--- title: "Nanaimo fence rules: permits and height limits" question: "Do I need a permit to build a fence, and how high can it be?" place: Nanaimo, British Columbia, Canada place_path: ca/bc/nanaimo category: Building, renovating and your property owner: municipal owner_body: City of Nanaimo sources_read: 2026-11-05 review: machine_checked canonical: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/nanaimo/fence-rules/" json: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/nanaimo/fence-rules.json" --- # Nanaimo fence rules: permits and height limits **Question:** Do I need a permit to build a fence, and how high can it be? **Short answer:** The City of Nanaimo does not require a building permit for a fence, but it must meet Zoning Bylaw 4500. In most residential zones (R1 to R10, R14, R15) the limit is 1.2 m in the required front yard, 2.4 m in side and rear yards, and 1.8 m on the street side of a corner lot. **Who handles it:** Municipal (City of Nanaimo, https://www.nanaimo.ca) **Cost:** No permit fee for a fence. A retaining wall that needs a building permit pays the normal permit fee. **Where:** - Phone: Planning / Building Inspections, 250-755-4429 - Email: Building Inspections, building.inspections@nanaimo.ca - Email: Planning, planning@nanaimo.ca ## Key facts - **Permit:** No building permit is needed for a fence, but it must comply with the Zoning Bylaw. A retaining wall may need a building permit; the City says generally when over 4 feet high, but other factors apply. The Building Bylaw does not apply to retaining structures under 1.2 m. (Sources differ: The web page says 'over 4 feet' and the bylaw says 1.2 m (about 3.9 feet); the bylaw is followed here. The Zoning Bylaw treats a retaining wall as a fence for height limits.) - Source: [Fence or Retaining Wall Permit, Building a Fence / Building a Retaining Wall](https://www.nanaimo.ca/property-development/building-permits/residential-building-permit/fence-or-retaining-wall-permit) - Official wording: "No building permit is required for a fence; however, the fence must be in compliance with the Zoning Bylaw." … "Generally, a building permit is required when a retaining wall is over 4' in height, but other factors may influence whether a building permit is needed or not." - Source: [Building Bylaw 2016 No. 7224 (PDF, consolidated 2026-OCT-05), s. 5.2](https://www.nanaimo.ca/bylaws/ViewBylaw/7224.pdf) - Official wording: "nor to retaining structures less than 1.2 metres in height" - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 - **Height, front yard:** 1.2 m within the required front yard in R1 to R10, R14, R15, CD9 to CD12 and in Commercial Centre, Corridor and Downtown zones; a fence outside the required setback area may be up to 3 m. R12 total site 1.8 m; R11, AR1, AR2 and Industrial 2.4 m; Parks 3 m. Next to a park, 1.2 m. - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 4500 (PDF, consolidated 2026-MAR-23), s. 6.10 Fence Height, s. 6.10.2 table](https://www.nanaimo.ca/bylaws/ViewBylaw/4500.pdf) - Official wording: "R1 to R10, R14, R15, 1.2m 2.4m 1.8m" … "R12 1.8m 1.8m 1.8m" … "R11 2.4m 2.4m 2.4m" … "Commercial 1.2m 1.2m 1.8m" … "All Corridor and 1.2m 1.8m 1.8m" … "where the fence is not located within the required yard" … "setback area, the maximum allowable height for a fence in all zones shall not exceed 3m." - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 4500 (PDF, consolidated 2026-MAR-23), s. 6.10 Fence Height, s. 6.10.8](https://www.nanaimo.ca/bylaws/ViewBylaw/4500.pdf) - Official wording: "the maximum height of a fence adjacent to a park" - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 - **Height, side and rear yards:** 2.4 m in R1 to R10, R14, R15 and CD9 to CD12; 1.8 m in Corridor and Downtown zones; 1.2 m in Commercial Centre zones. R12 total site 1.8 m; R11, AR1, AR2 and Industrial 2.4 m. A fence outside the required yard setback area may be up to 3 m (1.2 m within 3 m of a front lot line in Commercial Centre, Corridor and Downtown