{"title":"Port Edward fence rules: permits and height limits","question":"Do I need a permit to build a fence, and how high can it be?","slug":"fence-rules","place":{"path":"ca/bc/port-edward","name":"Port Edward","region":{"code":"bc","name":"British Columbia"},"country":{"code":"ca","name":"Canada"}},"category":{"slug":"building-and-renovating","name":"Building, renovating and your property"},"owner":"municipal","owner_label":"Municipal","owner_body":{"name":"District of Port Edward","url":"https://www.portedward.ca"},"short_answer":"Port Edward's bylaws do not mention a fence permit. Under the Zoning Bylaw, fences up to 1.2 m high can go anywhere on a lot, and taller fences (up to 2 m in most zones) are allowed only behind the required yards. A swimming pool must be fenced.","aliases":["fence height port edward","fence permit port edward","fence bylaw port edward","pool fence port edward"],"cost":"No fence permit fee is stated.","how_long":"Not applicable; no fence permit is mentioned.","where":[{"type":"phone","label":"District of Port Edward office","value":"250-628-3667","note":"Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m."}],"documents":[],"forms":[{"title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 713 (PDF)","url":"https://www.portedward.ca/uploads/_bylaws_business_development/713_Zoning_Consolidated_Bylaw_2023-2.pdf"},{"title":"Building Bylaw No. 716 (PDF)","url":"https://www.portedward.ca/uploads/_bylaws/716BuildingBylaw.pdf"}],"related":[{"slug":"deck-shed-garage-permit","title":"Port Edward permits for decks, sheds, carports and garages","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/port-edward/deck-shed-garage-permit/"},{"slug":"zoning-lookup","title":"Port Edward zoning: find your zone and what it allows","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/port-edward/zoning-lookup/"},{"slug":"building-permit","title":"Port Edward building permits: when you need one and how to apply","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/port-edward/building-permit/"}],"nearby":[{"place":"ca/bc/prince-rupert","name":"Prince Rupert","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/prince-rupert/fence-rules/"},{"place":"ca/bc/kitimat","name":"Kitimat","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/kitimat/fence-rules/"},{"place":"ca/bc/terrace","name":"Terrace","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/terrace/fence-rules/"},{"place":"ca/bc/masset","name":"Masset","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/masset/fence-rules/"},{"place":"ca/bc/port-clements","name":"Port Clements","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/port-clements/fence-rules/"},{"place":"ca/bc/daajing-giids","name":"Daajing Giids","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/daajing-giids/fence-rules/"}],"topic":{"title":"Fence height limits in British Columbia, by municipality","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/fence-rules/"},"facts":{"permit":{"label":"Permit","value":"No fence permit is mentioned. The Building Bylaw's definition of \"structure\" excludes fences, and it requires permits for buildings and structures. A pool must be enclosed by a fence (see other rules).","short":"No fence permit mentioned","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.portedward.ca/uploads/_bylaws/716BuildingBylaw.pdf","title":"Building Bylaw No. 716 (PDF), District of Port Edward","section":"s. 3 (definition of Structure)","quotes":["specifically excludes landscaping, fences, paving and retaining"]},{"url":"https://www.portedward.ca/uploads/_bylaws/716BuildingBylaw.pdf","title":"Building Bylaw No. 716 (PDF), District of Port Edward","section":"s. 9.1.1","quotes":["a building permit before constructing, repairing or altering a building or structure;"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}},"height_front":{"label":"Height, front yard","value":"Fences and walls up to 1.2 m high may be located anywhere on a lot. Taller fences are only allowed to the rear of a required yard, so the front yard limit is 1.2 m (except for required screening).","short":"1.2 m","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.portedward.ca/uploads/_bylaws_business_development/713_Zoning_Consolidated_Bylaw_2023-2.pdf","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 713 (PDF), District of Port Edward","section":"Part 7, Screening Requirements","quotes":["In all Zones, except for required screening, Fences and walls not greater","than 1.2 metres high may be located anywhere on a Lot.","than 2 metres high may be located on any Lot to the rear of a required yard."]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}},"height_side_rear":{"label":"Height, side and rear yards","value":"Up to 2 m on any lot \"to the rear of a required yard\" (all zones except C3 and M). In C3 and M zones, up to 2.5 m to the rear of the required front yard.","short":"2 m","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.portedward.ca/uploads/_bylaws_business_development/713_Zoning_Consolidated_Bylaw_2023-2.pdf","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 713 (PDF), District of Port Edward","section":"Part 7, Screening Requirements","quotes":["than 2 metres high may be located on any Lot to the rear of a required yard.","metres high may be located on any Lot to the rear of the required Front Yard."]