--- title: "Mackenzie fence rules: permits and height limits" question: "Do I need a permit to build a fence, and how high can it be?" place: Mackenzie, British Columbia, Canada place_path: ca/bc/mackenzie category: Building, renovating and your property owner: municipal owner_body: District of Mackenzie sources_read: 2026-11-08 review: machine_checked canonical: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/mackenzie/fence-rules/" json: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/mackenzie/fence-rules.json" --- # Mackenzie 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 Mackenzie a fence can be 1.2 m high in a front yard and 1.8 m along side and rear lines in residential zones. Neither the Zoning Bylaw nor the Building Bylaw mentions a fence permit, so confirm with the District before you build. **Who handles it:** Municipal (District of Mackenzie, https://districtofmackenzie.ca) **Cost:** The bylaws do not state a fence permit fee. **How long:** Not applicable; no fence permit is mentioned in the bylaws. **Where:** - Phone: District Main Office (Corporate Services), 250-997-3221 - In person: District Main Office, 1 Mackenzie Boulevard, Mackenzie, BC V0J 2C0 (Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.) ## Key facts - **Permit:** The Zoning Bylaw sets fence heights but says nothing about a fence permit. The Building Bylaw defines 'structure' as excluding a fence, so its building permit rule does not cover fences. - Source: [Building Bylaw No. 1066, 2000, s. 3.1 "structure"](https://districtofmackenzie.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Bylaw-No.-1066-1185-1320-Building-Bylaw.pdf) - Official wording: "but excludes a fence" - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08 - **Height, front yard:** 1.2 m in a front yard, in all zones. - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 1368, 2017, Section 4, 'Fences' item 5](https://districtofmackenzie.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Bylaw-No.-1368-Zoning-Industrial-and-Townsite-Maps.pdf) - Official wording: "Fences in a front yard in all zones shall not exceed a height of 1.2 metres." - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08 - **Height, side and rear yards:** 1.8 m along interior and rear parcel lines in R-zones (where not next to a highway), and 1.8 m on the exterior parcel line of a residential parcel. In P, M or C zones: 2.4 m in any side or rear yard. - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 1368, 2017, Section 4, 'Fences' items 4, 6 and 8](https://districtofmackenzie.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Bylaw-No.-1368-Zoning-Industrial-and-Townsite-Maps.pdf) - Official wording: "Fences along interior and rear parcel lines (where not adjacent to a highway) in R-zones shall not exceed a height of 1.8 metres." … "Fences on the exterior parcel line of a residential parcel may not exceed 1.8 metres." … "shall have a maximum height of 2.4 metres on any side or rear yard" - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08 - **Corner lots and sightlines:** On a corner parcel, within the space 6.0 m back from the corner of the curb lines, no landscaping, screening, building or structure may be higher than 0.5 m above the street grade. Fences may be built in a required setback except in the sight triangle. - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 1368, 2017, Section 4, 'Vision Clearance at Intersections'](https://districtofmackenzie.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Bylaw-No.-1368-Zoning-Industrial-and-Townsite-Maps.pdf) - Official wording: "no landscaping screening, building or structure will be planted or erected to a height greater than 0.5 metres above the established grade of the street" - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 1368, 2017, Section 4, 'Fences' item 2](https://districtofmackenzie.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Bylaw-No.-1368-Zoning-Industrial-and-Townsite-Maps.pdf) - Official wording: "with exception to that portion of a parcel that is within the sight triangle" - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08 - **Other rules:** Height is measured from average finished ground at the fence base to its top, including any retaining wall or berm under it. Barbed wire only on fences in M or A zones. Highway-side fences must be permeable. Materials must suit the zone. Uncovered pools must be fenced. - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 1368, 2017, Section 4, 'Fences' items 1 to 3 and 7](https://districtofmackenzie.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Bylaw-No.