{"title":"Prince George 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/prince-george","name":"Prince George","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":"City of Prince George","url":"https://www.princegeorge.ca"},"short_answer":"A fence in Prince George does not need a permit, but it must follow the Zoning Bylaw. In residential zones the limit is 1.2 m inside the required front yard and 2.0 m elsewhere (2.5 m next to agricultural, commercial or industrial land). Check with the City if your lot is rural residential.","aliases":["fence height prince george","fence bylaw prince george","retaining wall permit prince george","barbed wire fence prince george"],"cost":"No permit fee for a fence. A retaining wall over 1.2 m needs a building permit; see the building permit fees answer.","how_long":"Not applicable for a fence.","where":[{"type":"phone","label":"Development Services","value":"250-561-7611"},{"type":"email","label":"Development Services","value":"devserv@princegeorge.ca"},{"type":"online","label":"PGMap (zoning layer)","value":"https://maps.princegeorge.ca/vertigisstudio/web/?app=58b18b1ecbc242898e66839f9b7a7673"}],"documents":[],"forms":[{"title":"Zoning Bylaw 7850, sections 6.1 and 6.8 (PDF)","url":"https://www.princegeorge.ca/sites/default/files/2026-10/BL7850_CONSOLIDATED_2026-10-05.pdf"},{"title":"Information Guide, Residential Fence Regulations (PDF)","url":"https://www.princegeorge.ca/sites/default/files/2025-01/2024%20Residential%20Fence%20Height%20Circular.pdf"},{"title":"Building Permits page","url":"https://www.princegeorge.ca/business-development/building-permits"}],"related":[{"slug":"building-permit","title":"Prince George building permits: when you need one and how to apply","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/prince-george/building-permit/"},{"slug":"zoning-lookup","title":"Prince George zoning: find your zone and what it allows","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/prince-george/zoning-lookup/"},{"slug":"deck-shed-garage-permit","title":"Prince George permits for decks, sheds, carports and garages","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/prince-george/deck-shed-garage-permit/"}],"nearby":[{"place":"ca/bc/vanderhoof","name":"Vanderhoof","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/vanderhoof/fence-rules/"},{"place":"ca/bc/quesnel","name":"Quesnel","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/quesnel/fence-rules/"},{"place":"ca/bc/fort-st-james","name":"Fort St James","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/fort-st-james/fence-rules/"},{"place":"ca/bc/fraser-lake","name":"Fraser Lake","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/fraser-lake/fence-rules/"},{"place":"ca/bc/mackenzie","name":"Mackenzie","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/mackenzie/fence-rules/"},{"place":"ca/bc/tumbler-ridge","name":"Tumbler Ridge","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/tumbler-ridge/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 needed; fences and landscaped screens may be built without a permit if they follow the Zoning Bylaw rules. A retaining wall over 1.2 m high does need a building permit.","short":"No permit","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.princegeorge.ca/sites/default/files/2025-01/2024%20Residential%20Fence%20Height%20Circular.pdf","title":"Information Guide, Residential Fence Regulations, City of Prince George (PDF)","section":"Information Guide: Residential Fence Regulations","quotes":["The City of Prince George allows fences or landscaped screens to be erected without permits"]},{"url":"https://www.princegeorge.ca/business-development/building-permits","title":"Building Permits, City of Prince George","section":"Projects that DO NOT require a building permit (web page)","quotes":["Installing new fences, patios at grade, planters, or landscaping.","Building a retaining wall that is more than 1.2 m (4 ft) in height."]