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Mackenzie fence rules: permits and height limits

Do I need a permit to build a fence, and how high can it be?

Mackenzie, British ColumbiaChecked against official textSources read 2026-11-08

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.

Key facts

PermitThe 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.Building Bylaw No. 1066, 2000, s. 3.1 "structure" · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
Official wording
but excludes a fence
Height, front yard1.2 m in a front yard, in all zones.Zoning Bylaw No. 1368, 2017, Section 4, 'Fences' item 5 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
Official wording
Fences in a front yard in all zones shall not exceed a height of 1.2 metres.
Height, side and rear yards1.8 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.Zoning Bylaw No. 1368, 2017, Section 4, 'Fences' items 4, 6 and 8 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
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
Corner lots and sightlinesOn 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.Zoning Bylaw No. 1368, 2017, Section 4, 'Vision Clearance at Intersections'; Zoning Bylaw No. 1368, 2017, Section 4, 'Fences' item 2 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
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
with exception to that portion of a parcel that is within the sight triangle
Other rulesHeight 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.Zoning Bylaw No. 1368, 2017, Section 4, 'Fences' items 1 to 3 and 7; Zoning Bylaw No. 1368, 2017, Section 4, 'Fences' item 2 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
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.
with the exception of the required setback to a watercourse
BylawZoning Bylaw No. 1368, 2017, Section 4 (General Regulations), 'Fences'.Zoning Bylaw No. 1368, 2017, Section 4; Bylaws and Regulations, Frequently requested bylaws · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
Official wording
Fences in a front yard in all zones
Bylaw No. 1368, Amended by 1517, 1518

How it works

The "Fences" rules in the District of Mackenzie's Zoning Bylaw No. 1368 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

The same question in other places

Chetwynd · Hudson's Hope · Tumbler Ridge · Fort St James · Vanderhoof · Prince George

Fence height limits in British Columbia, by municipality →

Sources

  1. Zoning Bylaw No. 1368, 2017 (PDF), District of Mackenzie (read 2026-11-08)
  2. Building Bylaw No. 1066, 2000 (PDF), District of Mackenzie (read 2026-11-08)
  3. Bylaws and Regulations, District of Mackenzie (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. How answers are checked.