zones). - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 4500 (PDF, consolidated 2026-MAR-23), s. 6.10 Fence Height, s. 6.10.2 table, 6.10.5, 6.10.6](https://www.nanaimo.ca/bylaws/ViewBylaw/4500.pdf) - Official wording: "R1 to R10, R14, R15, 1.2m 2.4m 1.8m" … "All Corridor and 1.2m 1.8m 1.8m" … "Commercial 1.2m 1.2m 1.8m" … "the maximum allowable height for a fence in all zones shall not exceed 3m" … "1.2m where located within 3m of a front lot line; and" - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 - **Corner lots and sightlines:** The street-side (flanking) yard limit is 1.8 m in R1 to R10, R14, R15, CD9 to CD12, Commercial Centre, Corridor and Downtown zones (2.4 m in R11, AR1, AR2). At intersections, nothing may block the line of vision between 1.2 m and 3 m high within the corner triangle formed by lines 7 m from where the lot lines meet. - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 4500 (PDF, consolidated 2026-MAR-23), s. 6.10 Fence Height, s. 6.10.2 table, 6.9.1](https://www.nanaimo.ca/bylaws/ViewBylaw/4500.pdf) - Official wording: "R1 to R10, R14, R15, 1.2m 2.4m 1.8m" … "R11 2.4m 2.4m 2.4m" … "there shall be no obstruction to the line of vision between" … "1.2m and 3m within an area bounded by the centre line of intersecting lot lines and a" … "line joining each of the lot lines 7m from their point of intersection." - Source: [Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw 2012 No. 7159, Zoning Bylaw part of Schedule A](https://www.nanaimo.ca/bylaws/ViewBylaw/7159.pdf) - Official wording: "6.9.1 Obstruct Line of Vision 200.00 150.00 250.00" - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 - **Other rules:** Height is measured from grade on the low side of the fence or retaining wall to its highest part. Barbwire and ornamentation count toward height. A retaining wall counts as a fence. Hedges and landscaping are not regulated by fence height rules. Build only on your own property, not over right-of-ways or easements. Pool enclosure fences are set by the Building Bylaw. - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 4500 (PDF, consolidated 2026-MAR-23), s. 6.10 Fence Height, s. 6.10.1, 6.10.3, 6.11.2, definition of Fence](https://www.nanaimo.ca/bylaws/ViewBylaw/4500.pdf) - Official wording: "to the highest part of the fence" … "Fence additions, such as barbwire or ornamentation, shall be included in the calculation of total fence height." … "and shall include a retaining wall" … "Swimming pools shall be enclosed in a structure or shall be enclosed or surrounded by a fence, as specified in the Building Bylaw." - Source: [Fence or Retaining Wall Permit, Building a Fence](https://www.nanaimo.ca/property-development/building-permits/residential-building-permit/fence-or-retaining-wall-permit) - Official wording: "hedges/trees/landscaping are not regulated by fence height regulations" … "you are on your own property and are not building over any right-of-ways or easements" - Source: [Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw 2012 No. 7159, Zoning Bylaw part of Schedule A](https://www.nanaimo.ca/bylaws/ViewBylaw/7159.pdf) - Official wording: "6.10.2 Exceed Maximum Fence Height 200.00 150.00 250.00" - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 - **Bylaw:** Zoning Bylaw No. 4500, s. 6.10 (Fence Height) and s. 6.9 (Visibility at Intersections) - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 4500 (PDF, consolidated 2026-MAR-23), s. 6.10 Fence Height](https://www.nanaimo.ca/bylaws/ViewBylaw/4500.pdf) - Official wording: "Zoning Bylaw No. 4500" … "6.10 FENCE HEIGHT" - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 ## How it works In the City of Nanaimo a fence needs no building permit, but it must comply with [Zoning Bylaw 4500](https://www.nanaimo.ca/bylaws/ViewBylaw/4500.pdf), which sets a maximum height by zone and yard. Height is measured from grade on the low side of the fence to its highest part. Barbed wire and ornaments count toward height. A retaining wall counts