{"title":"North Saanich 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/north-saanich","name":"North Saanich","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":"District of North Saanich","url":"https://www.northsaanich.ca"},"short_answer":"In North Saanich a fence under 2 m high needs no building permit; a fence 2 m or higher does. Zoning limits apply either way: in the R-1, R-2 and R-3 single family zones, fences may be 1.2 m high in the front yard and 1.9 m elsewhere.","aliases":["fence height north saanich","fence permit north saanich","fence bylaw"],"cost":"A fence under 2 m needs no permit. A permit for a fence 2 m or higher is charged under the building permit fees; see the building-permit-fees answer.","how_long":"Not applicable for a fence under 2 m. For a permit, see the building-permit answer.","where":[{"type":"phone","label":"Building department","value":"250-655-5470"},{"type":"in_person","label":"Municipal Hall","value":"1620 Mills Road, North Saanich, BC V8L 5S9"}],"documents":[],"forms":[{"title":"Do I need a Building Permit? (PDF)","url":"https://www.northsaanich.ca/wp-content/uploads/When-building-permit-needed.pdf"},{"title":"Zoning and Development Bylaw No. 1255, consolidated 2023 (PDF)","url":"https://www.northsaanich.ca/wp-content/uploads/1255-District-of-North-Saanich-Zoning-Bylaw-No.-1255-Consolidated-2023.pdf"},{"title":"Building and Plumbing Bylaw No. 1150 (PDF)","url":"https://www.northsaanich.ca/wp-content/uploads/1150-Building-Plumbing-Bylaw-CONSOLIDATED-March-18-2019.pdf"}],"related":[{"slug":"building-permit","title":"North Saanich building permits: when you need one and how to apply","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/north-saanich/building-permit/"},{"slug":"deck-shed-garage-permit","title":"North Saanich permits for decks, sheds, carports and garages","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/north-saanich/deck-shed-garage-permit/"},{"slug":"zoning-lookup","title":"North Saanich zoning: find your zone and what it allows","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/north-saanich/zoning-lookup/"},{"slug":"tree-removal","title":"North Saanich tree removal rules and permits","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/north-saanich/tree-removal/"}],"nearby":[{"place":"ca/bc/sidney","name":"Sidney","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/sidney/fence-rules/"},{"place":"ca/bc/central-saanich","name":"Central Saanich","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/central-saanich/fence-rules/"},{"place":"ca/bc/highlands","name":"Highlands","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/highlands/fence-rules/"},{"place":"ca/bc/saanich","name":"Saanich","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/saanich/fence-rules/"},{"place":"ca/bc/langford","name":"Langford","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/langford/fence-rules/"},{"place":"ca/bc/view-royal","name":"View Royal","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/view-royal/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 for a fence under 2 m (6.56 ft.) high; a fence 2 m or higher needs one. A retaining wall 1 m or higher also needs a permit and a registered professional's design.","short":"No under 2 m; yes for 2 m or higher","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.northsaanich.ca/wp-content/uploads/1150-Building-Plumbing-Bylaw-CONSOLIDATED-March-18-2019.pdf","title":"Building and Plumbing Bylaw No. 1150 (PDF, consolidated March 18, 2019)","section":"s. 1.3 'structure'","quotes":["fences under 2 meter (6.56 ft.) in height; and"]},{"url":"https://www.northsaanich.ca/wp-content/uploads/When-building-permit-needed.pdf","title":"Do I need a Building Permit? (PDF, April 2020)","section":"Do I need a Building Permit? brochure (April 2020)","quotes":["construct fences 2 metres (6.56’) in height or","construct retaining walls 1 metre ( 3.28’) in"]},{"url":"https://www.northsaanich.ca/wp-content/uploads/1150-Building-Plumbing-Bylaw-CONSOLIDATED-March-18-2019.pdf","title":"Building and Plumbing Bylaw No. 1150 (PDF, consolidated March 18, 2019)","section":"s. 5.19","quotes":["A registered professional shall undertake the design and conduct field"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"height_front":{"label":"Height, front yard","value":"1.2 m (4 ft.) in the front yard in the R-1, R-2 and R-3 single family zones. Rural Agricultural zones list no fence height limit.","short":"1.2 m","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.northsaanich.ca/wp-content/uploads/1255-District-of-North-Saanich-Zoning-Bylaw-No.