-1368-Zoning-Industrial-and-Townsite-Maps.pdf) - Official wording: "from the average finished ground" … "Barbed wire may only be used on the top of fences located on parcels in the M-zones or A-zones." … "Fences adjacent to a highway shall be constructed with a permeable style." … "the height of the fence shall include the height of the supporting structure" … "Located within a fenced yard or surrounded by a fence" … "Fence and wall materials shall be consistent with the character of the zone in which they are to be located." … "Where the fence or wall is adjacent to the property line, the height shall be measured with reference to the grade of the abutting property." - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 1368, 2017, Section 4, 'Fences' item 2](https://districtofmackenzie.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Bylaw-No.-1368-Zoning-Industrial-and-Townsite-Maps.pdf) - Official wording: "with the exception of the required setback to a watercourse" - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08 - **Bylaw:** Zoning Bylaw No. 1368, 2017, Section 4 (General Regulations), 'Fences'. - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 1368, 2017, Section 4](https://districtofmackenzie.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Bylaw-No.-1368-Zoning-Industrial-and-Townsite-Maps.pdf) - Official wording: "Fences in a front yard in all zones" - Source: [Bylaws and Regulations, Frequently requested bylaws](https://districtofmackenzie.ca/government-town-hall/bylaws-and-regulations/) - Official wording: "Bylaw No. 1368, Amended by 1517, 1518" - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08 ## How it works The "Fences" rules in the District of Mackenzie's [Zoning Bylaw No. 1368](https://districtofmackenzie.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Bylaw-No.-1368-Zoning-Industrial-and-Townsite-Maps.pdf) set fence heights but say nothing about a fence permit. The Building Bylaw defines "structure" so that it excludes a fence, so its building permit rule does not cover fences. Confirm with the District before you build. ## Steps 1. Find your zone (see the zoning-lookup answer). 2. Check the height limits below. 3. Call the District at 250-997-3221 if you are unsure about permits or your lot lines. ## Good to know - Front yard: 1.2 m, in all zones. - Interior and rear lines in residential (R) zones, where not next to a highway: 1.8 m. The exterior parcel line of a residential parcel: 1.8 m. - In P, M or C zones: 2.4 m in any side or rear yard. Open mesh and chain link fences for a P-zone, cemetery, public works, utility, public playground, park or school may be up to 3.0 m. - Corner parcels: within 6.0 m back from the corner of the curb lines, nothing (landscaping, screening, building or structure) may be higher than 0.5 m above the street grade. Fences may be built in a required setback except in this sight triangle. - Height is measured from the average finished ground at the fence base to its top, including any retaining wall or berm under it. - Barbed wire is allowed only on fences in M or A zones. Fences next to a highway must be permeable. Materials must suit the zone. Uncovered pools must be fenced. ## Official forms and pages - [Zoning Bylaw No. 1368, 2017 (PDF)](https://districtofmackenzie.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Bylaw-No.-1368-Zoning-Industrial-and-Townsite-Maps.pdf) ## Related questions - [Mackenzie building permits: when you need one and how to apply](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/mackenzie/building-permit.md) - [Mackenzie permits for decks, sheds, carports and garages](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/mackenzie/deck-shed-garage-permit.md) - [Mackenzie zoning: find your zone and what it allows](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/mackenzie/zoning-lookup.md) ## The same question elsewhere - [Fence height limits in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/fence-rules.md) - [Chetwynd](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/chetwynd/fence-rules.md) - [Hudson's Hope](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/hudsons-hope/fence-rules.md) - [Tumbler Ridge](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/tumbler-ridge/fence-rules.md) - [Fort St James](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/fort-st-james/fence-rules.md) - [Vanderhoof](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/vanderhoof/fence-rules.md) - [Prince George](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/prince-george/fence-rules.md) ## Sources - [Zoning Bylaw No. 1368, 2017 (PDF), District of Mackenzie](https://districtofmackenzie.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Bylaw-No.-1368-Zoning-Industrial-and-Townsite-Maps.pdf) (read 2026-11-08) - [Building Bylaw No. 1066, 2000 (PDF), District of Mackenzie](https://districtofmackenzie.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Bylaw-No.-1066-1185-1320-Building-Bylaw.pdf) (read 2026-11-08) - [Bylaws and Regulations, District of Mackenzie](https://districtofmackenzie.ca/government-town-hall/bylaws-and-regulations/) (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 Mackenzie. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/mackenzie/fence-rules/_