{"title":"New Westminster fence rules: permits and height limits","question":"Do I need a permit to build a fence, and how high can it be?","slug":"fence-rules","place":{"path":"ca/bc/new-westminster","name":"New Westminster","region":{"code":"bc","name":"British Columbia"},"country":{"code":"ca","name":"Canada"}},"category":{"slug":"building-and-renovating","name":"Building, renovating and your property"},"owner":"municipal","owner_label":"Municipal","owner_body":{"name":"City of New Westminster","url":"https://www.newwestcity.ca"},"short_answer":"No, the City of New Westminster does not require a building permit for a fence. In residential zones the limit is 1.22 metres (4 feet) in a required front yard and 1.83 metres (6 feet) on a side or rear boundary. Near a street corner the limit is 0.91 metres (3 feet).","aliases":["fence height new westminster","fence bylaw new west","how tall can my fence be","corner lot fence"],"cost":null,"how_long":"No permit process.","where":[{"type":"phone","label":"Building Division","value":"604-527-4580"},{"type":"phone","label":"Planning Division (zoning)","value":"604-527-4532"}],"documents":[],"forms":[{"title":"Guide - Fences (PDF, April 2019)","url":"https://www.newwestcity.ca/database/files/library/Guide___Fences(1).pdf"},{"title":"Zoning Bylaw page","url":"https://www.newwestcity.ca/zoning-bylaw"}],"related":[{"slug":"deck-shed-garage-permit","title":"New Westminster permits for decks, sheds, carports and garages","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/new-westminster/deck-shed-garage-permit/"},{"slug":"building-permit","title":"New Westminster building permits: when you need one and how to apply","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/new-westminster/building-permit/"},{"slug":"zoning-lookup","title":"New Westminster zoning: find your zone and what it allows","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/new-westminster/zoning-lookup/"}],"nearby":[{"place":"ca/bc/burnaby","name":"Burnaby","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/burnaby/fence-rules/"},{"place":"ca/bc/coquitlam","name":"Coquitlam","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/coquitlam/fence-rules/"},{"place":"ca/bc/port-coquitlam","name":"Port Coquitlam","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/port-coquitlam/fence-rules/"},{"place":"ca/bc/port-moody","name":"Port Moody","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/port-moody/fence-rules/"},{"place":"ca/bc/belcarra","name":"Belcarra","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/belcarra/fence-rules/"},{"place":"ca/bc/surrey","name":"Surrey","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/surrey/fence-rules/"}],"topic":{"title":"Fence height limits in British Columbia, by municipality","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/fence-rules/"},"facts":{"permit":{"label":"Permit","value":"No building permit is needed to build a fence. The Building Bylaw does not apply to fences, except pool enclosure fences (Part 12). Retaining walls are separate.","short":"No building permit","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.newwestcity.ca/database/files/library/Guide___Fences(1).pdf","title":"Guide - Fences (PDF, April 2019), City of New Westminster","section":"Guide: Fences","quotes":["You do not need a permit to build"]},{"url":"https://www.newwestcity.ca/database/files/library/Consolidated_Bylaw_8125__2019_Building(2).pdf","title":"Building Bylaw No. 8125, 2019 (PDF)","section":"s. 2.4.2.2","quotes":["fences except as required in Part 12 of this Bylaw"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"height_front":{"label":"Height, front yard","value":"In residential (R) and park/public (P) districts, 4 ft (1.22 m) in required front yards or on the boundary of a required front yard.","short":"4 ft (1.22 m)","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.newwestcity.ca/database/files/library/100_Introduction___As_of_June_8_2026(1).pdf","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 6680, 2001, Part 100 Introduction (PDF, as of June 8, 2026)","section":"s. 190.16","quotes":["except in required front yards or on the boundary of required front yards where the height shall not exceed 4 feet"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"height_side_rear":{"label":"Height, side and rear yards","value":"Residential (R) and P districts: up to 6 ft (1.83 m) on a site boundary or in a required yard. Commercial (C) and industrial (M) districts: 8 ft (2.44 m), or 12 ft (3.66 m) for open mesh or chain link.","short":"6 ft (1.83 m)","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.newwestcity.ca/database/files/library/100_Introduction___As_of_June_8_2026(1).pdf","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 6680, 2001, Part 100 Introduction (PDF, as of June 8, 2026)","section":"s. 190.16","quotes":["shall not exceed 6 feet (1.83 metres) in height"]},{"url":"https://www.newwestcity.ca/database/files/library/100_Introduction___As_of_June_8_2026(1).pdf","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 6680, 2001, Part 100 Introduction (PDF, as of June 8, 2026)","section":"s. 190.17","quotes":["shall not exceed 8 feet (2.44 metres) in height except that open mesh or chain link","type fences may be erected to a height not to exceed 12 feet (3.66 metres)."]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"corner_lots":{"label":"Corner lots and sightlines","value":"At a street or lane intersection on a corner site where front or side yards are required, no fence, wall, hedge or other vegetation may be higher than 3 ft (0.91 m) within 15 ft (4.57 m) of the corner.