-1255-Consolidated-2023.pdf","title":"Zoning and Development Bylaw No. 1255 (PDF, consolidated February 2023)","section":"s. 502.1.4(e)","quotes":["(i) Front Yard – 1.2 metres (4 ft.)"]},{"url":"https://www.northsaanich.ca/wp-content/uploads/1255-District-of-North-Saanich-Zoning-Bylaw-No.-1255-Consolidated-2023.pdf","title":"Zoning and Development Bylaw No. 1255 (PDF, consolidated February 2023)","section":"s. 502.3.4(e)","quotes":["(i) Front Yard 1.2 metres (4 ft.)"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"height_side_rear":{"label":"Height, side and rear yards","value":"1.9 m (6.23 ft.) in all other areas (side and rear yards) in the R-1, R-2 and R-3 zones.","short":"1.9 m","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.northsaanich.ca/wp-content/uploads/1255-District-of-North-Saanich-Zoning-Bylaw-No.-1255-Consolidated-2023.pdf","title":"Zoning and Development Bylaw No. 1255 (PDF, consolidated February 2023)","section":"s. 502.1.4(e)","quotes":["(ii) All other areas – 1.9 metres (6.23 ft.)."]},{"url":"https://www.northsaanich.ca/wp-content/uploads/1255-District-of-North-Saanich-Zoning-Bylaw-No.-1255-Consolidated-2023.pdf","title":"Zoning and Development Bylaw No. 1255 (PDF, consolidated February 2023)","section":"s. 502.3.4(e)","quotes":["(ii) All other areas 1.9 metres (6.23 ft.)"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"corner_lots":{"label":"Corner lots and sightlines","value":"On a corner lot, nothing over 0.5 m (1.64 ft.) above road grade (including a fence, retaining wall, landscaping or screening) may be within the triangle 6.0 m (19.68 ft.) each way from the corner where two roads meet.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.northsaanich.ca/wp-content/uploads/1255-District-of-North-Saanich-Zoning-Bylaw-No.-1255-Consolidated-2023.pdf","title":"Zoning and Development Bylaw No. 1255 (PDF, consolidated February 2023)","section":"s. 110.4","quotes":["on a corner lot, no building or","structure, fence, retaining wall, landscaping or screening, or any visual obstruction above","the height of 0.5 m (1.64 ft.) of the established grade of a highway or road may be within","the triangular area measured 6.0 m (19.68 ft.) each way along the lot lines"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"other_rules":{"label":"Other rules","value":"A fence is a vertical structure that forms a boundary or screen. A pool over 1 m deep and 15 m² needs a sturdy fence at least 1.22 m high with a self-closing, self-latching gate. How height is measured and barbed wire are not addressed.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.northsaanich.ca/wp-content/uploads/1255-District-of-North-Saanich-Zoning-Bylaw-No.-1255-Consolidated-2023.pdf","title":"Zoning and Development Bylaw No. 1255 (PDF, consolidated February 2023)","section":"s. 102 'fence'","quotes":["“fence” means a vertical structure used to form a boundary to enclose or screen a lot or an","area, but does not include a retaining wall;"]},{"url":"https://www.northsaanich.ca/wp-content/uploads/1150-Building-Plumbing-Bylaw-CONSOLIDATED-March-18-2019.pdf","title":"Building and Plumbing Bylaw No. 1150 (PDF, consolidated March 18, 2019)","section":"s. 9.2.1, 9.3","quotes":["shall be enclosed within a sturdy fence not less than 1.22 m in height","be continuous except for points of access which shall be equipped with"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"bylaw":{"label":"Bylaw","value":"Zoning and Development Bylaw No. 1255 (s. 110.4 and the 'Maximum Fence Height' line in each zone's accessory buildings table, e.g. s. 502.1.4(e)); Building and Plumbing Bylaw No. 1150 (permit, pools)","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.northsaanich.ca/wp-content/uploads/1255-District-of-North-Saanich-Zoning-Bylaw-No.