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

# Revelstoke 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 Revelstoke an ordinary fence does not need a building permit, but it must follow the Zoning Bylaw: generally no more than 2.0 m high, and 1.1 m in front of the house in residential zones. Retaining walls over 1.22 m and pool fences have separate rules.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (City of Revelstoke, https://www.revelstoke.ca)  
**Cost:** No building permit fee for an ordinary fence (the Building Bylaw does not apply to fences).  
**Where:**
- Phone: Building Services, 250-837-3637
- Email: Building Services, building@revelstoke.ca

## Key facts

- **Permit:** No building permit for a fence: the Building Bylaw does not apply to fences. A retaining wall over 1.22 m high needs a building permit. A swimming pool needs a permit and a fence at least 1.22 m high; a spa or hot tub needs that fence or a locking cover.
  - Source: [Building Bylaw No. 2294, Building Bylaw s. 3.3(a), 11.1, 14](https://revelstoke.civicweb.net/document/42465)
  - Official wording: "a) Except as set out in Part 11 [Retaining walls] of this bylaw, a fence;" … "11.1. No person may construct, or structurally repair, a retaining wall without a building permit ." … "having a minimum height of 1.22 metres and no openings greater than 100 mm at their greatest" … "14.1. Without limiting section 5.1 of this bylaw, a person must not construct, or structurally repair," … "14.4. In lieu of a fence, a spa or hot tub may be covered with a locking cover, which would prevent"
  - Source: [Official Community Plan Bylaw No. 2332, OCP s. 5.1.2(c)](https://revelstoke.civicweb.net/document/198773)
  - Official wording: "(c) Construction of fencing, retaining walls less than 1.5 metres in height, or other"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Height, front yard:** In residential (R) zones, 1.1 m within the required front yard setback area (the bylaw also refers to the area 'to the rear of the front of an existing principal building', whichever is the lesser; the wording is unclear). In other zones the general 2.0 m limit applies (2.5 m in commercial, mixed-use, industrial and public use zones).
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 2406, 2025, consolidated to Bylaw 2449, Zoning Bylaw s. 4.8(5)(b)](https://revelstoke.civicweb.net/document/193929/)
  - Official wording: "b. Notwithstanding Section 4.8(5)(a), in all Residential (R) zones, fences, walls," … "hedges or retaining walls within the required front yard setback area or to the rear" … "of the front of an existing principal building, whichever is the lesser, may not" … "exceed 1.1 m in height." … "a. In all zones, fences, walls, hedges, and retaining walls may not exceed 2.0 m in" … "c. In all Commercial (C), Mixed-Use (MU), Industrial (I), and Public Use (P) zones,"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Height, side and rear yards:** 2.0 m maximum in all zones. In commercial, mixed-use, industrial and public use zones the limit is 2.5 m, but still 2.0 m where the lot abuts a residential-zoned lot. Open-mesh chain link on cemeteries, playgrounds, parks, educational and industrial lots may reach 3.5 m.
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 2406, 2025, consolidated to Bylaw 2449, Zoning Bylaw s. 4.8(5) and (6)](https://revelstoke.civicweb.net/document/193929/)
  - Official wording: "a. In all zones, fences, walls, hedges, and retaining walls may not exceed 2.0 m in" … "fences, walls, or hedges may not exceed 2.5 m in height." … "d. Where a lot abuts a lot in a Residential (R) zone, a fence may not exceed 2.0 m" … "no such fence shall exceed a"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Corner lots and sightlines:** No fence, wall, structure or landscaping (other than a permitted principal building) over 1.1 m within 9.0 m of the corner where two streets meet, or within 6.0 m of where a lane meets a lane or street. The Traffic and Highways Bylaw also limits corner-lot fences and vegetation to 1.1 m above road grade for 9 m (6 m with a lane).
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 2406, 2025, consolidated to Bylaw 2449, Zoning Bylaw s. 4.4(1)](https://revelstoke.civicweb.net/document/193929/)
  - Official wording: "shall be erected to a height greater than 1.1 m within:" … "a. 9.0 m from the corner of the intersection of two streets; or" … "b. 6.0 m from the intersection of a lane with a lane or street." … "(1) No fence, wall, building, structure, or landscaping, other than a permitted principal" … "building, shall be erected to a height greater than 1.1 m within:"
  - Source: [Traffic and Highways Bylaw No. 2431, Traffic and Highways Bylaw s. 15.1, 15.2](https://revelstoke.civicweb.net/document/269155)
  - Official wording: "Fence, retaining wall or vegetation is greater than 1.1 metres higher" … "for a distance of nine (9) metres" … "for a distance of six (6) metres"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Other rules:** Height is measured from average natural grade within 1.0 m of both sides. A retaining wall above ground counts as a fence. No barbed wire or electric fencing in residential, mixed-use, commercial, public or environment zones (beekeeping excepted). Pools must be fenced at least 1.22 m high with a self-closing, self-latching gate; a hot tub may instead have a locking cover.
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 2406, 2025, consolidated to Bylaw 2449, Zoning Bylaw s. 4.8(2), (3), (7), (8)](https://revelstoke.civicweb.net/document/193929/)
  - Official wording: "(3) The height of a fence, wall, or hedge shall be determined by measurement from the" … "average natural grade within 1.0 m of both sides of such fence, wall, or hedge." … "(2) That portion of a retaining wall which projects above the surface of the ground which it" … "(7) No barbed wire or electric fencing is permitted in any Residential (R), Mixed-Use (MU)," … "(8) Notwithstanding Section 4.8(7), electric fencing may be permitted in a Residential (R),"
  - Source: [Building Bylaw No. 2294, Building Bylaw s. 14.2, 14.3](https://revelstoke.civicweb.net/document/42465)
  - Official wording: "having a minimum height of 1.22 metres and no openings greater than 100 mm at their greatest" … "self-closing and self-latching gate" … "14.4. In lieu of a fence, a spa or hot tub may be covered with a locking cover, which would prevent" … "self-closing and self-latching gate designed and constructed or installed so as to cause the"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Bylaw:** City of Revelstoke Zoning Bylaw No. 2406, 2025, s. 4.8 and 4.4; Traffic and Highways Bylaw No. 2431, s. 15
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 2406, 2025, consolidated to Bylaw 2449, Zoning Bylaw s. 4.8](https://revelstoke.civicweb.net/document/193929/)
  - Official wording: "City of Revelstoke Zoning Bylaw No. 2406, 2025" … "4.8 Fences, Retaining Walls, and Similar Features"
  - Source: [Traffic and Highways Bylaw No. 2431, Traffic and Highways Bylaw s. 15](https://revelstoke.civicweb.net/document/269155)
  - Official wording: "Traffic and Highways Bylaw No. 2431" … "15. SIGHT LINES"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06

