Port Coquitlam fence rules: permits and height limits
Do I need a permit to build a fence, and how high can it be?
Short answer
In Port Coquitlam the Zoning Bylaw limits fences to 1.2 m in the front setback area and 2.5 m behind it, and 1 m near corners. Fences are not listed as needing a building permit, but the City does not say so outright; confirm with the Building Division.
Key facts
| Permit | Not stated for fences specifically. The Building and Plumbing Bylaw requires a permit for a building, retaining wall, swimming pool or other structure, and defines 'structure' to exclude fences, landscaping, paving and retaining structures under 1.5 m high.Building and Plumbing Bylaw 3710, s. 8.1.1 and s. 2.1 (Structure) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingrelocating, reconstructing, repairing, or altering a building, retaining wall, swimming pool or other structure; but specifically excludes landscaping, fences, paving and retaining structures less than 1.5 meters in height. |
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| Height, front yard | 1.2 m. Fences and walls up to 1.2 m high may be sited on any part of the lot, including the front setback area. A decorative feature such as a fence arbor is allowed in the front setback area up to 2.5 m high, 2 m wide and 1 m deep.Zoning Bylaw 3630, Section III, s. 8.3 and 8.4 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingfences and walls not exceeding a height of 1.2m may be sited on any portion of a lot a decorative fence feature such as a fence arbor is permitted in the front setback area, and limited to a maximum height of 2.5m, maximum width of 2m, and maximum depth of 1m. |
| Height, side and rear yards | 2.5 m, on the part of the lot to the rear of the front setback area. In the A (agricultural) zone, a fence for an agricultural use to the rear of the front setback area has no height limit.Zoning Bylaw 3630, Section III, s. 8.3 and 8.5 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingfences and walls up to a height of 2.5m may be sited on that portion of a lot that is to the rear of the front setback area. In the A zone, a fence for an agricultural use to the rear of the front setback area is not subject to a height limit. |
| Corner lots and sightlines | Any part of a fence, wall, landscape screen or other landscaping within a triangle measured 5 m each way from where a street or lane meets another street or lane must not exceed 1 m high. Parking spaces and outdoor storage are also not allowed in that triangle.Zoning Bylaw 3630, Section III, s. 8.6 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingThat portion of a fence, wall, landscape screen or any other landscaping that is located within a triangular area measured 5m each way from the point of intersection of a street or lane with any other street or lane must not exceed a height of 1m. |
| Other rules | Height is measured from finished grade; for a fence, where the posts meet the ground. A 'fence' is a vertical structure for enclosure or screening no more than 8 cm thick. A pool or pond deeper than 0.75 m must be fenced at least 1.8 m high (1.2 m if it existed on August 9, 1977), with self-latching gates, except ponds exempted by s. 21.6 (such as on City land).Zoning Bylaw 3630, Section I (Height; Finished grade; Fence); Building and Plumbing Bylaw 3710, s. 21.3 and 21.4 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingHeight means the vertical distance from the finished grade adjacent to a building, structure, fence or wall to: and, in the case of a fence, means the elevation of the point at which the posts intersect with the ground. Fence means a vertical structure used for enclosure or screening where the thickness is equal to or less than 8cm excluding top and bottom rails and posts. of a depth at any point in excess of 0.75 metres shall be surrounded by a fence or a height of 1.8 metres if the pool structure was not in existence on August 9th, 1977. a height of 1.2 metres if the pool structure was in existence on August 9th 1977, or All gates to a pool or ponds shall be self-latching Section 21.3 of this Bylaw does not apply to any pond or pool: constructed on land owned or controlled by the City, the Province |
| Bylaw | Zoning Bylaw, 2008, No. 3630, Section III, s. 8 (fences, 8.3 to 8.6); Building and Plumbing Bylaw, 2009, No. 3710, s. 21 (pool fences)Zoning Bylaw 3630, Title page; Zoning Bylaw 3630, Section III, s. 8; Building and Plumbing Bylaw 3710, s. 21 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingZONING BYLAW, 2008 Bylaw No. 3630 8. SCREENING, LANDSCAPING, OUTDOOR STORAGE AND FENCES conditions and drainage. 21. Swimming Pools 21.1 Every application for a permit for a swimming pool shall be accompanied with a CITY OF PORT COQUITLAM BYLAW NO. 3710 A Bylaw relating to Building and Plumbing |
How it works
The City of Port Coquitlam regulates fence height in Section III, s. 8 of Zoning Bylaw 3630. Height is measured from finished grade; for a fence, where the posts meet the ground. A "fence" is a vertical structure for enclosure or screening no more than 8 cm thick.
The Building and Plumbing Bylaw 3710 defines "structure" to exclude fences, landscaping, paving and retaining structures under 1.5 m high. Neither it nor the City's pages say outright that a fence needs no permit, so confirm with the Building Division.
Height limits
- Front setback area: up to 1.2 m. Fences and walls to 1.2 m may go on any part of the lot.
- Behind the front setback area: up to 2.5 m. In the A (agricultural) zone, a fence for an agricultural use there has no height limit.
- Within a triangle 5 m each way from where a street or lane meets another: no higher than 1 m. Parking and outdoor storage are also barred there.
- A decorative feature such as a fence arbour is allowed in the front setback area up to 2.5 m high, 2 m wide and 1 m deep.
Good to know
- A pool or pond deeper than 0.75 m must be fenced at least 1.8 m high (1.2 m if it existed on August 9, 1977), with self-latching gates. Some ponds, such as on City land, are exempt.
- Retaining structures of 1.5 m or more are not excluded from the building bylaw, so ask the Building Division at 604-927-5444.
- The bylaws read do not set rules on fence materials.
Official forms and pages
The same question in other places
Coquitlam · New Westminster · Port Moody · Belcarra · Anmore · Burnaby
Sources
- Zoning Bylaw 3630 (PDF) (read 2026-11-05)
- Building and Plumbing Bylaw 3710 (PDF) (read 2026-11-05)
- Building contact, City of Port Coquitlam (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.