{"title":"Lions Bay fence rules: permits and height limits","question":"Do I need a permit to build a fence in Lions Bay, and how high can it be?","slug":"fence-rules","place":{"path":"ca/bc/lions-bay","name":"Lions Bay","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":"Village of Lions Bay","url":"https://www.lionsbay.ca"},"short_answer":"In Lions Bay a fence does not need a building permit, because the Building Bylaw does not apply to fences (retaining walls are the exception). The Zoning Bylaw says no fence may exceed 1.9 metres in height, and sets a lower 0.9 m limit near corners.","aliases":["fence height lions bay","fence permit lions bay","lions bay fence bylaw","retaining wall lions bay"],"cost":"No fee for a fence. A retaining wall needs a permit; see the building-permit-fees answer.","how_long":"Not applicable for a fence.","where":[{"type":"phone","label":"Building Services","value":"604-921-9333 ext. 1009"},{"type":"email","label":"Building Services","value":"building@lionsbay.ca"}],"documents":[],"forms":[{"title":"Zoning and Development Bylaw No. 520, 2017 (PDF)","url":"https://www.lionsbay.ca/sites/2/files/2026-07/Bylaw%20520%20-%20Zoning%20and%20Development%20Certified%20%20%28Consolidation%20BL650%29.pdf"},{"title":"Building Bylaw No. 649, 2026 (PDF)","url":"https://www.lionsbay.ca/sites/2/files/2026-02/Bylaw%20649%20-%20Building%20Bylaw%202026.pdf"}],"related":[{"slug":"building-permit","title":"Lions Bay building permits: when you need one and how to apply","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/lions-bay/building-permit/"},{"slug":"deck-shed-garage-permit","title":"Lions Bay permits for decks, sheds, carports and garages","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/lions-bay/deck-shed-garage-permit/"},{"slug":"zoning-lookup","title":"Lions Bay zoning: find your zone and what it allows","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/lions-bay/zoning-lookup/"}],"nearby":[{"place":"ca/bc/west-vancouver","name":"West Vancouver","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/west-vancouver/fence-rules/"},{"place":"ca/bc/bowen-island","name":"Bowen Island","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/bowen-island/fence-rules/"},{"place":"ca/bc/north-vancouver-district","name":"District of North Vancouver","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/north-vancouver-district/fence-rules/"},{"place":"ca/bc/north-vancouver","name":"North Vancouver","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/north-vancouver/fence-rules/"},{"place":"ca/bc/gibsons","name":"Gibsons","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/gibsons/fence-rules/"},{"place":"ca/bc/vancouver","name":"Vancouver","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/vancouver/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, except retaining walls (Part 11). A BC land surveyor must confirm siting where a fence or wall will be within 1 m of a property line. A retaining wall over 1.2 m needs a site alteration permit, site plan, geotechnical report and engineer's Letters of Assurance.","short":"No building permit","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.lionsbay.ca/sites/2/files/2026-02/Bylaw%20649%20-%20Building%20Bylaw%202026.pdf","title":"Building Bylaw No. 649, 2026 (PDF), Village of Lions Bay","section":"s. 3.3(a)","quotes":["except as set out in Part 11: of this bylaw, a fence;"]},{"url":"https://www.lionsbay.ca/sites/2/files/2026-07/Bylaw%20520%20-%20Zoning%20and%20Development%20Certified%20%20%28Consolidation%20BL650%29.pdf","title":"Zoning and Development Bylaw No. 520, 2017 (Consolidation BL650) (PDF), Village of Lions Bay","section":"s. 4.10.3, 4.10.4","quotes":["confirmation of siting by a British Columbia Land Surveyor (BCLS) is required where a","fence or wall will be located within one metre of a property line;","a site alteration permit, site plan, geotechnical report, and engineer’s Letters of"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}},"height_front":{"label":"Height, front yard","value":"The Zoning Bylaw sets no separate front yard height. The general limit applies: no fence may exceed 1.9 metres in height (except near intersections, see below).","short":"1.9 m (no separate front limit)","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.lionsbay.ca/sites/2/files/2026-07/Bylaw%20520%20-%20Zoning%20and%20Development%20Certified%20%20%28Consolidation%20BL650%29.pdf","title":"Zoning and Development Bylaw No. 520, 2017 (Consolidation BL650) (PDF), Village of Lions Bay","section":"s. 4.10.2","quotes":["no fence shall exceed 1.9 metres in height;"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}},"height_side_rear":{"label":"Height, side and rear yards","value":"No fence may exceed 1.9 metres in height, in any yard.","short":"1.9 m","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.lionsbay.ca/sites/2/files/2026-07/Bylaw%20520%20-%20Zoning%20and%20Development%20Certified%20%20%28Consolidation%20BL650%29.pdf","title":"Zoning and Development Bylaw No. 520, 2017 (Consolidation BL650) (PDF), Village of Lions Bay","section":"s. 4.10.2","quotes":["no fence shall exceed 1.9 metres in height;"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}},"corner_lots":{"label":"Corner lots and sightlines","value":"On a parcel at a street intersection in any zone, no fence, retaining wall, wall, hedge or other obstruction to the line of vision may be higher than 0.9 m above the road centre point within 4.5 m of the corner of the parcel.