---
title: "Metchosin fence rules: permits and height limits"
question: "Do I need a permit to build a fence in Metchosin, and how high can it be?"
place: Metchosin, British Columbia, Canada
place_path: ca/bc/metchosin
category: Building, renovating and your property
owner: municipal
owner_body: District of Metchosin
sources_read: 2026-11-06
review: machine_checked
canonical: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/metchosin/fence-rules/"
json: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/metchosin/fence-rules.json"
---

# Metchosin fence rules: permits and height limits

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

**Short answer:** Metchosin's Land Use Bylaw and Building Bylaw set no fence permit or fence height limit that we could find. Pool fences must be at least 1.5 m, and nothing over 0.9 m high is allowed in a sight triangle at an intersection. Confirm with staff at 250-474-3167.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (District of Metchosin, https://www.metchosin.ca)  
**Cost:** No fence permit fee is stated. A retaining wall over 1.2 m high needs a retaining wall permit; see the building-permit-fees answer.  
**How long:** Not applicable for an ordinary fence.  
**Where:**
- Phone: Municipal Hall (Building Permits and Inspections), 250-474-3167
- Email: Building Permits and Inspections, building@metchosin.ca
- In person: Municipal Hall, 4450 Happy Valley Road, Victoria, BC V9C 3Z3 (Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.)

## Key facts

- **Permit:** None set. Metchosin's Land Use Bylaw states no fence height limit and no fence permit rule.
- **Height, front yard:** None set. Metchosin's Land Use Bylaw states no fence height limit and no fence permit rule.
- **Height, side and rear yards:** None set. Metchosin's Land Use Bylaw states no fence height limit and no fence permit rule.
- **Corner lots and sightlines:** No building, structure, fence, tree, shrub or plant wider than 0.6 m (2 ft) or taller than 0.9 m (3 ft) is permitted in any sight triangle at an intersection. A sight triangle is the area formed by the two road boundaries and points 6 m (19.7 ft) from where they meet.
  - Source: [Metchosin Land Use Bylaw No. 259 (consolidated March 2026, reference copy), s. 28](https://metchosin.civicweb.net/document/4091/)
  - Official wording: "No building, structure, fence, tree, shrub or plant exceeding 0.6 m (2’) in width or 0.9 m (3’) in height shall be permitted in any sight triangle." … "Sight Triangle means the triangular area formed by two intersecting highway right-of-way boundaries and two points" … "on those boundaries measured 6 m (19.7’) from the point of intersection."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Other rules:** A pool, spa or hot tub must be enclosed by a fence at least 1.5 m high with no openings over 100 mm and no footholds, with a self-closing, self-latching gate (a spa may use a locking cover). The Land Use Bylaw's definition of structure excludes fences. A retaining wall over 1.2 m high needs a retaining wall permit.
  - Source: [Metchosin Land Use Bylaw No. 259 (consolidated March 2026, reference copy), Part 1, definition of Structure](https://metchosin.civicweb.net/document/4091/)
  - Official wording: "but excludes concrete or asphalt or similar surfacing of a lot, fences, and underground sewage"
  - Source: [Building Bylaw 2024, No. 694, s. 6.1(g)](https://metchosin.civicweb.net/document/475/)
  - Official wording: "a retaining wall permit for the construction or structural repair to a retaining wall over 1.2m in height measured from the lowest exposed grade to top of wall" … "A pool, Including a spa or hot tub, must be enclosed within a fence constructed without footholds" … "metres and no openings greater than 100 mm at their greatest dimension, or have a lockable lid" … "Access through a fence enclosing a swimming pool, spa or hot tub must be only through a self-"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Bylaw:** Metchosin Land Use Bylaw No. 259, s. 28 (sight triangles); Building Bylaw 2024, No. 694, s. 6.1(g) (retaining walls) and Part 23 (pool fences)
  - Source: [Metchosin Land Use Bylaw No. 259 (consolidated March 2026, reference copy), s. 1](https://metchosin.civicweb.net/document/4091/)
  - Official wording: "This Bylaw may be cited for all purposes as the Metchosin Land Use Bylaw No. 259."
  - Source: [Building Bylaw 2024, No. 694, s. 1.1](https://metchosin.civicweb.net/document/475/)
  - Official wording: "Building Bylaw 2024, N0. 694" … "A pool, Including a spa or hot tub, must be enclosed within a fence constructed without footholds"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06

## How it works

Metchosin's [Building Bylaw 2024, No. 694](https://metchosin.civicweb.net/document/475/) lists the work that needs a building permit and does not mention fences. The [Land Use Bylaw No. 259](https://metchosin.civicweb.net/document/4091/) states no fence height limit and no fence permit rule, and its definition of "structure" excludes fences. We found no front, side or rear yard height limit in either bylaw, so confirm with staff before you build.

Two rules do apply. A retaining wall over 1.2 m high, measured from the lowest exposed grade to the top of the wall, needs a retaining wall permit. And pools have their own fence rules (below).

## Steps

1. Find your property lines first, since a fence on the wrong side can lead to a dispute.
2. Call Municipal Hall at 250-474-3167 to confirm there is no fence rule for your zone.
3. If the fence is at a road corner, check the sight-triangle rule below.
4. For a retaining wall over 1.2 m or a pool enclosure, ask Building Permits and Inspections.

## Good to know

- Pool fences: a pool, spa or hot tub must be enclosed by a fence at least 1.5 m high, with no footholds and no openings over 100 mm. The gate must be self-closing and self-latching. A spa or hot tub may use a lockable lid instead.
- Sight triangles: no building, structure, fence, tree, shrub or plant wider than 0.6 m (2 ft) or taller than 0.9 m (3 ft) is allowed in a sight triangle at an intersection. A sight triangle is the area formed by the two road boundaries and points 6 m (19.7 ft) from where they meet. Blocking one is a $500 minimum-fine offence.
- No rule on barbed wire or electric fences was found.

## Official forms and pages

- [Metchosin Land Use Bylaw No. 259](https://metchosin.civicweb.net/document/4091/)
- [Building Bylaw 2024, No. 694](https://metchosin.civicweb.net/document/475/)

## Related questions

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

## The same question elsewhere

- [Fence height limits in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/fence-rules.md)
- [Colwood](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/colwood/fence-rules.md)
- [Langford](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/langford/fence-rules.md)
- [View Royal](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/view-royal/fence-rules.md)
- [Sooke](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/sooke/fence-rules.md)
- [Esquimalt](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/esquimalt/fence-rules.md)
- [Victoria](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/victoria/fence-rules.md)

## Sources

- [Building Permits | District of Metchosin](https://www.metchosin.ca/municipal-hall/building-development/building-permits) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Metchosin Land Use Bylaw No. 259 (consolidated March 2026, reference copy)](https://metchosin.civicweb.net/document/4091/) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Building Bylaw 2024, No. 694](https://metchosin.civicweb.net/document/475/) (read 2026-11-06)

_Checked by script, not yet by a person: the official wording behind 3 of 6 facts was matched to the official text; 3 are recorded as not set. Gov Handbook is an independent guide, not affiliated with District of Metchosin. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/metchosin/fence-rules/_