020, s. 2.4 (Fences), s. 2.5, s. 2.10 and each zone's height table; Building Bylaw No. 182, 2020, s. 2.4(a)","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.lantzville.ca/cms/wpattachments/wpID478atID7360.pdf","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 180, 2020 (PDF, consolidated to Bylaw No. 433, 2026), District of Lantzville","section":"s. 2.4","quotes":["ZONING BYLAW NO. 180, 2020"]},{"url":"https://www.lantzville.ca/cms/wpattachments/wpID478atID7183.pdf","title":"Building Bylaw No. 182, 2020 (PDF, consolidated), District of Lantzville","section":"s. 2.4(a)","quotes":["fences, trellises, arbours, pergolas"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}}},"facts_summary":{"total":6,"stated":6,"matched":6,"none":0,"unknown":0},"body_markdown":"## How it works\n\nA fence does not need a building permit under the District's [Building Bylaw No. 182, 2020](https://www.lantzville.ca/cms/wpattachments/wpID478atID7183.pdf). Fence height and siting are set in the [Zoning Bylaw No. 180, 2020](https://www.lantzville.ca/cms/wpattachments/wpID478atID7360.pdf). Fences may be built within the minimum setbacks. If your property is in a development permit area, check whether a development permit applies.\n\nHeight limits are set zone by zone. Most zones allow 1.8 m (R1 to R6, R8 and several special-area zones) or 2 m (Estate, Rural, Light Industry, Golf Course, Village Commercial) for a fence anywhere on the parcel. In the Foothills zone the front-yard limit is 1.2 m and side and rear yards are 1.8 m. The Village Commercial table lists a front-yard fence maximum of 0 m.\n\n## Steps\n\n1. Find your zone (see the zoning-lookup answer).\n2. Read that zone's table in the Zoning Bylaw for the fence height.\n3. Measure height from the lower of natural or finished grade to the top, including lattice or wires.\n\n## Good to know\n\n- No barbed, razor or electric wire except in Agriculture and Light Industry zones or farm animal enclosures.\n- Retaining walls: 1.2 m maximum unless the wall supports a house foundation or is approved by development permit.\n- Pools need a fence at least 1.2 m high with a self-closing gate.\n- At a corner where two highways meet, nothing may block the line of vision within 6 m back along each parcel line from the corner. The [Good Neighbour Bylaw No. 200, 2021](https://www.lantzville.ca/cms/wpattachments/wpID921atID6520.pdf) also requires hedges and trees to be trimmed so sight lines stay clear.\n- Planning Department: planning@lantzville.ca, 250-933-8093.","sources":[{"url":"https://www.lantzville.ca/cms/wpattachments/wpID478atID7360.pdf","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 180, 2020 (PDF, consolidated to Bylaw No. 433, 2026), District of Lantzville","accessed":"2026-11-08"},{"url":"https://www.lantzville.ca/cms/wpattachments/wpID478atID7183.pdf","title":"Building Bylaw No. 182, 2020 (PDF, consolidated), District of Lantzville","accessed":"2026-11-08"},{"url":"https://www.lantzville.ca/cms/wpattachments/wpID921atID6520.pdf","title":"Good Neighbour Bylaw No. 200, 2021 (PDF), District of Lantzville","accessed":"2026-11-08"},{"url":"https://www.lantzville.ca/cms.asp?wpID=384","title":"Contact Information, District of Lantzville","accessed":"2026-11-08"}],"sources_read":"2026-11-08","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/lantzville/fence-rules/","markdown":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/lantzville/fence-rules.md","json":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/lantzville/fence-rules.json"}}