--- title: "District of North Vancouver fence rules: permits and height limits" question: "Do I need a permit to build a fence, and how high can it be in the District of North Vancouver?" place: District of North Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada place_path: ca/bc/north-vancouver-district category: Building, renovating and your property owner: municipal owner_body: District of North Vancouver sources_read: 2026-11-06 review: machine_checked canonical: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/north-vancouver-district/fence-rules/" json: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/north-vancouver-district/fence-rules.json" --- # District of North Vancouver fence rules: permits and height limits **Question:** Do I need a permit to build a fence, and how high can it be in the District of North Vancouver? **Short answer:** In the District of North Vancouver (not the City), a fence the Zoning Bylaw allows needs no building permit. In the older single-family zones the limit is 6 ft, or 8 ft more than 25 ft back from a street-facing lot line. For the newer R1 and R2 zones, check with the District. **Who handles it:** Municipal (District of North Vancouver, https://www.dnv.org) **Cost:** No building permit fee for a fence the Zoning Bylaw permits. Retaining walls over 3 ft need a building permit; see building-permit-fees. **How long:** Not applicable for an ordinary fence. **Where:** - Phone: Building Department, 604-990-2480 (Monday to Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., closed statutory holidays; permit inquiries by appointment) - Email: Building Department email, building@dnv.org - Phone: Planning Department, 604-990-2387 - In person: Municipal Hall, 355 West Queens Road, North Vancouver, BC V7N 4N5 ## Key facts - **Permit:** No building permit for a fence that the Zoning Bylaw permits (pool enclosures are covered by the Construction Bylaw). Retaining walls over 3 ft need a building permit. - Source: [Construction Bylaw 8271, 2017, s. 3.3.2](https://docs.dnv.org/documents/Bylaw%208271.pdf) - Official wording: "a fence permitted to be constructed under the Zoning Bylaw, except as provided" - Source: [https://docs.dnv.org/documents/zoning-guide-single-family-residential-1-5.pdf, Section A](https://docs.dnv.org/documents/zoning-guide-single-family-residential-1-5.pdf) - Official wording: "retaining walls greater than 3 ft." - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 - **Height, front yard:** 6 ft (1.8 m) maximum in the older single-family (RS) zones; taller (up to 8 ft) only more than 25 ft back from a lot line facing a street. In R1 and R2, Section 525 says its projections section replaces s. 409 and states no fence height. The District's fence sheet still shows 6 ft and 8 ft; confirm with the Building Department. - Source: [Zoning Bylaw 3210, s. 409(4)(a), (b)](https://docs.dnv.org/documents/bylaw-3210.pdf) - Official wording: "fences and free-standing walls 6.0 feet or less in height may be constructed on any portion of the lot" … "Fences and free-standing walls 8.0 feet or less in height may be constructed in any open space 25.0 feet to the rear of a lot line facing a street" - Source: [Fence Height Regulations](https://docs.dnv.org/documents/fence-height-regulations.pdf) - Official wording: "Street 6 ft. high max" - Source: [Section 525 to Zoning Bylaw 3210, R1 and R2 zones, R1/R2 s. 525-3.10(16)(a)](https://docs.dnv.org/documents/zoning-guide-section-525.pdf) - Official wording: "Exemptions from all Setbacks, this section replaces" … "Section 409 Siting Exceptions." - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 - **Height, side and rear yards:** In the older single-family (RS) zones: 6 ft (1.8 m) maximum, or up to 8 ft more than 25 ft behind a lot line facing a street; over 8 ft must meet the zone's building rules. R1 and R2: Section 525 replaces s. 409 and gives no fence height; confirm with the Building Department. - Source: [Zoning Bylaw 3210, s. 409(4)(b), (c)](https://docs.dnv.org/documents/bylaw-3210.pdf) - Official wording: "Fences and free-standing walls 8.0 feet or less in height may be constructed in any open space 25.0 feet to the rear of a lot line facing a street" … "Fences and free-standing walls over eight feet in height shall conform to the size, shape and siting regulations for building within the zone" - Source: [Section 525 to Zoning Bylaw 3210, R1 and R2 zones, R1/R2 s. 525-3.10(16)(a)](https://docs.dnv.org/documents/zoning-guide-section-525.pdf) - Official wording: "Exemptions from all Setbacks, this section replaces" … "Section 409 Siting Exceptions." - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 - **Corner lots and sightlines:** Hedges and bushes used as fencing are not height-regulated, but must not create a visual impairment for traffic or traffic signs. The District's corner-lot diagram applies the 6 ft limit within 25 ft of the street side as well. - Source: [Fence Height Regulations](https://docs.dnv.org/documents/fence-height-regulations.pdf) - Official wording: "Heights of hedges or bushes that are used as" … "care must be taken that a visual impairment is not created for traffic or traffic signs" … "from street side of property line" - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 - **Other rules:** Place fences on or within the property line. A fence on a retaining wall counts toward total height. Hedges are not regulated. Pool, spa or hot tub fence: at least 1.2 m high, openings no more than 100 mm, self-closing and self-latching gate. Retaining walls in setbacks (RS zones): 3 ft at the outer face, rising at 35 degrees to 8 ft. - Source: [Fence Height Regulations](https://docs.dnv.org/documents/fence-height-regulations.pdf) - Official wording: "Placement of same must" … "be on, or within, the property lines." … "the total height must remain within the" … "prescribed