---
title: "Port Alberni fence rules: permits and height limits"
question: "Do I need a permit to build a fence, and how high can it be?"
place: Port Alberni, British Columbia, Canada
place_path: ca/bc/port-alberni
category: Building, renovating and your property
owner: municipal
owner_body: City of Port Alberni
sources_read: 2026-11-05
review: machine_checked
canonical: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/port-alberni/fence-rules/"
json: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/port-alberni/fence-rules.json"
---

# Port Alberni fence rules: permits and height limits

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

**Short answer:** In Port Alberni, fences may be up to 1.25 m in a required front yard and 1.8 m from the rear of the front yard setback to the back of the lot. No City page or bylaw states a fence permit rule, so ask Building Services at 250-720-2835.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (City of Port Alberni, https://www.portalberni.ca)  
**Cost:** No fence permit fee is stated.  
**Where:**
- Phone: Development Services, 250-720-2835
- Email: Development Services, developmentservices@portalberni.ca
- In person: Development Services, Upper, 4835 Argyle Street, Port Alberni, BC V9Y 1V9

## Key facts

- **Permit:** Not confirmed. The bylaw and the City's Building Services page do not state whether a fence needs a permit.
- **Height, front yard:** Fences, hedges or walls up to 1.25 m (4.1 ft) in a required front yard. In M (industrial) zones, up to 2.5 m (8.2 ft) in a front yard.
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 5105, 2024, s. 6.7.3, 6.7.5](https://www.portalberni.ca/sites/default/files/doc_library/5105_Zoning_Bylaw_No_5105_2024_Oct%202026%20Update.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Fences, hedges or walls not greater than 1.25 m (4.1 ft) in height are permitted within a required front yard." … "In M zones, fences or walls not greater than 2.5 m (8.2 ft) in height are permitted in a front yard."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Height, side and rear yards:** Fences or walls up to 1.8 m (6 ft) from the rear of the required front yard setback to the rear of the property.
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 5105, 2024, s. 6.7.4](https://www.portalberni.ca/sites/default/files/doc_library/5105_Zoning_Bylaw_No_5105_2024_Oct%202026%20Update.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Fences or walls not greater than 1.8 m (6 ft) in height are permitted from the rear of the required front yard setback to the rear of the property."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Corner lots and sightlines:** On a corner lot, nothing may block the line of sight between 1.25 m and 3.0 m above ground in the triangle formed by points 6 m along each lot line from the corner (3 m at a lane-to-lane corner). All fences, hedges and walls are subject to this.
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 5105, 2024, s. 6.5.1, 6.5.2, 6.7.10](https://www.portalberni.ca/sites/default/files/doc_library/5105_Zoning_Bylaw_No_5105_2024_Oct%202026%20Update.pdf)
  - Official wording: "there shall be no obstruction of the line of vision above a height of 1.25 m (4.1 ft) and below a height of 3.0 m (9.8 ft)" … "lines extending to points 6 m along each lot line from the corner of the lot" … "extending to points 3 m along each lot line from the corner of the lot" … "all fences, hedges and walls are subject to the provisions of Section 6.5."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Other rules:** Height is measured from average grade within 1 m of both sides (from the supported side for a fence on a retaining wall). No barbed, razor or electrified wire, except barbed wire in M zones. Chain-link must be coated or screened. Pool fences must be 1.85 m to 2.4 m high.
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 5105, 2024, s. 6.7.1 to 6.7.11](https://www.portalberni.ca/sites/default/files/doc_library/5105_Zoning_Bylaw_No_5105_2024_Oct%202026%20Update.pdf)
  - Official wording: "The height of a fence, hedge or wall shall be determined by measurement from ground level at the average grade level within 1 m (3.28 ft) of both sides of such fence or wall." … "No fence in any zone shall be constructed using barbed wire, razor wire, electrified wire" … "barbed wire fencing is permitted in all M zones for security purposes." … "Where a chain-link fence is constructed on property it must be coated or incorporate screening to render the fence opaque." … "There shall be fencing having a minimum height of 1.85 m (6.0 ft) and a maximum height of 2.4 m (8.0 ft) around open swimming pools."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Bylaw:** Zoning Bylaw No. 5105, 2024, sections 6.5 (Visibility at Intersections) and 6.7 (Fences and Hedges)
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 5105, 2024, s. 6.5, 6.7](https://www.portalberni.ca/sites/default/files/doc_library/5105_Zoning_Bylaw_No_5105_2024_Oct%202026%20Update.pdf)
  - Official wording: "6.7 Fences and Hedges" … "Zoning Bylaw No. 5105, 2024"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06

## How it works

Fence height is set by sections 6.5 and 6.7 of [Zoning Bylaw No. 5105](https://www.portalberni.ca/sites/default/files/doc_library/5105_Zoning_Bylaw_No_5105_2024_Oct%202026%20Update.pdf). Fences, hedges or walls may be up to 1.25 m (4.1 ft) in a required front yard (up to 2.5 m in industrial M zones). From the rear of the required front yard setback to the back of the property, they may be up to 1.8 m (6 ft).

The bylaw and the City's Building Services page do not state whether a fence needs a permit. Ask Building Services before you build. A retaining wall over 1.2 m needs a building permit.

## Steps

1. Find your property line first.
2. Measure height from the average grade within 1 m of both sides of the fence (from the supported side if the fence sits on a retaining wall).
3. Call Development Services (250-720-2835) to confirm the rules for your lot.

## Good to know

- On a corner lot, nothing may block the line of sight between 1.25 m and 3.0 m above ground in the triangle formed by points 6 m along each lot line from the corner (3 m at a lane-to-lane corner). Fences, hedges and walls are all included.
- Barbed, razor and electrified wire are not allowed, except barbed wire in M zones. Chain-link must be coated or screened.
- Open mesh or chain-link fences may be up to 3.7 m on cemeteries, public playgrounds, parks, playfields, school areas or in any M zone.
- Pool fences must be 1.85 m to 2.4 m high.

## Official forms and pages

- [Zoning Bylaw No. 5105, 2024 (PDF)](https://www.portalberni.ca/sites/default/files/doc_library/5105_Zoning_Bylaw_No_5105_2024_Oct%202026%20Update.pdf)

## Related questions

- [Port Alberni zoning: find your zone and what it allows](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/port-alberni/zoning-lookup.md)
- [Port Alberni permits for decks, sheds, carports and garages](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/port-alberni/deck-shed-garage-permit.md)
- [Port Alberni building permits: when you need one and how to apply](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/port-alberni/building-permit.md)

## The same question elsewhere

- [Fence height limits in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/fence-rules.md)
- [Qualicum Beach](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/qualicum-beach/fence-rules.md)
- [Parksville](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/parksville/fence-rules.md)
- [Cumberland](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/cumberland/fence-rules.md)
- [Comox](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/comox/fence-rules.md)
- [Courtenay](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/courtenay/fence-rules.md)
- [Lantzville](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/lantzville/fence-rules.md)

## Sources

- [Zoning Bylaw No. 5105, 2024 (PDF)](https://www.portalberni.ca/sites/default/files/doc_library/5105_Zoning_Bylaw_No_5105_2024_Oct%202026%20Update.pdf) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Building Services, City of Port Alberni](https://www.portalberni.ca/building-services) (read 2026-11-05)

_Checked by script, not yet by a person: the official wording behind 5 of 6 facts was matched to the official text; 1 could not be confirmed. Gov Handbook is an independent guide, not affiliated with City of Port Alberni. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/port-alberni/fence-rules/_