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

# Quesnel 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 Quesnel, the Zoning Bylaw limits fences to 1.2 m in a required front yard and 2.0 m behind it (2.4 m in M and C zones). The Building Bylaw requires a permit for swimming pool fences; it does not list other fences, so ask the Building Department.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (City of Quesnel, https://www.quesnel.ca)  
**Cost:** No fee stated for an ordinary fence. A building permit is required for swimming pool fences; see the building-permit-fees answer.  
**How long:** Not applicable for an ordinary fence.  
**Where:**
- Phone: Development Services (zoning), 250-992-2111
- Email: Development Services, developmentservices@quesnel.ca
- Email: Building Department (pool fences, retaining walls), buildinginspection@quesnel.ca

## Key facts

- **Permit:** The Building Bylaw requires a building permit for swimming pool fences. It does not list other fences among projects needing a permit.
  - Source: [Building Bylaw 1550, 2003, consolidated September 2011, s. 11.1(o)](https://www.quesnel.ca/media/file/consolidated-building-bylaw-sept-2011)
  - Official wording: "Construction of swimming pool f ences;"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Height, front yard:** 1.2 m (4 ft) in any required front yard, except in M and C zones (which have a 2.4 m limit on any part of the lot) and except for required screening.
  - Source: [City of Quesnel Zoning Bylaw 1980, 2025 (sections 4.10, 4.11, 4.12), s. 4.11.1(a), (b)](https://quesnel.civicweb.net/document/164372/)
  - Official wording: "fences and walls shall not exceed a height greater than 1.2 m (4 ft) in any required front yard" … "in the M and C zones, fences, walls, solid screens or hedges shall not exceed a height greater than 2.4 m (8 ft) on any part of the lot."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Height, side and rear yards:** 2.0 m (6 ft 7 in) on any part of a lot behind the required front yard, except in M and C zones (2.4 m) and for required screening.
  - Source: [City of Quesnel Zoning Bylaw 1980, 2025 (sections 4.10, 4.11, 4.12), s. 4.11.1(a)](https://quesnel.civicweb.net/document/164372/)
  - Official wording: "a height greater than 2.0 m (6 ft 7 in) on any part of a lot to the rear of a required front yard"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Corner lots and sightlines:** No obstruction to the line of vision between 1 m and 3 m (3 to 10 ft) above street or lane grade within the triangular visibility area shown on Figure 4.3. Fence heights are subject to this.
  - Source: [City of Quesnel Zoning Bylaw 1980, 2025 (sections 4.10, 4.11, 4.12), ss. 4.10.1, 4.11.1](https://quesnel.civicweb.net/document/164372/)
  - Official wording: "there shall be no obstruction to the line of vision between 1 m and 3 m (3-10 ft) above the established grade of streets or lanes" … "Subject to the visual clearance provisions of Section 4.10 of this Bylaw"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Other rules:** No barbed wire in rural residential, residential or institutional zones (except livestock enclosures in RR-1, A-1, CR-1). No electric fencing there except inside other fencing for urban agriculture. Fences must be kept in good repair. Residential retaining walls: 1.2 m maximum, with exceptions.
  - Source: [City of Quesnel Zoning Bylaw 1980, 2025 (sections 4.10, 4.11, 4.12), ss. 4.11.3 to 4.11.6, 4.12.1](https://quesnel.civicweb.net/document/164372/)
  - Official wording: "Fencing must be kept in good repair." … "No barbed wire fencing shall be allowed in any rural residential, residential or institutional zones" … "No electric fencing shall be allowed in any rural residential, residential, or institutional zones" … "must not exceed a height of 1.2 m (4 ft) measured from grade on the lower side"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Bylaw:** City of Quesnel Zoning Bylaw No. 1980, s. 4.11 (Fencing) and s. 4.12 (Retaining Walls).
  - Source: [City of Quesnel Zoning Bylaw 1980, 2025 (sections 4.10, 4.11, 4.12), s. 4.11](https://quesnel.civicweb.net/document/164372/)
  - Official wording: "4.11 Fencing" … "Zoning Bylaw No. 1980"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06

## How it works

The City of Quesnel's [Zoning Bylaw 1980](https://quesnel.civicweb.net/document/164372/) sets fence heights in section 4.11. The [Building Bylaw](https://www.quesnel.ca/media/file/consolidated-building-bylaw-sept-2011) requires a building permit for swimming pool fences. It does not list other fences, but its list is not complete, so ask the Building Department whether your fence needs a permit.

## Steps

1. Find your lot lines and your zone.
2. Keep the fence within the height limits below.
3. For a pool fence or a retaining wall over 1.2 m, ask the Building Department about a permit.
4. Check the Zoning Bylaw's rules for your zone, or call Development Services (250-992-2111).

## Good to know

- Front yard: 1.2 m (4 ft) maximum in any required front yard, except in M and C zones and except for required screening.
- Behind the required front yard: 2.0 m (6 ft 7 in), except in M and C zones and for required screening. M and C zones allow 2.4 m on any part of the lot.
- Open mesh or chain link fences on cemeteries, public playgrounds, public recreation areas, school areas and public utility or works areas may be up to 3.0 m.
- Corner lots: nothing may block the line of vision between 1 m and 3 m above street or lane grade within the visibility triangle shown on Figure 4.3 of the bylaw.
- No barbed wire in rural residential, residential or institutional zones, except livestock enclosures in RR-1, A-1 and CR-1. No electric fencing there except inside other fencing for urban agriculture.
- A fence on a retaining wall may not exceed 2.0 m combined, measured from natural grade at the abutting higher property. Residential retaining walls are limited to 1.2 m, with exceptions.
- Fences must be kept in good repair.
- The Building Bylaw copy posted is a 2011 consolidation and may be out of date.

## Official forms and pages

- [Zoning Bylaw 1980, 2025 (PDF, section 4.11 Fencing)](https://quesnel.civicweb.net/document/164372/)
- [Building Bylaw 1550, consolidated (PDF)](https://www.quesnel.ca/media/file/consolidated-building-bylaw-sept-2011)
- [Zoning & Land Use (City of Quesnel)](https://www.quesnel.ca/building-development/planning-zoning/zoning-land-use)

## Related questions

- [Quesnel permits for decks, sheds, carports and garages](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/quesnel/deck-shed-garage-permit.md)
- [Quesnel zoning: find your zone and what it allows](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/quesnel/zoning-lookup.md)
- [Quesnel backyard chickens, bees and livestock rules](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/quesnel/backyard-chickens.md)

## The same question elsewhere

- [Fence height limits in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/fence-rules.md)
- [Williams Lake](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/williams-lake/fence-rules.md)
- [Prince George](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/prince-george/fence-rules.md)
- [Vanderhoof](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/vanderhoof/fence-rules.md)
- [100 Mile House](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/100-mile-house/fence-rules.md)
- [Fraser Lake](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/fraser-lake/fence-rules.md)
- [Fort St James](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/fort-st-james/fence-rules.md)

## Sources

- [City of Quesnel Zoning Bylaw 1980, 2025 (sections 4.10, 4.11, 4.12)](https://quesnel.civicweb.net/document/164372/) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Building Bylaw 1550, 2003, consolidated September 2011 (PDF)](https://www.quesnel.ca/media/file/consolidated-building-bylaw-sept-2011) (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. Gov Handbook is an independent guide, not affiliated with City of Quesnel. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/quesnel/fence-rules/_