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}},"corner_lots":{"label":"Corner lots and sightlines","value":null,"status":"none","note":"Port Edward's bylaws do not state a corner-lot sight-line rule.","sources":[{"url":"https://www.portedward.ca/uploads/_bylaws_business_development/713_Zoning_Consolidated_Bylaw_2023-2.pdf","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 713 (PDF), District of Port Edward"}]},"other_rules":{"label":"Other rules","value":"Height is measured from the average grade within 1 m of both sides. The part of a retaining wall above the ground it supports counts as a fence. Open mesh or chain link fences in industrial zones and at cemeteries, courts, playgrounds, parks, playing fields and schools may be up to 4 m. A swimming pool must be fenced at least 1.2 m high with a self-closing, self-latching gate.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.portedward.ca/uploads/_bylaws_business_development/713_Zoning_Consolidated_Bylaw_2023-2.pdf","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 713 (PDF), District of Port Edward","section":"Part 7, Screening Requirements","quotes":["The height of a Fence or wall shall be determined by measurement from the","That portion of a retaining wall which projects above the surface of the ground","shall not exceed a height of 4 metres."]},{"url":"https://www.portedward.ca/uploads/_bylaws/716BuildingBylaw.pdf","title":"Building Bylaw No. 716 (PDF), District of Port Edward","section":"s. 28.2.1, 28.2.2","quotes":["A swimming pool shall be enclosed with a fence not less than 1.2 m in height","Any gate in the fence shall be self closing and self latching"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}},"bylaw":{"label":"Bylaw","value":"Zoning Bylaw No. 713, 2020, Part 7 (Screening Requirements); Building Bylaw No. 716, s. 28 (pools)","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.portedward.ca/uploads/_bylaws_business_development/713_Zoning_Consolidated_Bylaw_2023-2.pdf","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 713 (PDF), District of Port Edward","section":"Title page","quotes":["Zoning Bylaw","Bylaw No. 713, 2020"]},{"url":"https://www.portedward.ca/uploads/_bylaws/716BuildingBylaw.pdf","title":"Building Bylaw No. 716 (PDF), District of Port Edward","section":"s. 28","quotes":["which it is proposed by that person to locate the building. 28. POOLS 28.1 An application for a permit for the construction of a pool shall be accompanied by a Plan","DISTRICT OF PORT EDWARD Building Bylaw No. 716 Table of Contents"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}}},"facts_summary":{"total":6,"stated":5,"matched":5,"none":1,"unknown":0},"body_markdown":"## How it works\n\nThe District of Port Edward's [Building Bylaw No. 716](https://www.portedward.ca/uploads/_bylaws/716BuildingBylaw.pdf) requires permits for buildings and structures, but defines \"structure\" so that it excludes fences. Neither it nor the [Zoning Bylaw No. 713](https://www.portedward.ca/uploads/_bylaws_business_development/713_Zoning_Consolidated_Bylaw_2023-2.pdf) sets a fence permit. Ask the District office to confirm before you build.\n\nHeight limits are in the Zoning Bylaw (Part 7, Screening Requirements). Fences and walls up to 1.2 m high may be located anywhere on a lot. Taller fences are allowed only to the rear of a required yard: up to 2 m in all zones except C3 and M, and up to 2.5 m to the rear of the required front yard in C3 and M zones. In practice the front-yard limit is 1.2 m, except for required screening.\n\n## Good to know\n\n- Height is measured from the average grade within 1 m of both sides.\n- The part of a retaining wall above the ground it supports counts as a fence. Retaining structures over 1.2 m need a registered professional.\n- Open mesh or chain link fences in industrial zones, and at cemeteries, courts, playgrounds, parks, playing fields and schools, may be up to 4 m.\n- A swimming pool (over 61 cm deep with a surface area over 14 m2) must be fenced at least 1.2 m high with a self-closing, self-latching gate.\n- The bylaws do not state a separate side-yard height, a corner-lot sight-line rule, or any rule on barbed wire or electric fences. Ask the District office at 250-628-3667.","sources":[{"url":"https://www.portedward.ca/uploads/_bylaws_business_development/713_Zoning_Consolidated_Bylaw_2023-2.pdf","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 713 (PDF), District of Port Edward","accessed":"2026-11-08"},{"url":"https://www.portedward.ca/uploads/_bylaws/716BuildingBylaw.pdf","title":"Building Bylaw No. 716 (PDF), District of Port Edward","accessed":"2026-11-08"},{"url":"https://www.portedward.ca/","title":"District of Port Edward home page","accessed":"2026-11-08"}],"sources_read":"2026-11-08","review":{"status":"machine_checked","badge":"Checked against official text","label":"Checked by script, not yet by a person: the official wording behind 5 of 6 facts was matched to the official text; 1 is recorded as not set."},"urls":{"html":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/port-edward/fence-rules/","markdown":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/port-edward/fence-rules.md","json":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/port-edward/fence-rules.json"}}