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.newwestcity.ca/database/files/library/100_Introduction___As_of_June_8_2026(1).pdf","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 6680, 2001, Part 100 Introduction (PDF, as of June 8, 2026)","section":"s. 190.14","quotes":["no fence, wall, hedge or other vegetation shall be allowed at a","greater height than 3 feet (0.91 metres)","of 15 feet (4.57 metres) of the corner of the site at the intersection"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"other_rules":{"label":"Other rules","value":"Height is measured from average ground level within 3 ft (0.91 m) of both sides of the fence. No signs or advertising on fences. A fence over the limits must meet building height and setbacks. Pool enclosures must be at least 1,070 mm high.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.newwestcity.ca/database/files/library/100_Introduction___As_of_June_8_2026(1).pdf","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 6680, 2001, Part 100 Introduction (PDF, as of June 8, 2026)","section":"s. 190.13","quotes":["The height of a fence, wall or hedge shall be determined by measurement from the ground","level at the average grade level within 3 feet (.91 metres) of both sides of such fence"]},{"url":"https://www.newwestcity.ca/database/files/library/100_Introduction___As_of_June_8_2026(1).pdf","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 6680, 2001, Part 100 Introduction (PDF, as of June 8, 2026)","section":"s. 190.12 and 190.19","quotes":["shall comply with the height and setback","No advertising or display or posting of signs or notices is permitted on fences."]},{"url":"https://www.newwestcity.ca/database/files/library/Consolidated_Bylaw_8125__2019_Building(2).pdf","title":"Building Bylaw No. 8125, 2019 (PDF)","section":"s. 12.2.1","quotes":["not less than 1070 mm in height with no openings greater than 100"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"bylaw":{"label":"Bylaw","value":"Zoning Bylaw No. 6680, 2001, sections 190.12 to 190.19; pool fences: Building Bylaw No. 8125, 2019, Part 12","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.newwestcity.ca/zoning-bylaw","title":"Zoning Bylaw, City of New Westminster","section":"Adoption and Amendment Information","quotes":["Zoning Bylaw No. 6680, 2001 was adopted by Council on September 17, 2001 and is consolidated as of June 8, 2026."]},{"url":"https://www.newwestcity.ca/database/files/library/100_Introduction___As_of_June_8_2026(1).pdf","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 6680, 2001, Part 100 Introduction (PDF, as of June 8, 2026)","section":"s. 190.12","quotes":["Any fence, wall or other structure not being a building which exceeds the height limitations"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}}},"facts_summary":{"total":6,"stated":6,"matched":6,"none":0,"unknown":0},"body_markdown":"## How it works\n\nThe City of New Westminster does not require a building permit for a fence. Its [Building Bylaw 8125](https://www.newwestcity.ca/database/files/library/Consolidated_Bylaw_8125__2019_Building(2).pdf) does not apply to fences, except pool enclosure fences (Part 12). Height limits are in sections 190.12 to 190.19 of the [Zoning Bylaw 6680](https://www.newwestcity.ca/database/files/library/100_Introduction___As_of_June_8_2026(1).pdf). Retaining walls are separate.\n\n## Steps\n\n1. Find your property line on your survey. If you are unsure, call the Building Division.\n2. Check the height limits below for each part of your lot.\n3. Talk to your neighbour before building on a shared line.\n\n## Good to know\n\n- Residential (R) and park or public (P) districts: 1.22 metres (4 feet) in a required front yard or on its boundary; 1.83 metres (6 feet) on a site boundary or in a required yard.\n- Commercial (C) and industrial (M) districts: 2.44 metres (8 feet), or 3.66 metres (12 feet) for open mesh or chain link.\n- Corner lots: where front or side yards are required, nothing taller than 0.91 metres (3 feet) is allowed within 4.57 metres (15 feet) of the street or lane corner. This covers fences, walls, hedges and other plants.\n- Height is measured from the average ground level within 0.91 metres (3 feet) of both sides of the fence.\n- Signs or advertising on fences are not allowed.\n- A fence over these limits must meet building height and setback rules.\n- Pool enclosures must be at least 1,070 mm high.\n- The City's 2019 guide words the front-yard limit differently from the bylaw. The bylaw is followed here; confirm with Planning.","sources":[{"url":"https://www.newwestcity.ca/database/files/library/Guide___Fences(1).pdf","title":"Guide - Fences (PDF, April 2019), City of New Westminster","accessed":"2026-11-05"},{"url":"https://www.newwestcity.ca/zoning-bylaw","title":"Zoning Bylaw, City of New Westminster","accessed":"2026-11-05"},{"url":"https://www.newwestcity.ca/database/files/library/100_Introduction___As_of_June_8_2026(1).pdf","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 6680, 2001, Part 100 Introduction (PDF, as of June 8, 2026)","accessed":"2026-11-05"},{"url":"https://www.newwestcity.ca/database/files/library/Consolidated_Bylaw_8125__2019_Building(2).pdf","title":"Building Bylaw No. 8125, 2019 (PDF)","accessed":"2026-11-05"}],"sources_read":"2026-11-05","review":{"status":"machine_checked","badge":"Checked against official text","label":"Checked by script, not yet by a person: the official wording behind 6 of 6 facts was matched to the official text."},"urls":{"html":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/new-westminster/fence-rules/","markdown":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/new-westminster/fence-rules.md","json":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/new-westminster/fence-rules.json"}}