Pitt Meadows fence rules: permits and height limits

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

Pitt Meadows, British ColumbiaChecked against official textSources read 2026-11-05

Short answer

In Pitt Meadows a fence does not need a building permit under the Building Bylaw. The Zoning Bylaw limits urban residential fences to 1.2 m in the front yard and 1.8 m behind it. These limits do not apply in agricultural zones. Retaining walls and pool fences have separate rules.

Key facts

Permit	No building permit under the Building Bylaw for a fence: its definition of 'structure' excludes fences, and retaining structures less than 1.2 m high. Retaining structures 1.2 m or higher are structures. Swimming pool enclosures are part of the pool permit.Sources differ: The City's guide (not a bylaw) says a permit is needed for a retaining wall retaining more than 1.5 m of fill, while the bylaw's definition draws the line at 1.2 m; the bylaw is followed here. Zoning Bylaw 6.6 still limits fence and retaining wall heights.Building Bylaw No. 2131, 2003 - Consolidated Version, s. 1 definition of Structure; A Guide to Building Permits, A Guide to Building Permits, p. 1 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording specifically excludes landscaping, fences, paving, and retaining structures less than 1.2m in height. Construct a retaining wall which retains more than 1.5 m (5 ft) of fill;
Height, front yard	1.2 m in urban residential zones and in institutional and commercial zones; 1.8 m in other non-agricultural zones. These fence rules (Zoning s. 6.6) do not apply in the agricultural zones. A zone's own fence rules take precedence.Zoning Bylaw No. 2505, 2011 - Consolidated Version, s. 6.6 b); Zoning Bylaw No. 2505, 2011 - Consolidated Version, s. 6.2 c) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording In all urban residential zones, 1.2 m if placed within the front yard and 1.8 m if placed In all institutional and commercial zones, 1.2 m if placed within the front yard and 2.0 m In all other zones, 1.8 m if placed within the front yard and 2.4 m if placed The regulations of Section 6 apply in all zones except the agricultural zones and Section 6.1 the specific landscaping, screening, and fence regulations in the
Height, side and rear yards	Behind the front yard: 1.8 m in urban residential zones, 2.0 m in institutional and commercial zones, 2.4 m in other non-agricultural zones. In a residential zone, 2.4 m along a lot line that abuts an agricultural or industrial zone. Section 6 does not apply in agricultural zones.Zoning Bylaw No. 2505, 2011 - Consolidated Version, s. 6.6 b) and c) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording anywhere to the rear of the front yard; if placed anywhere to the rear of the front yard; the maximum height shall be 2.4 m along that lot line only. The regulations of Section 6 apply in all zones except the agricultural zones and Section 6.1
Corner lots and sightlines	No landscaping, screen or fence may block the line of vision at an intersection above 0.9 m from the top of the curb within the triangle formed by the property lines and a line joining points 7.0 m from where they meet.Zoning Bylaw No. 2505, 2011 - Consolidated Version, s. 6.1 a) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording No landscaping, screen, or fence shall be placed, grown, or allowed to grow so as to obstruct the line of vision at an intersection above the height of 0.9 m from the top of the curb within connect the property lines at a distance of 7.0 m from their point of intersection
Other rules	Height is measured from average grade within 1.0 m of both sides. No electrified wire (except farm use on agricultural land). No barbed or razor wire (except to confine farm animals or limit access to industrial or institutional land, wire at least 2.0 m up). Residential retaining walls: 1.2 m maximum, with exceptions. Pool fence: at least 1.4 m.Zoning Bylaw No. 2505, 2011 - Consolidated Version, s. 6.6 a), d), e), f); Building Bylaw No. 2131, 2003 - Consolidated Version, s. 22.2 a) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording The height of a fence or a wall shall be measured from the average grade within 1.0 m of No fence shall be constructed wholly or partially out of electrified wire except where the No fence or wall shall be constructed wholly or partially out of barbed wire or razor wire must not exceed a height of 1.2 m measured from grade on the lower side have a height not less than 1.4m
Bylaw	Zoning Bylaw No. 2505, 2011, s. 6.1 (traffic visibility) and s. 6.6 (fencing and retaining walls).Zoning Bylaw No. 2505, 2011 - Consolidated Version, s. 6.6 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording Fencing and Retaining Walls Zoning Bylaw No. 2505, 2011

How it works

In Pitt Meadows, a fence is outside the Building Bylaw, because its definition of "structure" excludes fences and retaining structures under 1.2 m high. So a fence needs no building permit. Retaining structures 1.2 m or higher are structures. A swimming pool enclosure is part of the pool permit. Fence heights are set by section 6.6 of the Zoning Bylaw. Height is measured from average grade within 1.0 m of both sides.

Steps

Find your zone on Meadows Mapview. A zone's own fence rules take precedence.
Check the limit. In front yards: 1.2 m in urban residential, institutional and commercial zones; 1.8 m in other non-agricultural zones. Behind the front yard: 1.8 m in urban residential zones, 2.0 m in institutional and commercial zones, 2.4 m in other non-agricultural zones.
In a residential zone, a fence along a lot line that abuts an agricultural or industrial zone may be 2.4 m.
Confirm your property line with your survey plan before building.
The Zoning Bylaw's fence limits do not apply in agricultural zones.

Good to know

On a corner, no landscaping, screen or fence may block the line of vision above 0.9 m from the top of the curb, within the triangle formed by the property lines and a line joining points 7.0 m from where they meet. This rule applies in agricultural zones too. A bylaw notice for obstructing visibility is $80 if paid within 14 days, $100 after.
No electrified wire, except for farm use on agricultural land. No barbed or razor wire, except to confine farm animals or limit access to industrial or institutional land, with the wire at least 2.0 m up.
Residential retaining walls: 1.2 m maximum, with exceptions. A fence on top of a wall at or within 1.2 m of the property line may be no more than 1.8 m combined. A wall may exceed 1.2 m where your natural grade is lower than the neighbouring property.
A pool fence must be at least 1.4 m high.
A bylaw notice for exceeding fence or retaining wall height is $80 if paid within 14 days, $100 after.
The City's guide says a permit is needed for a retaining wall holding back more than 1.5 m of fill, while the bylaw draws the line at 1.2 m. Confirm with the Building Division.

Official forms and pages

The same question in other places

Maple Ridge · Port Coquitlam · Coquitlam · Anmore · Port Moody · Belcarra

Fence height limits in British Columbia, by municipality →

Sources

Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 2439, 2009 (consolidated, PDF) (read 2026-11-05)
Zoning Bylaw No. 2505, 2011 - Consolidated Version (PDF) (read 2026-11-05)
Building Bylaw No. 2131, 2003 - Consolidated Version (PDF) (read 2026-11-05)
A Guide to Building Permits, City of Pitt Meadows (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.