regulation as well" - Source: [Zoning Bylaw 3210, s. 409(3)](https://docs.dnv.org/documents/bylaw-3210.pdf) - Official wording: "Retaining walls may be constructed within the required setback area of a lot when the wall or walls do not extend above a line commencing 3.0 feet" - Source: [Construction Bylaw 8271, 2017, Part 8, s. 8.2, 8.3](https://docs.dnv.org/documents/Bylaw%208271.pdf) - Official wording: "having a minimum height of 1.2 meters and no openings greater than 100" … "Access through a fence enclosing a pool, spa or hot tub must be only through a self-" - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 - **Bylaw:** Zoning Bylaw 3210, s. 409(4) (RS zones; replaced for R1/R2 by Section 525). Over-height fence: bylaw notice $100 ($75 within 14 days, $150 late); municipal ticket also $100 (s. 1207). - Source: [Zoning Bylaw 3210, s. 409(4) and Part 1](https://docs.dnv.org/documents/bylaw-3210.pdf) - Official wording: "District of North Vancouver Zoning Bylaw, 1965" … "Fences and free-standing walls:" … "Pursuant to sections 264(1)(c) and 265(1)(a) of the Community Charter, the table below" - Source: [Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw 7458, Schedule A, Zoning Bylaw 3210](https://docs.dnv.org/documents/Bylaw%207458.pdf) - Official wording: "409(4) Over-height Fence 100 75 150" - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 ## How it works A fence that the Zoning Bylaw permits is not covered by the [Construction Bylaw](), so it needs no building permit. Pool enclosures are covered by that bylaw. Retaining walls over 3 ft need a building permit. Height limits are in [Zoning Bylaw 3210](), s. 409(4). This is the District of North Vancouver, not the City of North Vancouver. - **Older single-family (RS) zones:** 6 ft (1.8 m) maximum. A fence may be taller, up to 8 ft, only more than 25 ft back from a lot line facing a street. Over 8 ft must meet the zone's building rules. - **R1 and R2 zones:** [Section 525]() says its table of permitted projections replaces s. 409 and does not state a fence height. The District's [Fence Height Regulations]() sheet still shows 6 ft and 8 ft, but check with the Building Department before you build. ## Steps 1. Find out your zone (see the zoning-lookup answer). 2. Call the Building Department (604-990-2480) or email building@dnv.org to confirm the height rule for your zone, especially R1 or R2. 3. Place the fence on or within your property line. ## Good to know - A fence on a retaining wall counts toward total height. Retaining walls in setbacks (RS zones) are 3 ft at the outer face, rising at 35 degrees to 8 ft. - Hedges and bushes used as fencing are not height-regulated, but must not create a visual impairment for traffic or traffic signs. The District's corner-lot diagram applies the 6 ft limit within 25 ft of the street side as well. - Fences up to 12 ft are allowed in industrial zones, or with open wire mesh where needed for a recreational use. - Pool, spa or hot tub fence: at least 1.2 m high, openings no more than 100 mm, with a self-closing, self-latching gate. - An over-height fence is a $100 bylaw notice ($75 within 14 days, $150 late), under the [Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw](). A municipal ticket is also $100. ## Official forms and pages - [Zoning Bylaw 3210 (PDF)](https://docs.dnv.org/documents/bylaw-3210.pdf) - [Section 525 to Zoning Bylaw 3210, R1 and R2 zones (PDF)](https://docs.dnv.org/documents/zoning-guide-section-525.pdf) - [Fence Height Regulations (PDF)](https://docs.dnv.org/documents/fence-height-regulations.pdf) - [Construction Bylaw 8271, 2017 (PDF)](https://docs.dnv.org/documents/Bylaw%208271.pdf) ## Related questions - [District of North Vancouver permits for decks, sheds, carports and garages](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/north-vancouver-district/deck-shed-garage-permit.md) - [District of North Vancouver zoning: find your zone and what it allows](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/north-vancouver-district/zoning-lookup.md) - [District of North Vancouver building permits: when you need one and how to apply](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/north-vancouver-district/building-permit.md) ## The same question elsewhere - [Fence height limits in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/fence-rules.md) - [North Vancouver](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/north-vancouver/fence-rules.md) - [Belcarra](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/belcarra/fence-rules.md) - [West Vancouver](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/west-vancouver/fence-rules.md) - [Port Moody](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/port-moody/fence-rules.md) - [Vancouver](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/vancouver/fence-rules.md) - [Burnaby](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/burnaby/fence-rules.md) ## Sources - [Zoning Bylaw 3210 (PDF)](https://docs.dnv.org/documents/bylaw-3210.pdf) (read 2026-11-06) - [Section 525 to Zoning Bylaw 3210, R1 and R2 zones (PDF)](https://docs.dnv.org/documents/zoning-guide-section-525.pdf) (read 2026-11-06) - [Fence Height Regulations (PDF)](https://docs.dnv.org/documents/fence-height-regulations.pdf) (read 2026-11-06) - [Construction Bylaw 8271, 2017 (PDF)](https://docs.dnv.org/documents/Bylaw%208271.pdf) (read 2026-11-06) - [Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw 7458 (PDF)](https://docs.dnv.org/documents/Bylaw%207458.pdf) (read 2026-11-06) - [https://docs.dnv.org/documents/zoning-guide-single-family-residential-1-5.pdf](https://docs.dnv.org/documents/zoning-guide-single-family-residential-1-5.pdf) (read 2026-11-06) _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 District of North Vancouver. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/north-vancouver-district/fence-rules/_