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"height_front":{"label":"Height, front yard","value":"1.2 m for the part of a fence inside the required front yard (residential zones).","short":"1.2 m","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.princegeorge.ca/sites/default/files/2026-10/BL7850_CONSOLIDATED_2026-10-05.pdf","title":"City of Prince George Zoning Bylaw No. 7850, 2007 (consolidated October 5, 2026), sections 6.1 and 6.8 (PDF)","section":"s. 6.8.1","quotes":["In residential zones, the maximum height is 1.2 m for the portion of a fence that is placed within the required front yard."]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"height_side_rear":{"label":"Height, side and rear yards","value":"In rural residential and residential zones, 2.0 m, or 2.5 m where the lot abuts an agricultural, commercial, or business and industrial zone. Commercial and industrial lots: 2.5 m. The bylaw gives one limit outside the required front yard, not separate side and rear limits; rural residential lots are unclear (s. 6.2.2).","short":"2.0 m (2.5 m next to agricultural, commercial)","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.princegeorge.ca/sites/default/files/2026-10/BL7850_CONSOLIDATED_2026-10-05.pdf","title":"City of Prince George Zoning Bylaw No. 7850, 2007 (consolidated October 5, 2026), sections 6.1 and 6.8 (PDF)","section":"s. 6.8.1, s. 6.8.2","quotes":["No fence constructed at the natural grade in rural residential or residential zones shall exceed 2.0 m, except where abutting an agricultural, commercial, or business & industrial zone, the maximum height is 2.5 m.","Commercial and industrial zoned properties shall have a maximum fence height of 2.5 m from the natural grade.","The regulations in Section 6 apply to all zones except the AG, AF, and AR zones."]},{"url":"https://www.princegeorge.ca/sites/default/files/2025-01/2024%20Residential%20Fence%20Height%20Circular.pdf","title":"Information Guide, Residential Fence Regulations, City of Prince George (PDF)","section":"Information Guide: Residential Fence Regulations","quotes":["The maximum fence height is 2.0 m, except:"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"corner_lots":{"label":"Corner lots and sightlines","value":"No fence, retaining wall, landscaping or screen may be higher than 1.0 m above landscaped grade within the triangle 5.0 m back from where an exterior side lot line meets a front lot line (or extensions of those lines).","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.princegeorge.ca/sites/default/files/2026-10/BL7850_CONSOLIDATED_2026-10-05.pdf","title":"City of Prince George Zoning Bylaw No. 7850, 2007 (consolidated October 5, 2026), sections 6.1 and 6.8 (PDF)","section":"s. 6.1.1","quotes":["No fence, retaining wall, landscaping or screen shall be grown, placed or caused or allowed to be grown or placed on a lot to a height exceeding 1.0 m above the landscaped grade within the triangular area 5.0 m from the intersection of an exterior side lot line and a front lot line, or an extension of those lines."]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"other_rules":{"label":"Other rules","value":"Height is measured from the average landscape grade 1.0 m out from each side of the fence; an arch, arbor, trellis or pergola on the fence counts. No barbed wire in rural residential, residential or recreation and institutional zones (except livestock enclosures, correction services). A fence on a retaining wall over 1.2 m within 1.2 m of the property line: 0.9 m.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.princegeorge.ca/sites/default/files/2026-10/BL7850_CONSOLIDATED_2026-10-05.pdf","title":"City of Prince George Zoning Bylaw No. 7850, 2007 (consolidated October 5, 2026), sections 6.1 and 6.8 (PDF)","section":"Definitions (Fence, Height); s. 6.8.4, s. 6.8.6","quotes":["With reference to a fence, the height shall be determined by measurement from the average landscape grade 1.0 m from both sides of the fence.","any arch, arbor, trellis or pergola affixed to or supported by a fence shall be deemed part of the fence.","No barbed wire fencing shall be allowed in any rural residential, residential, or recreation & institutional zones except for use in livestock enclosures and for correction services.","Where a retaining wall higher than 1.2 m, measured from the base on the lowest side, is located within 1.2 m of the property line, the maximum height for a fence on the retaining wall is 0.9 m."]