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Maple Ridge fence rules: permits and height limits

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

Maple Ridge, British ColumbiaChecked against official textSources read 2026-11-05

Short answer

In Maple Ridge's residential zones a fence can be 1.2 metres high in the front yard and 2.0 metres in the rear and interior side yards (Zoning Bylaw 7600-2019). Neither the Zoning Bylaw nor the Building Bylaw says an ordinary fence needs a building permit. Retaining walls over 0.6 m do.

Key facts

PermitNot confirmed. Neither the Zoning Bylaw nor the Building Bylaw says an ordinary fence needs a building permit.
Height, front yardIn residential zones, 1.2 m maximum in the front yard (also the exterior side yard and the panhandle portion of a panhandle lot).Zoning Bylaw 7600-2019, section 405.4 Fence Requirements, s. 405.4(2)(a) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
Official wording
A Fence in a Residential Zone shall:
not exceed 1.2 metres in Height where located;
(i) in the Front Yard;
(ii) in the Exterior Side Yard; or
Height, side and rear yardsIn residential zones, 2.0 m maximum in the rear yard and the interior side yard (and on a panhandle lot except its panhandle portion).Zoning Bylaw 7600-2019, section 405.4 Fence Requirements, s. 405.4(2)(b) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
Official wording
not exceed 2.0 metres in Height where located:
(i) in the Rear Yard;
(ii) in the Interior Side Yard; or
Corner lots and sightlinesNo fence, wall, building, hedge or plant may exceed 1.0 m high within 7.5 m of the corner along both lot lines at a street corner (6.0 m at a lane corner). No driveway within 7.5 m of the corner where an exterior side lot line meets the front or rear lot line.Zoning Bylaw 7600-2019, section 405.4 Fence Requirements, s. 403.8 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
Official wording
growth shall be installed or allowed to grow to a Height greater than 1.0 metre in the area bounded by:
7.5 metres in both directions from their point of
6.0 metres in both directions from their point of
No access or egress driveway is permitted within 7.5 metres in either direction
Other rulesHeight is measured from finished grade at the fence base. Barbed or razor wire is banned in residential zones (limited exceptions on ALR land). Electric fences only on ALR land in certain zones. Retaining walls max 1.2 m high, permit over 0.6 m; a fence on top is separate. Pool fence at least 1.2 m.Zoning Bylaw 7600-2019, section 405.4 Fence Requirements, s. 405.4(1), (7), (8); 403.9; Building Bylaw No. 8097-2026, s. 15.2, 16.4 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
Official wording
The Height of a Fence shall be measured from the Finished Grade at the base of
A barbed wire or razor wire Fence shall not be permitted except in:
An electric security Fence shall:
to the top of the wall, shall not exceed 1.2 metres.
A Fence may be installed on the top of a Retaining Wall but shall not form a part
A building permit is required for any retaining wall over 0.6 metres in height.
Has a minimum height of 1200 millimetres;
BylawZoning Bylaw No. 7600-2019, s. 405.4 (Fence Requirements) and s. 403.8 (Visual Clearance at Intersections); Building Bylaw No. 8097-2026, s. 15 and s. 16.Zoning Bylaw 7600-2019, section 405.4 Fence Requirements, s. 101.1, 405.4; Building Bylaw No. 8097-2026, s. 1.1 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
Official wording
MAPLE RIDGE ZONING BYLAW NO.7600-2019
405.4 Fence Requirements
Building Bylaw No. 8097-2026

How it works

Fences in the City of Maple Ridge are regulated by section 405.4 of Zoning Bylaw 7600-2019. Height is measured from finished grade at the base of the fence. In residential zones:

  • 1.2 m maximum in the front yard, the exterior side yard (the side facing a street) and the panhandle part of a panhandle lot.
  • 2.0 m maximum in the rear yard and the interior side yard.

Commercial zones have the same 1.2 m limit at the front and exterior side. Agricultural, industrial and institutional zones allow 3.6 m.

Steps

  1. Confirm where your property line is and which yard each section of fence sits in.
  2. Keep the fence within the height limit for that yard.
  3. Keep it clear of the corner: no fence, wall, hedge or plant may be over 1.0 m high within 7.5 m of the corner along both lot lines at a street corner (6.0 m at a lane corner).
  4. If unsure, email Planning@MapleRidge.ca or call 604-467-7341.

Good to know

  • Neither bylaw says an ordinary fence needs a building permit. Confirm with the Building department (604-467-7311) before you build.
  • A retaining wall can be up to 1.2 m high, and a building permit is needed over 0.6 m. A fence on top of one is treated separately.
  • Barbed or razor wire is banned in residential zones, with limited exceptions on farmland in the Agricultural Land Reserve. Electric fences are allowed only on that land in certain zones.
  • A pool fence must be at least 1.2 m high. Pool rules are in section 16 of Building Bylaw 8097-2026.
  • The bylaws set no rule we found on fence disputes between neighbours.

Official forms and pages

The same question in other places

Pitt Meadows · Port Coquitlam · Coquitlam · Anmore · Township of Langley · Port Moody

Fence height limits in British Columbia, by municipality →

Sources

  1. Zoning Bylaw 7600-2019 (PDF), section 405.4 Fence Requirements (read 2026-11-05)
  2. Building Bylaw No. 8097-2026 (PDF) (read 2026-11-05)
  3. Zoning Bylaw, City of Maple Ridge (read 2026-11-05)
  4. Residential Permits, City of Maple Ridge (read 2026-11-05)

Checked by script, not yet by a person: the official wording behind 5 of 6 facts was matched to the official text; 1 could not be confirmed. How answers are checked.