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Princeton fence rules: permits and height limits

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

Princeton, British ColumbiaChecked against official textSources read 2026-11-08

Short answer

In Princeton, a fence does not need a building permit, but retaining walls do. Zoning limits fence height to 1.2 m (4 ft) in front yard setback areas and 1.8 m (6 ft) in side and rear yard setback areas. Near intersections, nothing may be higher than 1 m within the vision-clearance area.

Key facts

PermitNo building permit is needed for a fence under the Building Bylaw. Retaining walls are the exception and need a building permit. Zoning height limits still apply.Building Bylaw No. 976, 2020, s. 3.3(f) and s. 11.1 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
Official wording
Except as set out in Part 11 (Retaining Walls) of this bylaw, a fence;
No person may construct, or structurally repair, a retaining wall without a building permit.
Height, front yard1.2 m (4 ft) in front yard setback areas.Zoning Bylaw Number 880, 2013, s. 6.11 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
Official wording
Fence height shall not exceed 1.2 m (4ft) in front yard setback areas.
Height, side and rear yards1.8 m (6 ft) in side and rear yard setback areas; 2.5 m (10 ft) in the BP1, BP2, I1 and I2 zones.Zoning Bylaw Number 880, 2013, s. 6.10 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
Official wording
Fence height shall not exceed 1.8m (6 ft) in side and rear yard setback areas, except for the BP1, BP2, I1 and I2 zones where a fence height shall not exceed 2.5 m (10 ft).
Corner lots and sightlinesNear an intersection, no fence, wall or structure may be higher than 1 m (3 ft) in the area bounded by the street centre lines and a line joining points 25 m (82 ft) from the intersection; hedges and shrubs must not obstruct vision there.Zoning Bylaw Number 880, 2013, s. 4 (definition: Vision Clearance at Intersections) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
Official wording
no fence, wall or structure other than a permitted principal building or accessory building shall be erected to a height greater than 1m (3 ft.)
of 25.0m (82.0 ft.) from the point of intersection.
Other rulesHeight is measured from the average grade within 1.0 m of both sides; 'fence' includes gate, screen, trellis and wall. A swimming pool must be fenced at least 1.22 m high with no openings over 100 mm and a self-closing, self-latching gate. Fences must be kept in good repair (Property Maintenance Bylaw). No barbed-wire or electric-fence rule found.Zoning Bylaw Number 880, 2013, s. 6.9 and s. 4 (definition of Fence); Property Maintenance Bylaw No. 1059, 2026, s. 4.1(g); Building Bylaw No. 976, 2020, Part 14, s. 14.2 and 14.4 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
Official wording
The height of a fence shall be determined by a measurement from the average grade level
“FENCE” includes gate, screen, trellis and wall.
a fence to become Unsightly, Unmaintained, unstable, or unsafe;
A swimming pool must be enclosed within a fence constructed without footholds or grips that
children may use to climb into the enclosed area, having a minimum height of 1.22 metres and
Access through a fence enclosing a swimming pool must be only through a self-closing and
BylawTown of Princeton Zoning Bylaw Number 880, 2013, ss. 6.9 to 6.11 and the vision clearance definition in s. 4; Building Bylaw No. 976, 2020, s. 3.3(f).Zoning Bylaw Number 880, 2013, s. 1.1; Building Bylaw No. 976, 2020, s. 1.1 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
Official wording
Town of Princeton Zoning Bylaw Number 880, 2013
Building Bylaw No. 976, 2020

How it works

The Town of Princeton's Building Bylaw does not require a building permit for a fence. Retaining walls are the exception and need one. Fence height is set by the Zoning Bylaw: 1.2 m (4 ft) in front yard setback areas and 1.8 m (6 ft) in side and rear yard setback areas, or 2.5 m (10 ft) in the BP1, BP2, I1 and I2 zones. Height is measured from the average grade within 1.0 m of both sides. "Fence" includes a gate, screen, trellis and wall.

Steps

  1. Find your property lines and your zone.
  2. Check the limits above with Planning (planning@princeton.ca or 250-295-3135).
  3. For a retaining wall, apply to the Building Department for a building permit.

Good to know

  • Near an intersection, no fence, wall or structure may be higher than 1 m (3 ft) in the area bounded by the street centre lines and a line joining points 25 m (82 ft) from the intersection. Hedges and shrubs must not block vision there. This applies in any zone.
  • A swimming pool must be fenced at least 1.22 m high, with no openings over 100 mm and a self-closing, self-latching gate.
  • The Chief Administrative Officer may approve a minor fence-height variance of up to 2 feet (Development Procedures Bylaw 1046).
  • Fences must be kept in good repair under the Property Maintenance Bylaw; the ticket for an unsightly fence is $200 ($100 if paid within 30 days).
  • The bylaws read set no barbed-wire or electric-fence rule.
  • A metal shipping container next to a residential lot needs a 1.8 m screen.

Official forms and pages

The same question in other places

Keremeos · Summerland · Hope · Penticton · Peachland · Oliver

Fence height limits in British Columbia, by municipality →

Sources

  1. Zoning Bylaw Number 880, 2013 (PDF), Town of Princeton (read 2026-11-08)
  2. Building Bylaw No. 976, 2020 (PDF), Town of Princeton (read 2026-11-08)
  3. Property Maintenance Bylaw No. 1059, 2026 (PDF), Town of Princeton (read 2026-11-08)
  4. Contact Us, Town of Princeton (read 2026-11-08)

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.