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"bylaw":{"label":"Bylaw","value":"City of Prince George Zoning Bylaw No. 7850, 2007, sections 6.1 (site triangles) and 6.8 (fencing and retaining walls)","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.princegeorge.ca/sites/default/files/2026-10/BL7850_CONSOLIDATED_2026-10-05.pdf","title":"City of Prince George Zoning Bylaw No. 7850, 2007 (consolidated October 5, 2026), sections 6.1 and 6.8 (PDF)","section":"ss. 6.1, 6.8","quotes":["City of Prince George Zoning Bylaw No. 7850, 2007 - CONSOLIDATED"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}}},"facts_summary":{"total":6,"stated":6,"matched":6,"none":0,"unknown":0},"body_markdown":"## How it works\n\nThe City says new fences do not need a building permit. Fences are still controlled by [Zoning Bylaw 7850](https://www.princegeorge.ca/sites/default/files/2026-10/BL7850_CONSOLIDATED_2026-10-05.pdf), sections 6.1 and 6.8. A retaining wall over 1.2 m high does need a building permit.\n\nHeight is measured from the average landscape grade 1.0 m out from each side of the fence. An arch, arbor, trellis or pergola on the fence counts.\n\n## Steps\n\n1. Confirm where your property line is (see the property lines answer). The City has no jurisdiction in fence disputes between neighbours.\n2. Check your zone in PGMap.\n3. Keep to the height limits below.\n4. On a corner lot, keep clear of the sight triangle.\n\n## Good to know\n\n- Residential zones: 1.2 m for the part of a fence inside the required front yard. Elsewhere, 2.0 m, or 2.5 m where the lot abuts an agricultural, commercial, or business and industrial zone. The bylaw does not separate side and rear yards.\n- Commercial and industrial lots: 2.5 m.\n- Rural residential (AR) lots: the bylaw is unclear. Section 6.2.2 exempts AR zones from these rules, but s. 6.8.1 names rural residential zones. Ask Development Services before you build.\n- Corner lots: nothing higher than 1.0 m above landscaped grade (fence, retaining wall, landscaping or screen) within the triangle 5.0 m back from where the exterior side lot line meets the front lot line. Where a city road meets a provincial arterial highway, the provincial site-triangle rules apply instead.\n- Retaining walls on RS and RT lots may not exceed 1.2 m. A fence on a retaining wall over 1.2 m within 1.2 m of the property line may be 0.9 m.\n- No barbed wire in rural residential, residential or recreation and institutional zones, except livestock enclosures and correction services.\n- A bylaw notice for a fence over the limit, a retaining wall over the limit or barbed wire is $200 ($250 if paid late).\n- The bylaw sets no rule for electric fences or pool fences that we found.","sources":[{"url":"https://www.princegeorge.ca/sites/default/files/2026-10/BL7850_CONSOLIDATED_2026-10-05.pdf","title":"City of Prince George Zoning Bylaw No. 7850, 2007 (consolidated October 5, 2026), sections 6.1 and 6.8 (PDF)","accessed":"2026-11-05"},{"url":"https://www.princegeorge.ca/sites/default/files/2025-01/2024%20Residential%20Fence%20Height%20Circular.pdf","title":"Information Guide, Residential Fence Regulations, City of Prince George (PDF)","accessed":"2026-11-05"},{"url":"https://www.princegeorge.ca/business-development/building-permits","title":"Building Permits, City of Prince George","accessed":"2026-11-05"},{"url":"https://www.princegeorge.ca/sites/default/files/2026-07/BL8813_CONSOLIDATED_2024-09-09_0.pdf","title":"Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 8813, 2016, Schedule B (PDF)","accessed":"2026-11-05"}],"sources_read":"2026-11-05","review":{"status":"machine_checked","badge":"Checked against official text","label":"Checked by script, not yet by a person: the official wording behind 6 of 6 facts was matched to the official text."},"urls":{"html":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/prince-george/fence-rules/","markdown":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/prince-george/fence-rules.md","json":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/prince-george/fence-rules.json"}}