as a fence for height. Hedges and landscaping are not limited by the fence rules. ## Maximum heights - R1 to R10, R14, R15 and CD9 to CD12 (most houses): 1.2 m within the required front yard; 2.4 m in side and rear yards; 1.8 m in the street-side yard of a corner lot. - A fence outside the required setback area may be up to 3 m. - R11, AR1, AR2 and Industrial: 2.4 m. R12 total site: 1.8 m. Next to a park: 1.2 m. - Commercial Centre zones: 1.2 m front, side and rear. Corridor and Downtown zones: 1.2 m front and 1.8 m side and rear. - Your zone may have another row in the table. Find it on NanaimoMap or ask Planning. ## Steps 1. Find your zone on NanaimoMap or call Planning. 2. Confirm your property line (see the property lines answer). Build only on your own property, not over rights-of-way or easements. 3. At a corner, keep the line of sight clear: nothing may block the view between 1.2 m and 3 m high within the triangle formed by lines 7 m from where the lot lines meet. 4. If the fence would be over the limit, ask Planning about a variance. ## Good to know - A retaining wall may need a building permit. The City page says generally when over 4 feet, but other factors apply; the Building Bylaw does not apply to retaining structures under 1.2 m. The two differ, so confirm with Building Inspections at 250-755-4429. - Exceeding the maximum fence height is a bylaw offence with a $200 ticket ($150 if paid early). - Pool enclosure fences are set by the Building Bylaw. - A trellis, gate or arbor up to 2.4 m high and 2.0 m wide marking a pedestrian access may be excluded from the height limit. ## Official forms and pages - [Fence or Retaining Wall Permit page](https://www.nanaimo.ca/property-development/building-permits/residential-building-permit/fence-or-retaining-wall-permit) - [Zoning Bylaw 4500 (PDF)](https://www.nanaimo.ca/bylaws/ViewBylaw/4500.pdf) - [Building Bylaw 2016 No. 7224 (PDF)](https://www.nanaimo.ca/bylaws/ViewBylaw/7224.pdf) ## Related questions - [Nanaimo zoning: find your zone and what it allows](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/nanaimo/zoning-lookup.md) - [Nanaimo permits for decks, sheds, carports and garages](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/nanaimo/deck-shed-garage-permit.md) - [Nanaimo building permits: when you need one and how to apply](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/nanaimo/building-permit.md) ## The same question elsewhere - [Fence height limits in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/fence-rules.md) - [Lantzville](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/lantzville/fence-rules.md) - [Ladysmith](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/ladysmith/fence-rules.md) - [Parksville](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/parksville/fence-rules.md) - [Sechelt](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/sechelt/fence-rules.md) - [Qualicum Beach](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/qualicum-beach/fence-rules.md) - [Lake Cowichan](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/lake-cowichan/fence-rules.md) ## Sources - [Fence or Retaining Wall Permit, City of Nanaimo](https://www.nanaimo.ca/property-development/building-permits/residential-building-permit/fence-or-retaining-wall-permit) (read 2026-11-05) - [Zoning Bylaw No. 4500 (PDF, consolidated 2026-MAR-23), s. 6.10 Fence Height](https://www.nanaimo.ca/bylaws/ViewBylaw/4500.pdf) (read 2026-11-05) - [Building Bylaw 2016 No. 7224 (PDF, consolidated 2026-OCT-05)](https://www.nanaimo.ca/bylaws/ViewBylaw/7224.pdf) (read 2026-11-05) - [Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw 2012 No. 7159 (PDF)](https://www.nanaimo.ca/bylaws/ViewBylaw/7159.pdf) (read 2026-11-05) _Checked by script, not yet by a person: the official wording behind 6 of 6 facts was matched to the official text. Gov Handbook is an independent guide, not affiliated with City of Nanaimo. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/nanaimo/fence-rules/_