New Westminster fence rules: permits and height limits

Do I need a permit to build a fence, and how high can it be?

New Westminster, British ColumbiaChecked against official textSources read 2026-11-05

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).

Key facts

Permit	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.Guide - Fences (PDF, April 2019), Guide: Fences; Building Bylaw No. 8125, 2019, s. 2.4.2.2 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording You do not need a permit to build fences except as required in Part 12 of this Bylaw
Height, front yard	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.Zoning Bylaw No. 6680, 2001, Part 100 Introduction (PDF, as of June 8, 2026), s. 190.16 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording except in required front yards or on the boundary of required front yards where the height shall not exceed 4 feet
Height, side and rear yards	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.Zoning Bylaw No. 6680, 2001, Part 100 Introduction (PDF, as of June 8, 2026), s. 190.16; Zoning Bylaw No. 6680, 2001, Part 100 Introduction (PDF, as of June 8, 2026), s. 190.17 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording shall not exceed 6 feet (1.83 metres) in height 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).
Corner lots and sightlines	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.Zoning Bylaw No. 6680, 2001, Part 100 Introduction (PDF, as of June 8, 2026), s. 190.14 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording 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
Other rules	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.Zoning Bylaw No. 6680, 2001, Part 100 Introduction (PDF, as of June 8, 2026), s. 190.13; Zoning Bylaw No. 6680, 2001, Part 100 Introduction (PDF, as of June 8, 2026), s. 190.12 and 190.19; Building Bylaw No. 8125, 2019, s. 12.2.1 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording 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 shall comply with the height and setback No advertising or display or posting of signs or notices is permitted on fences. not less than 1070 mm in height with no openings greater than 100
Bylaw	Zoning Bylaw No. 6680, 2001, sections 190.12 to 190.19; pool fences: Building Bylaw No. 8125, 2019, Part 12Zoning Bylaw, Adoption and Amendment Information; Zoning Bylaw No. 6680, 2001, Part 100 Introduction (PDF, as of June 8, 2026), s. 190.12 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording Zoning Bylaw No. 6680, 2001 was adopted by Council on September 17, 2001 and is consolidated as of June 8, 2026. Any fence, wall or other structure not being a building which exceeds the height limitations

How it works

The City of New Westminster does not require a building permit for a fence. Its Building Bylaw 8125 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. Retaining walls are separate.

Steps

Find your property line on your survey. If you are unsure, call the Building Division.
Check the height limits below for each part of your lot.
Talk to your neighbour before building on a shared line.

Good to know

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.
Commercial (C) and industrial (M) districts: 2.44 metres (8 feet), or 3.66 metres (12 feet) for open mesh or chain link.
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.
Height is measured from the average ground level within 0.91 metres (3 feet) of both sides of the fence.
Signs or advertising on fences are not allowed.
A fence over these limits must meet building height and setback rules.
Pool enclosures must be at least 1,070 mm high.
The City's 2019 guide words the front-yard limit differently from the bylaw. The bylaw is followed here; confirm with Planning.

Official forms and pages

The same question in other places

Burnaby · Coquitlam · Port Coquitlam · Port Moody · Belcarra · Surrey

Fence height limits in British Columbia, by municipality →

Sources

Guide - Fences (PDF, April 2019), City of New Westminster (read 2026-11-05)
Zoning Bylaw, City of New Westminster (read 2026-11-05)
Zoning Bylaw No. 6680, 2001, Part 100 Introduction (PDF, as of June 8, 2026) (read 2026-11-05)
Building Bylaw No. 8125, 2019 (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. How answers are checked.