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North Saanich fence rules: permits and height limits

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

North Saanich, British ColumbiaChecked against official textSources read 2026-11-05

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.

Key facts

PermitNo 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.Building and Plumbing Bylaw No. 1150 (PDF, consolidated March 18, 2019), s. 1.3 'structure'; Do I need a Building Permit? (PDF, April 2020), Do I need a Building Permit? brochure (April 2020); Building and Plumbing Bylaw No. 1150 (PDF, consolidated March 18, 2019), s. 5.19 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
Official wording
fences under 2 meter (6.56 ft.) in height; and
construct fences 2 metres (6.56’) in height or
construct retaining walls 1 metre ( 3.28’) in
A registered professional shall undertake the design and conduct field
Height, front yard1.2 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.Zoning and Development Bylaw No. 1255 (PDF, consolidated February 2023), s. 502.1.4(e); Zoning and Development Bylaw No. 1255 (PDF, consolidated February 2023), s. 502.3.4(e) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
Official wording
(i) Front Yard – 1.2 metres (4 ft.)
(i) Front Yard 1.2 metres (4 ft.)
Height, side and rear yards1.9 m (6.23 ft.) in all other areas (side and rear yards) in the R-1, R-2 and R-3 zones.Zoning and Development Bylaw No. 1255 (PDF, consolidated February 2023), s. 502.1.4(e); Zoning and Development Bylaw No. 1255 (PDF, consolidated February 2023), s. 502.3.4(e) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
Official wording
(ii) All other areas – 1.9 metres (6.23 ft.).
(ii) All other areas 1.9 metres (6.23 ft.)
Corner lots and sightlinesOn 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.Zoning and Development Bylaw No. 1255 (PDF, consolidated February 2023), s. 110.4 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
Official wording
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
Other rulesA 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.Zoning and Development Bylaw No. 1255 (PDF, consolidated February 2023), s. 102 'fence'; Building and Plumbing Bylaw No. 1150 (PDF, consolidated March 18, 2019), s. 9.2.1, 9.3 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
Official wording
“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;
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
BylawZoning 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)Zoning and Development Bylaw No. 1255 (PDF, consolidated February 2023), Cover and title; Permits, Applying for a Building Permit · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
Official wording
DISTRICT OF NORTH SAANICH ZONING AND DEVELOPMENT BYLAW NO. 1255
Building and Plumbing Bylaw No. 1150

How it works

In 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). A retaining wall 1 m or higher also needs a permit and a registered professional's design.

Zoning 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 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.

Steps

  1. Check your zone on the District's online map (see the zoning-lookup answer).
  2. Keep the fence within the zone's height limit and clear of the corner sight triangle (below).
  3. If the fence is 2 m or higher, apply for a building permit at Municipal Hall (see the building-permit answer).
  4. If unsure, call the building department at 250-655-5470.

Good to know

  • 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).
  • 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.
  • "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.
  • The bylaws do not say how fence height is measured or address barbed wire. Ask the building department.
  • The zoning copy is the February 2023 consolidation, and later amendments exist. Confirm current limits with the District.

Official forms and pages

The same question in other places

Sidney · Central Saanich · Highlands · Saanich · Langford · View Royal

Fence height limits in British Columbia, by municipality →

Sources

  1. Do I need a Building Permit? (PDF, April 2020) (read 2026-11-05)
  2. Building and Plumbing Bylaw No. 1150 (PDF, consolidated March 18, 2019) (read 2026-11-05)
  3. Zoning and Development Bylaw No. 1255 (PDF, consolidated February 2023) (read 2026-11-05)
  4. Municipal Ticket Information Bylaw No. 1544 (PDF) (read 2026-11-05)
  5. Zoning, District of North Saanich (read 2026-11-05)
  6. Permits, District of North Saanich (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.