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.lionsbay.ca/sites/2/files/2026-07/Bylaw%20520%20-%20Zoning%20and%20Development%20Certified%20%20%28Consolidation%20BL650%29.pdf","title":"Zoning and Development Bylaw No. 520, 2017 (Consolidation BL650) (PDF), Village of Lions Bay","section":"s. 4.11","quotes":["no fence,","retaining wall, wall, hedge or other obstruction to the line of vision shall be allowed at a greater","height than 0.9 metres above the established elevation of the","a = 4.5 metres"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}},"other_rules":{"label":"Other rules","value":"Height is measured from the average finished grade within 0.9 m of both sides. 'Fence' includes an arbour, archway, gate, pergola, screen, trellis and wall. Retaining walls 1.2 m or more need a registered professional's design and field review. Pools, spas and hot tubs need a fence at least 1.22 m high with a self-closing, self-latching gate (a hot tub may use a locking cover). Fences are exempt from siting rules.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.lionsbay.ca/sites/2/files/2026-07/Bylaw%20520%20-%20Zoning%20and%20Development%20Certified%20%20%28Consolidation%20BL650%29.pdf","title":"Zoning and Development Bylaw No. 520, 2017 (Consolidation BL650) (PDF), Village of Lions Bay","section":"s. 4.10, 4.7.3, definitions","quotes":["the height of a fence or wall shall be determined by measurement from the average","fence includes arbor, archway, gate, pergola, screen, trellis and wall;","a registered professional shall supervise the design and construction of a retaining wall","The following are exempted from the siting regulations:","fences,"]},{"url":"https://www.lionsbay.ca/sites/2/files/2026-02/Bylaw%20649%20-%20Building%20Bylaw%202026.pdf","title":"Building Bylaw No. 649, 2026 (PDF), Village of Lions Bay","section":"Building Bylaw 649, s. 13.2 to 13.4","quotes":["having a minimum height of 1.22 metres and no openings other than gates greater","a self-closing and self-latching gate designed and constructed or installed so as to cause","In lieu of a fence, a spa or hot tub may be covered with a locking cover, which would"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}},"bylaw":{"label":"Bylaw","value":"Zoning and Development Bylaw No. 520, 2017, s. 4.10 (fences and retaining walls) and s. 4.11 (visibility).","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.lionsbay.ca/sites/2/files/2026-07/Bylaw%20520%20-%20Zoning%20and%20Development%20Certified%20%20%28Consolidation%20BL650%29.pdf","title":"Zoning and Development Bylaw No. 520, 2017 (Consolidation BL650) (PDF), Village of Lions Bay","section":"s. 1.1","quotes":["This bylaw may be cited for all purposes as “Zoning and Development Bylaw No.520, 2017\"."]}],"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\nThe Village of Lions Bay regulates fences in its [Zoning and Development Bylaw No. 520, 2017](https://www.lionsbay.ca/sites/2/files/2026-07/Bylaw%20520%20-%20Zoning%20and%20Development%20Certified%20%20%28Consolidation%20BL650%29.pdf), sections 4.10 and 4.11. The [Building Bylaw](https://www.lionsbay.ca/sites/2/files/2026-02/Bylaw%20649%20-%20Building%20Bylaw%202026.pdf) does not apply to a fence, except a retaining wall, so a fence needs no building permit.\n\n- **Height:** no fence may exceed 1.9 metres, in any yard. The Zoning Bylaw sets no separate front-yard limit. Height is measured from the average finished grade within 0.9 m of both sides.\n- **Corner lots:** on a parcel at a street intersection, no fence, wall, hedge or other obstruction to the line of vision may be higher than 0.9 m above the road centre point within 4.5 m of the corner of the parcel.\n- **What counts:** \"fence\" includes an arbour, archway, gate, pergola, screen, trellis and wall.\n\n## Steps\n\n1. Check the height rules above, and the corner rule if you are at an intersection.\n2. If the fence or wall will be within 1 m of a property line, a BC land surveyor must confirm the siting.\n3. If you are building a retaining wall, ask Building Services about the permit (see below).\n\n## Good to know\n\n- Retaining walls of 1.2 m or more need a registered professional's design and field review. A retaining wall over 1.2 m needs a site alteration permit, a site plan, a geotechnical report and an engineer's Letters of Assurance.\n- Pools, spas and hot tubs need a fence at least 1.22 m high with a self-closing, self-latching gate. A hot tub may use a locking cover instead.\n- The bylaws do not mention barbed wire or electric fences. Ask Building Services.\n- An owner must not let a fence become unsightly, unstable or unsafe (Good Neighbour Bylaw).\n- A fence or retaining wall that breaks the bylaw can get a $300 ticket.","sources":[{"url":"https://www.lionsbay.ca/sites/2/files/2026-07/Bylaw%20520%20-%20Zoning%20and%20Development%20Certified%20%20%28Consolidation%20BL650%29.pdf","title":"Zoning and Development Bylaw No. 520, 2017 (Consolidation BL650) (PDF), Village of Lions Bay","accessed":"2026-11-08"},{"url":"https://www.lionsbay.ca/sites/2/files/2026-02/Bylaw%20649%20-%20Building%20Bylaw%202026.pdf","title":"Building Bylaw No. 649, 2026 (PDF), Village of Lions Bay","accessed":"2026-11-08"},{"url":"https://www.lionsbay.ca/contact/building-services","title":"Building Services contact, Village of Lions Bay","accessed":"2026-11-08"},{"url":"https://www.lionsbay.ca/sites/2/files/2026-06/Bylaw%20385%20-Bylaw%20Notice%20Enforcement%20Bylaw%20%28Consolidation%20640%29.pdf","title":"Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 385 (Consolidation 640) (PDF), Village of Lions Bay","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/lions-bay/fence-rules/","markdown":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/lions-bay/fence-rules.md","json":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/lions-bay/fence-rules.json"}}