---
title: "Lumby fence rules: permits and height limits"
question: "Do I need a permit to build a fence, and how high can it be?"
place: Lumby, British Columbia, Canada
place_path: ca/bc/lumby
category: Building, renovating and your property
owner: municipal
owner_body: Village of Lumby
sources_read: 2026-11-08
review: machine_checked
canonical: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/lumby/fence-rules/"
json: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/lumby/fence-rules.json"
---

# Lumby 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 Lumby you do not need a building permit for a fence. Zoning limits still apply: 1.2 m anywhere on a lot, and up to 2 m behind the required front yard in residential zones.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (Village of Lumby, https://lumby.ca)  
**Cost:** No building permit fee, because fences are exempt from the Building Bylaw.  
**How long:** Not applicable.  
**Where:**
- In person: Municipal Hall, 1775 Glencaird Street, Lumby, BC V0E 2G0 (Monday to Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.)
- Phone: Village office, 250-547-2171
- Phone: RDNO Planning, 250-550-3700

## Key facts

- **Permit:** No building permit: fences are exempt from the Building Bylaw. Zoning height rules still apply.
  - Source: [Building Bylaw No. 834, 2019, consolidated, s. 105.2(d)](https://lumby.civicweb.net/document/7441/)
  - Official wording: "d. fences;" … "As a general exemption to all regulations of this Bylaw, this Bylaw does not apply to:"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Height, front yard:** 1.2 m (3.94 ft). Fences and hedges up to 1.2 m may be anywhere on a lot; taller fences (up to 2 m) are permitted only to the rear of the required front yard.
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 750, 2012, consolidated, s. 701.1.f](https://lumby.civicweb.net/document/7189/)
  - Official wording: "In all zones, fences and hedges not greater than 1.2 m (3.94 feet) in height" … "may be located anywhere on a lot." … "fences or walls not greater than 2 m" … "may be located on any lot to the rear of a required front yard."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Height, side and rear yards:** Up to 2 m (6.56 ft) in residential zones, behind the required front yard (2.5 m in Industrial zones). Where a rear lot line abuts a neighbour's side line, the rear fence may be no higher than the side-line height allowed there.
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 750, 2012, consolidated, s. 701.1.f(ii), (iv)](https://lumby.civicweb.net/document/7189/)
  - Official wording: "In all zones, except Industrial zones, fences or walls not greater than 2 m (6.56 feet) in height may be located on any lot to the rear of a required front yard." … "the height of fences, walls, or hedges, on such rear lot line shall be not greater than the height permitted on the side line of an adjoining lot at the point of abutment."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Corner lots and sightlines:** Screening (fences, hedges) over 1 m high, or any lower height that is a traffic hazard, is not permitted in the triangle at a corner lot formed by the exterior lot corner and points 6 m along the front and exterior lot lines. Driveways must be at least 8 m from the corner intersection.
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 750, 2012, consolidated, s. 701.1.b](https://lumby.civicweb.net/document/7189/)
  - Official wording: "Screening of over 1 m (3.281 feet) in height or any lesser height which constitutes a traffic hazard shall not be permitted within the area described by"
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 750, 2012, consolidated, s. 406](https://lumby.civicweb.net/document/7189/)
  - Official wording: "No driveway or other roadway used for the purpose of gaining vehicular ingress to or egress from a lot shall be constructed or used"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Other rules:** Height is measured from average ground level. Retaining walls on residential lots may not exceed 1.2 m (measured from grade on the lower side), with 1.2 m horizontal separation between multiple walls. A fence on a retaining wall at or within 1 m of a property line: combined height no more than 2.0 m.
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 750, 2012, consolidated, s. 701.1.c, h, i](https://lumby.civicweb.net/document/7189/)
  - Official wording: "The height of screening shall be determined by measurement from the ground" … "Retaining walls on all residential lots, except those required as a condition of" … "The combined height of a fence on top of a retaining wall at the property line or within 1m of a property line shall not exceed 2.0 m"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Bylaw:** Village of Lumby Zoning Bylaw No. 750, 2012, Section 700 (Screening and Landscaping), subsection 1 (screening) and Section 406 (location of driveways); Building Bylaw No. 834, 2019, s. 105.2(d) (fences exempt from permits).
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 750, 2012, consolidated, s. 700](https://lumby.civicweb.net/document/7189/)
  - Official wording: "SECTION 700 – SCREENING AND LANDSCAPING REGULATIONS" … "In all zones, fences and hedges not greater than 1.2 m (3.94 feet) in height may be located anywhere on a lot."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08

## How it works

Fences are exempt from permits under the Village's [Building Bylaw No. 834](https://lumby.civicweb.net/document/7441/). Height and placement are set by the [Zoning Bylaw No. 750](https://lumby.civicweb.net/document/7189/), Section 700 (screening) and Section 406 (driveways). Height is measured from average ground level.

- **Front:** fences and hedges up to 1.2 m (3.94 ft) may go anywhere on a lot. Taller ones, up to 2 m, are allowed only behind the required front yard.
- **Side and rear:** up to 2 m (6.56 ft) in residential zones, behind the required front yard (2.5 m in Industrial zones). Where a rear lot line meets a neighbour's side line, the rear fence may be no higher than the side-line height allowed there.
- **Corner lots:** fences or hedges over 1 m high, or any lower height that is a traffic hazard, are not allowed in the corner triangle. The triangle is formed by the exterior lot corner and points 6 m along the front and exterior lot lines. It applies where the lot lines meet at an interior angle of 135 degrees or less. Driveways must be at least 8 m from the corner intersection.
- **Retaining walls:** on residential lots, no higher than 1.2 m (measured from grade on the lower side), with 1.2 m horizontal separation between multiple walls. A fence on a retaining wall at or within 1 m of a property line may have a combined height of no more than 2.0 m.

## Steps

1. Find your property line and zone (see the zoning-lookup answer).
2. Check the height limits above for each side of your lot.
3. On a corner lot, keep the corner triangle clear.
4. Build the fence. No permit is needed.

## Good to know

- Retaining walls 1.2 m or lower are exempt from a building permit. Check zoning for taller ones.
- The bylaws we read set no rules on barbed wire, electric fences or pool fences. Ask the Village office (250-547-2171) before building one.

## Official forms and pages

- [Zoning Bylaw No. 750, 2012 (PDF)](https://lumby.civicweb.net/document/7189/)
- [Building Bylaw No. 834, 2019 (PDF)](https://lumby.civicweb.net/document/7441/)

## Related questions

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

## The same question elsewhere

- [Fence height limits in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/fence-rules.md)
- [Coldstream](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/coldstream/fence-rules.md)
- [Vernon](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/vernon/fence-rules.md)
- [Spallumcheen](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/spallumcheen/fence-rules.md)
- [Armstrong](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/armstrong/fence-rules.md)
- [Enderby](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/enderby/fence-rules.md)
- [Lake Country](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/lake-country/fence-rules.md)

## Sources

- [Zoning Bylaw No. 750, 2012, consolidated (PDF)](https://lumby.civicweb.net/document/7189/) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Building Bylaw No. 834, 2019, consolidated (PDF)](https://lumby.civicweb.net/document/7441/) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Contact Us, Village of Lumby](https://lumby.ca/contact-us/) (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 Village of Lumby. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/lumby/fence-rules/_