Osoyoos fence rules: permits and height limits

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

Osoyoos, British ColumbiaChecked against official textSources read 2026-11-06

Short answer

In Osoyoos a fence under 1.2 m high needs no building permit. Fences are limited to 1.2 m in the front setback and 2.0 m behind it, with exceptions for agricultural and industrial zones. The bylaw suggests taller fences need a permit; confirm with Planning.

Key facts

Permit	No building permit is needed for a fence or landscape wall under 1.2 m high. The Building Bylaw's definition of 'structure' excludes only fences up to 1.2 m, so a taller fence appears to need a permit; confirm with Planning. Retaining walls over 1.2 m high need a permit.Building Code Administration Bylaw No. 1251, 2009, s. 13.9; Building Permits, Building Permits page · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording No permit is required for construction of a fence or a landscape wall less than 1.2m in height. excludes fences and landscape walls up to 1.2m in height Every owner shall apply for and obtain a permit before constructing, altering, repairing, demolishing or moving a building or structure. construction of retaining walls greater than 1.2 m in height
Height, front yard	1.2 m in the front setback. Exceptions: in the Agriculture (AG) zone fences may be up to 2.0 m and in Industrial zones up to 3.0 m; see-through deer fences (not chain link) and ball park, golf course and tennis court fences have no height limit.Zoning Bylaw No. 1395, 2024, s. 6.1.1 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording No fence shall exceed 2.0 metres in height to the rear of a front setback or 1.2 metres in height in the front setback except: in the Agriculture (AG) Zone all fences may be up to 2.0 metres in height, and in the Industrial zones all fences may be up to 3.0 metres in height; fences for ball parks, golf courses and tennis courts shall not be limited in height,
Height, side and rear yards	2.0 m behind the front setback. Exceptions: up to 3.0 m in Industrial zones; a fence on a retaining wall at most 1.8 m combined within 1.2 m of the parcel line; deer fences and ball park, golf course and tennis court fences of see-through material (no chain link for deer fences) have no limit.Zoning Bylaw No. 1395, 2024, s. 6.1.1 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording No fence shall exceed 2.0 metres in height to the rear of a front setback or 1.2 metres in height in the front setback except: in the Agriculture (AG) Zone all fences may be up to 2.0 metres in height, and in the Industrial zones all fences may be up to 3.0 metres in height; the combined height of the fence and the retaining wall at the parcel line or within 1.2 metres of the parcel deer fences shall not be limited in height fences for ball parks, golf courses and tennis courts shall not be limited in height, deer fences shall not be limited in height, provided such fences are constructed of
Corner lots and sightlines	In all zones nothing (fence, landscaping or retaining wall) may be higher than 1.0 m within a sight triangle, within 6.0 m of the parcel corner at a street intersection. No retaining wall within 4.5 m of the corner at a street intersection (exceptions where the lot is lower than the street).Zoning Bylaw No. 1395, 2024, s. 6.12.1; s. 6.8.4(b) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording no fence, landscaping, retaining wall, or other obstruction shall be erected or permitted at a height greater than 1.0 metre within a sight triangle distance of 6.0 metres from the corner of the parcel at the intersection of the highway. no retaining wall is permitted within a distance of 4.5 metres from the corner of the site at the intersection of the
Other rules	Height is measured from ground level at the fence to its top. Barbed wire is banned in all zones except AG (the bylaw also names an 'M1' zone, which is not a current zone); razor wire is banned everywhere. No fence below Osoyoos Lake's high water mark. Retaining walls: 2.0 m, 1.2 m in a setback. Pool fences at least 1.2 m high.Zoning Bylaw No. 1395, 2024, s. 6.1.2 to 6.1.4; s. 6.8.4; Building Code Administration Bylaw No. 1251, 2009, s. 23.4 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording The use of barbed wire for fencing is prohibited within all zones, except the AG and M1 The use of razor wire for fencing is prohibited within all zones. No fence shall be sited below the high water mark of Osoyoos Lake. no retaining wall shall exceed 2.0 metres in height except: The height of a fence shall be determined by measurement from the ground level, at the place on which the fence is to be located, to the top of the fence. The use of barbed wire for fencing is prohibited within all zones, except the AG and M1 zones. Every swimming pool shall be enclosed on all sides by a fence or equivalent barrier, to a
Bylaw	Zoning Bylaw No. 1395, 2024, s. 6.1 (fences) and s. 6.12 (visibility at intersections); Building Code Administration Bylaw No. 1251, 2009, s. 13.9 (permit)Zoning Bylaw No. 1395, 2024, s. 6.1; Building Code Administration Bylaw No. 1251, 2009, s. 13.9 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording 6.0 GENERAL REGULATIONS 6.1 Fences The height of a fence shall be determined by measurement from the ground level, at the 6.12 Visibility at Intersections .1 In all zones, no fence, landscaping, retaining wall, or other obstruction shall be erected ZONING BYLAW BYLAW NO. 1395, 2024 CONSOLIDATED VERSION No permit is required for construction of a fence or a landscape wall less than 1.2m in height.

How it works

Fence heights are set by section 6.1 of the Zoning Bylaw No. 1395. Height is measured from the ground where the fence stands to its top.

Front setback: 1.2 m. Agriculture (AG) zone fences may be up to 2.0 m, and Industrial zones up to 3.0 m.
Behind the front setback: 2.0 m, or 3.0 m in Industrial zones. A fence on a retaining wall may be 1.8 m combined within 1.2 m of the parcel line.
No limit: see-through deer fences (not chain link) and ball park, golf course and tennis court fences of see-through material.
Corner lots: nothing (fence, landscaping or retaining wall) may be higher than 1.0 m within 6.0 m of the parcel corner at a street intersection. No retaining wall within 4.5 m of that corner, with exceptions where the lot is lower than the street.

Under the Building Code Administration Bylaw No. 1251, no permit is needed for a fence or landscape wall under 1.2 m high. The bylaw's definition of "structure" excludes only fences up to 1.2 m, so a taller fence appears to need a building permit. Confirm with Planning. Retaining walls over 1.2 m high need a permit.

Steps

Find your property lines first.
Check your zone's limit in the zoning bylaw, or call Planning and Development Services (250-495-6191).
If your fence will be taller than 1.2 m, ask whether a building permit is needed before you build.

Good to know

Barbed wire is banned in all zones except AG. The bylaw also names an "M1" zone, but there is no M1 zone: the industrial zone is I1. Ask Planning how this is applied. Razor wire is banned everywhere.
No fence may be built below Osoyoos Lake's high water mark.
Retaining walls may be 2.0 m high, or 1.2 m in a setback.
Pool fences must be at least 1.2 m high. Pools built at least 1.2 m above grade need only the ladder or access point enclosed.
Electric fences are not mentioned in the zoning or building bylaws.
A fence ticket is $100 as a bylaw notice ($90 if paid early, $110 if late) and $100 as a municipal ticket ($90 if paid within 30 days). The corner sight-triangle ticket is the same.

Official forms and pages

The same question in other places

Oliver · Keremeos · Penticton · Greenwood · Summerland · Grand Forks

Fence height limits in British Columbia, by municipality →

Sources

Zoning Bylaw No. 1395, 2024 (PDF) (read 2026-11-06)
Building Code Administration Bylaw No. 1251, 2009 (PDF) (read 2026-11-06)
Building Permits, Town of Osoyoos (read 2026-11-06)
Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 1392, 2025 (PDF) (read 2026-11-06)
Municipal Ticket Information Bylaw No. 1279, 2011 (PDF) (read 2026-11-06)

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