Mission fence rules: permits and height limits
Do I need a permit to build a fence, and how high can it be?
Short answer
In the City of Mission, a fence on a lot inside the Urban Growth Boundary can be up to 1.9 m (6.2 ft) high, but only 1.2 m (3.9 ft) in a required front yard or exterior side yard. The bylaws we read do not say whether an ordinary fence needs a permit, so ask before building.
Key facts
| Permit | Not confirmed. The Zoning Bylaw and the Building Bylaw do not say whether an ordinary fence needs a permit. |
|---|---|
| Height, front yard | Inside the Urban Growth Boundary: 1.2 m (3.9 ft) in a required front yard or required exterior side yard on a flanking street. On Urban Residential and Urban Compact lots a fence in a front yard on a flanking street must be at least 33% open. No fence height rule was found for lots outside the boundary.Zoning Bylaw 5949-2020, s. 112 A.1(a)(ii), A.1(d)(ii); Zoning Bylaw 5949-2020, s. 112 A.1 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wording1.2 m (3.9 ft) when it is located within a required Yard (Front) or Yard (Exterior Side) on a flanking Street, To be considered visually permeable, a fence must have a minimum of 33% open. Unless otherwise provided in this Bylaw, the following shall apply to all Lots within the Urban Growth Boundary: Unless otherwise provided in this Bylaw, the following shall apply to all Lots within the Urban Growth Boundary: |
| Height, side and rear yards | 1.9 m (6.2 ft) maximum for a fence on a lot inside the Urban Growth Boundary. A fence on top of a wall may not exceed 1.5 m (4.9 ft).Zoning Bylaw 5949-2020, s. 112 A.1(a)(i), A.1(c) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordinga. No fence shall be constructed on a Lot to a Height exceeding: i. 1.9 m (6.2 ft), or Where a fence or similar Structure is located on top of a wall, the Height of the fence shall not exceed |
| Corner lots and sightlines | At the corner of two streets, no fence, landscape screen, building, sign or other structure may be higher than 1.0 m (3.3 ft) inside the triangle 6.0 m (19.7 ft) from the intersection of the exterior side lot line and the front lot line, or their extensions.Zoning Bylaw 5949-2020, s. 104 C.1(a), Vision Clearance at Intersections · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingHeight exceeding 1.0 m (3.3 ft) within the triangular area 6.0 m (19.7 ft) from the intersection of a Lot Line (Exterior Side) and a Lot Line (Front), or an extension of those lines. |
| Other rules | Inside the Urban Growth Boundary, fences may only be wood, masonry (not poured concrete), metal, or precast concrete blocks or panels; electric perimeter fencing is not allowed. Height is measured from average finished grade at the base. Pool fences: at least 1.2 m high, gaps no larger than 50 mm, self-closing, self-latching gate. Retaining walls on Suburban Residential, Urban Residential, Urban Compact and Attached Multi-unit lots: 1.2 m maximum exposed height.Zoning Bylaw 5949-2020, Definitions (Height); s. 112 A.1(b), (e); s. 112 B.1; Building Bylaw 3590-2003 (PDF, consolidated), s. 10.3, 10.4; Good Neighbour Bylaw 5524-2015, s. 15.2 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingmeans the vertical distance between the Finished Grade (Average) at the base of the Landscape Screen or fence to the top A fence may only be constructed of wood, masonry materials (excluding poured concrete), metal, Electric fencing is not permitted as perimeter fencing shall not exceed 1.2 m (3.9 ft) in Height on a Lot designated Suburban Residential, Urban Residential, Urban Compact and Attached Multi-unit Residential Not less than 1.2m in height and which has no opening or gap with its largest self-closing and self-latching door or gate Every Owner or Occupier shall maintain any fence on the Land of that Owner or Occupier |
| Bylaw | Zoning Bylaw 5949-2020, s. 112 A (Fencing) and s. 104 C (Vision Clearance at Intersections); Building Bylaw 3590-2003, s. 10 (pool fences)Zoning Bylaw 5949-2020, s. 112 A; Zoning Bylaw 5949-2020, s. 104 C; Building Bylaw 3590-2003 (PDF, consolidated), s. 10.3 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingSECTION 112 LANDSCAPING A. Fencing 1. Unless otherwise provided in this Bylaw, the following shall apply to all Lots within the Urban Growth THE FOLLOWING DOCUMENT HAS BEEN REPRODUCED FOR CONVENIENCE ONLY and is a consolidation of "Zoning Bylaw 5949-2020" with the following amending bylaws: Date C. Vision Clearance at Intersections every fence or other structure enclosing a private residential swimming pool shall be: |
How it works
The City of Mission's Zoning Bylaw 5949-2020 sets fence limits for lots inside the Urban Growth Boundary (the line around the built-up part of the city). Height is measured from the average finished grade at the base of the fence.
The Zoning Bylaw and the Building Bylaw do not say whether an ordinary fence needs a permit. Retaining walls over 0.6 m do, and pool enclosures are regulated under the Building Bylaw.
Good to know
- Maximum height: 1.9 m (6.2 ft). In a required front yard or required exterior side yard on a flanking street, the limit is 1.2 m (3.9 ft).
- A fence on top of a wall may not exceed 1.5 m (4.9 ft).
- On Urban Residential and Urban Compact lots, a fence in a front yard on a flanking street must be at least 33% open. Where a rear lot line meets a neighbour's interior lot line, your fence or wall cannot be higher than the height allowed on the neighbour's side line at that point.
- At a street corner, no fence, landscape screen or other structure may be higher than 1.0 m (3.3 ft) inside the triangle 6.0 m (19.7 ft) from the intersection of the exterior side lot line and the front lot line (or their extensions).
- Materials: wood, masonry (not poured concrete), metal, or precast concrete blocks or panels. Electric perimeter fencing is not allowed. Backyard hen coops and wildlife attractants may use electric fencing if it is not publicly accessible and follows WildSafeBC guidelines.
- Pool fences: at least 1.2 m high, gaps no larger than 50 mm, with a self-closing, self-latching gate. This applies to private pools over 14 square metres in surface area and 600 mm deep.
- Retaining walls on Suburban Residential, Urban Residential, Urban Compact and Attached Multi-unit lots: 1.2 m maximum exposed height.
- Fences next to a street must be kept in good repair under the Good Neighbour Bylaw.
- No fence height rule was found for lots outside the Urban Growth Boundary, and individual zones may set their own rules. Call Development Planning at 604-820-3748 to confirm, or Inspection Services at 604-820-3726 about permits.
Official forms and pages
The same question in other places
Abbotsford · Township of Langley · Maple Ridge · Langley City · Pitt Meadows · Chilliwack
Sources
- Zoning Bylaw 5949-2020 (PDF), City of Mission (read 2026-11-05)
- Building Bylaw 3590-2003 (PDF, consolidated), City of Mission (read 2026-11-05)
- Good Neighbour Bylaw 5524-2015 (PDF), City of Mission (read 2026-11-05)
- Building Permits, City of Mission (read 2026-11-05)
- WebMap, City of Mission (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.