-1255-Consolidated-2023.pdf","title":"Zoning and Development Bylaw No. 1255 (PDF, consolidated February 2023)","section":"Cover and title","quotes":["DISTRICT OF NORTH SAANICH ZONING AND DEVELOPMENT BYLAW NO. 1255"]},{"url":"https://www.northsaanich.ca/lands-planning/building-or-renovating/permits","title":"Permits, District of North Saanich","section":"Applying for a Building Permit","quotes":["Building and Plumbing Bylaw No. 1150"]}],"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\nIn the District of North Saanich, a fence under 2 m (6.56 ft) high does not need a building permit, and a fence 2 m or higher does ([Building and Plumbing Bylaw No. 1150](https://www.northsaanich.ca/wp-content/uploads/1150-Building-Plumbing-Bylaw-CONSOLIDATED-March-18-2019.pdf)). A retaining wall 1 m or higher also needs a permit and a registered professional's design.\n\nZoning height limits apply whether or not a permit is needed. In the R-1, R-2 and R-3 single family zones, [Zoning Bylaw No. 1255](https://www.northsaanich.ca/wp-content/uploads/1255-District-of-North-Saanich-Zoning-Bylaw-No.-1255-Consolidated-2023.pdf) allows 1.2 m (4 ft) in the front yard and 1.9 m (6.23 ft) in all other areas. The Rural Agricultural zones list no fence height limit.\n\n## Steps\n\n1. Check your zone on the District's online map (see the zoning-lookup answer).\n2. Keep the fence within the zone's height limit and clear of the corner sight triangle (below).\n3. If the fence is 2 m or higher, apply for a building permit at Municipal Hall (see the building-permit answer).\n4. If unsure, call the building department at 250-655-5470.\n\n## Good to know\n\n- On a corner lot, nothing over 0.5 m (1.64 ft) above road grade, including a fence, retaining wall, landscaping or screening, may be within 6.0 m (19.68 ft) of the corner where two roads meet (s. 110.4).\n- A pool over 1 m deep and 15 m² needs a sturdy fence at least 1.22 m high with a self-closing, self-latching gate.\n- \"Exceed Fence Height\" is a $130 municipal ticket ($100 if paid within 30 days) under Municipal Ticket Information Bylaw No. 1544, as of its 2022 version. Amounts may have changed.\n- The bylaws do not say how fence height is measured or address barbed wire. Ask the building department.\n- The zoning copy is the February 2023 consolidation, and later amendments exist. Confirm current limits with the District.","sources":[{"url":"https://www.northsaanich.ca/wp-content/uploads/When-building-permit-needed.pdf","title":"Do I need a Building Permit? (PDF, April 2020)","accessed":"2026-11-05"},{"url":"https://www.northsaanich.ca/wp-content/uploads/1150-Building-Plumbing-Bylaw-CONSOLIDATED-March-18-2019.pdf","title":"Building and Plumbing Bylaw No. 1150 (PDF, consolidated March 18, 2019)","accessed":"2026-11-05"},{"url":"https://www.northsaanich.ca/wp-content/uploads/1255-District-of-North-Saanich-Zoning-Bylaw-No.-1255-Consolidated-2023.pdf","title":"Zoning and Development Bylaw No. 1255 (PDF, consolidated February 2023)","accessed":"2026-11-05"},{"url":"https://www.northsaanich.ca/sites/default/files/2026-06/Municipal-Ticket-Information-Bylaw-No.-1544.pdf","title":"Municipal Ticket Information Bylaw No. 1544 (PDF)","accessed":"2026-11-05"},{"url":"https://www.northsaanich.ca/lands-planning/zoning","title":"Zoning, District of North Saanich","accessed":"2026-11-05"},{"url":"https://www.northsaanich.ca/lands-planning/building-or-renovating/permits","title":"Permits, District of North Saanich","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/north-saanich/fence-rules/","markdown":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/north-saanich/fence-rules.md","json":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/north-saanich/fence-rules.json"}}