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

# Masset fence rules: permits and height limits

**Question:** Do I need a permit to build a fence in Masset, and how high can it be?

**Short answer:** In the Village of Masset, the draft Zoning Bylaw allows fences up to 1.2 metres in a residential front yard and 1.8 metres in a side or rear yard. The bylaw is a draft, so confirm with Municipal Hall (250-626-3995). Whether a permit is needed is not stated.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (Village of Masset, https://massetbc.com)  
**Cost:** Not stated on the Village's website  
**How long:** Not stated on the Village's website  
**Where:**
- In person: Municipal Hall, 1686 Main Street, Masset, BC (Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.)
- Phone: Municipal Hall, 250-626-3995

## Key facts

- **Permit:** Not confirmed. The Village's website does not state whether a fence needs a permit.
- **Height, front yard:** Draft Zoning Bylaw, not shown adopted: 1.2 metres maximum in a front yard in Residential zones.
  - Source: [Draft Village of Masset Zoning Bylaw No. 677, 2025, s. 5.9(4)(a)](http://massetbc.com/images/uploads/pdfs/677_DRAFT_Village_of_Masset_Zoning_Bylaw_-_FINAL.pdf)
  - Official wording: "1.2 metres when located within a front yard."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Height, side and rear yards:** Draft Zoning Bylaw, not shown adopted: 1.8 metres maximum in a side or rear yard in Residential zones.
  - Source: [Draft Village of Masset Zoning Bylaw No. 677, 2025, s. 5.9(4)(a)](http://massetbc.com/images/uploads/pdfs/677_DRAFT_Village_of_Masset_Zoning_Bylaw_-_FINAL.pdf)
  - Official wording: "1.8 metres when located within a side or rear yard; and"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Corner lots and sightlines:** Draft Zoning Bylaw, not shown adopted: on a corner lot, nothing (including a fence, retaining wall or landscaping) may be higher than 1.0 metre above the road within a triangle formed by measuring 6.0 metres along the edges of the two adjoining roads and joining those points.
  - Source: [Draft Village of Masset Zoning Bylaw No. 677, 2025, s. 5.11(1)](http://massetbc.com/images/uploads/pdfs/677_DRAFT_Village_of_Masset_Zoning_Bylaw_-_FINAL.pdf)
  - Official wording: "within the space formed by measuring 6.0 metres along the edge of two adjoining highways and joining these points on the" … "no building, structure, fence, retaining wall, landscaping, screening, or other such object shall be placed, planted, erected, or constructed to a height greater than 1.0 metre above the"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Other rules:** Draft Zoning Bylaw, not shown adopted: no barbed wire, razor wire, electrified wire, sheet metal or corrugated metal fences in Residential, Commercial, Institutional or Park and Natural Area zones. Retaining walls: 1.8 m maximum in Residential zones (2.4 m elsewhere), counting any fence on top.
  - Source: [Draft Village of Masset Zoning Bylaw No. 677, 2025, s. 5.9(2) and (5)](http://massetbc.com/images/uploads/pdfs/677_DRAFT_Village_of_Masset_Zoning_Bylaw_-_FINAL.pdf)
  - Official wording: "shall be comprised of or contain barbed wire, razor wire, electrified wire, sheet metal, or corrugated" … "The maximum height of a retaining wall, or combination of a retaining wall and a fence, shall not"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Bylaw:** Village of Masset Zoning Bylaw No. 677, 2025 (draft, posted on the Village's bylaws page; not shown to be adopted)
  - Source: [Draft Village of Masset Zoning Bylaw No. 677, 2025, Cover, s. 1.1](http://massetbc.com/images/uploads/pdfs/677_DRAFT_Village_of_Masset_Zoning_Bylaw_-_FINAL.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Village of Masset Zoning Bylaw No. 677, 2025"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08

## How it works

The Village of Masset's fence rules would come from its [draft Zoning Bylaw No. 677](http://massetbc.com/images/uploads/pdfs/677_DRAFT_Village_of_Masset_Zoning_Bylaw_-_FINAL.pdf), section 5.9. The Village's posted Zoning Bylaw is a draft, and its cover reads "Adopted: Month XX, 2025", so these rules may not be in force. Bylaw No. 422, 1994 is the zoning bylaw the draft says it repeals. Whether a fence needs a permit is not stated on the Village's website.

In Residential zones the draft allows fences up to 1.2 metres in a front yard and up to 1.8 metres in a side or rear yard. In other zones the limit is 2.4 metres. Barbed wire, razor wire, electrified wire, sheet metal and corrugated metal fences are not allowed in Residential, Commercial, Institutional or Park and Natural Area zones. A retaining wall, counting any fence on top, may be up to 1.8 metres in Residential zones (2.4 metres elsewhere).

On a corner lot, nothing (including a fence, retaining wall or landscaping) may be higher than 1.0 metre above the road within a triangle formed by measuring 6.0 metres along the edges of the two adjoining roads and joining those points.

## Steps

1. Find your lot's zone on the [draft zoning map](http://massetbc.com/images/uploads/pdfs/Village_of_Masset_-_Zoning_Map_Draft.pdf).
2. Check the fence rules above against your plan.
3. Ask Municipal Hall (250-626-3995, 1686 Main Street, Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.) whether a permit is needed and which rules are in force.

## Good to know

- Not stated on the Village's website: whether a fence needs a permit.
- Fences and walls near a corner are limited as described above.

## Official forms and pages

- [Draft Village of Masset Zoning Bylaw No. 677, 2025 (PDF), Village of Masset](http://massetbc.com/images/uploads/pdfs/677_DRAFT_Village_of_Masset_Zoning_Bylaw_-_FINAL.pdf)
- [Draft Zoning Bylaw Map (PDF), Village of Masset](http://massetbc.com/images/uploads/pdfs/Village_of_Masset_-_Zoning_Map_Draft.pdf)

## Related questions

- [Masset zoning: find your zone and what it allows](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/masset/zoning-lookup.md)
- [Masset permits for decks, sheds, carports and garages](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/masset/deck-shed-garage-permit.md)

## The same question elsewhere

- [Fence height limits in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/fence-rules.md)
- [Port Clements](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/port-clements/fence-rules.md)
- [Daajing Giids](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/daajing-giids/fence-rules.md)
- [Prince Rupert](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/prince-rupert/fence-rules.md)
- [Port Edward](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/port-edward/fence-rules.md)
- [Kitimat](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/kitimat/fence-rules.md)
- [Terrace](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/terrace/fence-rules.md)

## Sources

- [Draft Village of Masset Zoning Bylaw No. 677, 2025 (PDF), Village of Masset](http://massetbc.com/images/uploads/pdfs/677_DRAFT_Village_of_Masset_Zoning_Bylaw_-_FINAL.pdf) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Draft Zoning Bylaw Map (PDF), Village of Masset](http://massetbc.com/images/uploads/pdfs/Village_of_Masset_-_Zoning_Map_Draft.pdf) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Bylaws, Village of Masset](https://massetbc.com/residents/bylaws) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Contact, Village of Masset](https://massetbc.com/contact/) (read 2026-11-08)

_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. Gov Handbook is an independent guide, not affiliated with Village of Masset. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/masset/fence-rules/_