---
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?"
place: Lantzville, British Columbia, Canada
place_path: ca/bc/lantzville
category: Building, renovating and your property
owner: municipal
owner_body: District of Lantzville
sources_read: 2026-11-08
review: machine_checked
canonical: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/lantzville/fence-rules/"
json: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/lantzville/fence-rules.json"
---

# 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?

**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.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (District of Lantzville, https://www.lantzville.ca)  
**Cost:** No building permit fee for a fence. Height limits are set in each zone's table.  
**How long:** Not applicable.  
**Where:**
- Email: Planning Department, planning@lantzville.ca
- Phone: Planning Department, 250-933-8093
- In person: Municipal Hall, 7192 Lantzville Road, Lantzville, BC V0R 2H0 (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)

## Key facts

- **Permit:** No building permit is needed for a fence. Zoning rules and any development permit area rules still apply.
  - Source: [Building Bylaw No. 182, 2020 (PDF, consolidated), s. 2.4(a), s. 2.5](https://www.lantzville.ca/cms/wpattachments/wpID478atID7183.pdf)
  - Official wording: "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: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Height, front yard:** 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.
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 180, 2020 (PDF, consolidated to Bylaw No. 433, 2026), Foothills zone (FH) s. 6](https://www.lantzville.ca/cms/wpattachments/wpID478atID7360.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Fence - Front 1.2 m" … "Fence (within front yard) 0m 0m"
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 180, 2020 (PDF, consolidated to Bylaw No. 433, 2026), Residential 1 zone (R1) s. 4](https://www.lantzville.ca/cms/wpattachments/wpID478atID7360.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Carriage House without Garage Below 6m Secondary Structure 6m Fence 1.8 m Parcel Coverage 5. The maximum parcel coverage is 35%."
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 180, 2020 (PDF, consolidated to Bylaw No. 433, 2026), Estate zone (EST) s. 5](https://www.lantzville.ca/cms/wpattachments/wpID478atID7360.pdf)
  - Official wording: "2 storeys 9 m and 2 storeys (north side of Lantzville Road) Fence 2m 2m Fence (within front yard) 0m 0m Parcel Coverage"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Height, side and rear yards:** 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.
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 180, 2020 (PDF, consolidated to Bylaw No. 433, 2026), Foothills zone (FH) s. 6](https://www.lantzville.ca/cms/wpattachments/wpID478atID7360.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Fence – Side and Rear 1.8m"
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 180, 2020 (PDF, consolidated to Bylaw No. 433, 2026), Rural zone (RU) s. 5](https://www.lantzville.ca/cms/wpattachments/wpID478atID7360.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Any Structure 9m Fence 2m Schedule 'A' to District of Lantzville Zoning Bylaw No. 180, 2020 18"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Corner lots and sightlines:** 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.
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 180, 2020 (PDF, consolidated to Bylaw No. 433, 2026), s. 2.10 Intersection Visibility](https://www.lantzville.ca/cms/wpattachments/wpID478atID7360.pdf)
  - Official wording: "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: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Other rules:** 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.
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 180, 2020 (PDF, consolidated to Bylaw No. 433, 2026), s. 2.4 Fences](https://www.lantzville.ca/cms/wpattachments/wpID478atID7360.pdf)
  - Official wording: "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."
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 180, 2020 (PDF, consolidated to Bylaw No. 433, 2026), s. 2.5 Retaining Walls](https://www.lantzville.ca/cms/wpattachments/wpID478atID7360.pdf)
  - Official wording: "the maximum height of a single retaining wall is 1.2 m"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Bylaw:** 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)
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 180, 2020 (PDF, consolidated to Bylaw No. 433, 2026), s. 2.4](https://www.lantzville.ca/cms/wpattachments/wpID478atID7360.pdf)
  - Official wording: "ZONING BYLAW NO. 180, 2020"
  - Source: [Building Bylaw No. 182, 2020 (PDF, consolidated), s. 2.4(a)](https://www.lantzville.ca/cms/wpattachments/wpID478atID7183.pdf)
  - Official wording: "fences, trellises, arbours, pergolas"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08

## How it works

A 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.

Height 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.

## Steps

1. Find your zone (see the zoning-lookup answer).
2. Read that zone's table in the Zoning Bylaw for the fence height.
3. Measure height from the lower of natural or finished grade to the top, including lattice or wires.

## Good to know

- No barbed, razor or electric wire except in Agriculture and Light Industry zones or farm animal enclosures.
- Retaining walls: 1.2 m maximum unless the wall supports a house foundation or is approved by development permit.
- Pools need a fence at least 1.2 m high with a self-closing gate.
- 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.
- Planning Department: planning@lantzville.ca, 250-933-8093.

## Official forms and pages

- [Zoning Bylaw No. 180, 2020 (PDF, consolidated to Bylaw No. 433, 2026), District of Lantzville](https://www.lantzville.ca/cms/wpattachments/wpID478atID7360.pdf)
- [Building Bylaw No. 182, 2020 (PDF, consolidated), District of Lantzville](https://www.lantzville.ca/cms/wpattachments/wpID478atID7183.pdf)
- [Good Neighbour Bylaw No. 200, 2021 (PDF), District of Lantzville](https://www.lantzville.ca/cms/wpattachments/wpID921atID6520.pdf)

## Related questions

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

## The same question elsewhere

- [Fence height limits in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/fence-rules.md)
- [Nanaimo](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/nanaimo/fence-rules.md)
- [Parksville](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/parksville/fence-rules.md)
- [Qualicum Beach](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/qualicum-beach/fence-rules.md)
- [Sechelt](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/sechelt/fence-rules.md)
- [Ladysmith](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/ladysmith/fence-rules.md)
- [Gibsons](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/gibsons/fence-rules.md)

## Sources

- [Zoning Bylaw No. 180, 2020 (PDF, consolidated to Bylaw No. 433, 2026), District of Lantzville](https://www.lantzville.ca/cms/wpattachments/wpID478atID7360.pdf) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Building Bylaw No. 182, 2020 (PDF, consolidated), District of Lantzville](https://www.lantzville.ca/cms/wpattachments/wpID478atID7183.pdf) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Good Neighbour Bylaw No. 200, 2021 (PDF), District of Lantzville](https://www.lantzville.ca/cms/wpattachments/wpID921atID6520.pdf) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Contact Information, District of Lantzville](https://www.lantzville.ca/cms.asp?wpID=384) (read 2026-11-08)

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