## How it works

The [Building Bylaw 2294](https://revelstoke.civicweb.net/document/42465) does not apply to fences, so a fence on its own needs no building permit. Heights come from the [Zoning Bylaw 2406](https://revelstoke.civicweb.net/document/193929/), section 4.8. A fence taller than the limits below must instead meet the height and setback rules for a house.

## Good to know

- **Front:** in residential (R) zones a fence can be 1.1 m high within the required front yard setback area. The bylaw's wording is unclear (it also refers to the area to the rear of the front of an existing house, whichever is less), so treat 1.1 m as the limit in front of the house. Other zones follow the general 2.0 m limit.
- **Side and rear:** 2.0 m in all zones. Commercial, mixed-use, industrial and public-use zones allow 2.5 m, but still 2.0 m where the lot abuts a residential lot. Open-mesh chain link on cemeteries, playgrounds, parks, schools and industrial lots may reach 3.5 m.
- **Measuring:** from the average natural ground within 1.0 m of both sides. A retaining wall above ground counts as a fence.
- **Corners:** nothing over 1.1 m (other than a permitted house) within 9.0 m of the corner where two streets meet, or within 6.0 m of where a lane meets a lane or street. The [Traffic and Highways Bylaw 2431](https://revelstoke.civicweb.net/document/269155) also limits corner-lot fences and vegetation to 1.1 m above road grade for 9 m (6 m with a lane).
- **Barbed wire and electric fencing** are not allowed in residential, mixed-use, commercial, public or environment zones (beekeeping excepted).
- **Retaining walls** over 1.22 m high need a building permit. See the building-permit answer.
- **Pools and hot tubs:** a swimming pool needs a permit and a fence at least 1.22 m high with a self-closing, self-latching gate. A hot tub needs that fence or a locking cover.
- **Tickets:** an over-height fence is a $300 bylaw notice ($200 if paid within 14 days) or a $1,000 municipal ticket. Barbed wire or electric fencing breaches carry the same amounts. An over-height corner-lot fence or hedge under the Traffic and Highways Bylaw is a $200 bylaw notice ($150 if paid early).
- Not sure where your lot line is? See the property-lines answer.

## Official forms and pages

- [Zoning Bylaw No. 2406, 2025 (PDF), section 4.8 Fences, Retaining Walls, and Similar Features](https://revelstoke.civicweb.net/document/193929/)
- [Building Bylaw No. 2294 (PDF)](https://revelstoke.civicweb.net/document/42465)
- [Traffic and Highways Bylaw No. 2431 (PDF)](https://revelstoke.civicweb.net/document/269155)

## Related questions

- [Revelstoke permits for decks, sheds, carports and garages](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/revelstoke/deck-shed-garage-permit.md)
- [Revelstoke building permits: when you need one and how to apply](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/revelstoke/building-permit.md)
- [Revelstoke zoning: find your zone and what it allows](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/revelstoke/zoning-lookup.md)

## The same question elsewhere

- [Fence height limits in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/fence-rules.md)
- [Sicamous](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/sicamous/fence-rules.md)
- [Enderby](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/enderby/fence-rules.md)
- [Nakusp](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/nakusp/fence-rules.md)
- [Armstrong](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/armstrong/fence-rules.md)
- [Spallumcheen](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/spallumcheen/fence-rules.md)
- [Golden](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/golden/fence-rules.md)

## Sources

- [Zoning Bylaw No. 2406, 2025, consolidated to Bylaw 2449 (PDF), City of Revelstoke](https://revelstoke.civicweb.net/document/193929/) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Building Bylaw No. 2294 (PDF), City of Revelstoke](https://revelstoke.civicweb.net/document/42465) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Traffic and Highways Bylaw No. 2431 (PDF), City of Revelstoke](https://revelstoke.civicweb.net/document/269155) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Bylaw Offence Notice Bylaw No. 2370, consolidated (PDF), City of Revelstoke](https://revelstoke.civicweb.net/document/226008/) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Municipal Ticket Information System Bylaw No. 2082, Schedule 2 (PDF), City of Revelstoke](https://revelstoke.civicweb.net/document/164836) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Official Community Plan Bylaw No. 2332 (PDF), City of Revelstoke](https://revelstoke.civicweb.net/document/198773) (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 Revelstoke. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/revelstoke/fence-rules/_