{"title":"Saanich fence rules: permits and height limits","question":"Do I need a permit to build a fence in Saanich, and how high can it be?","slug":"fence-rules","place":{"path":"ca/bc/saanich","name":"Saanich","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 Saanich","url":"https://www.saanich.ca"},"short_answer":"In Saanich an ordinary fence needs no building permit, but the Zoning Bylaw limits height to 1.5 m (4.9 ft) toward the street and 1.9 m (6.2 ft) in other yards. Pool fences need a written permit from Inspection Services, and retaining walls are regulated separately.","aliases":["fence height saanich","fence permit saanich","backyard fence rules saanich","pool fence saanich"],"cost":"No permit fee for an ordinary fence. A bylaw notice for a fence over the height limit is $150 ($100 if paid early); a municipal ticket is $150 ($200 after 30 days).","how_long":"No permit for an ordinary fence. For a pool fence, ask Inspection Services.","where":[{"type":"phone","label":"Inspection Services","value":"250-475-5457"},{"type":"email","label":"Inspection Services","value":"inspections@saanich.ca"},{"type":"phone","label":"Bylaw Enforcement","value":"250-475-5456"},{"type":"in_person","label":"Saanich Municipal Hall","value":"770 Vernon Ave., Victoria BC V8X 2W7"}],"documents":[],"forms":[{"title":"Zoning Bylaw, 2003, No. 8200 (PDF)","url":"https://www.saanich.ca/assets/Local~Government/Documents/Planning/zone8200.pdf"},{"title":"Swimming Pool and Liquid Storage Tank Fence Bylaw, 1988, No. 6016 (PDF)","url":"https://www.saanich.ca/assets/Local~Government/Documents/Bylaws~and~Policies/swimming-pool-and-liquid-storage-tank-fence-bylaw-1988-no-6016.pdf"}],"related":[{"slug":"deck-shed-garage-permit","title":"Saanich permits for decks, sheds, carports and garages","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/saanich/deck-shed-garage-permit/"},{"slug":"zoning-lookup","title":"Saanich zoning: find your zone and what it allows","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/saanich/zoning-lookup/"},{"slug":"building-permit","title":"Saanich building permits: when you need one and how to apply","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/saanich/building-permit/"}],"nearby":[{"place":"ca/bc/oak-bay","name":"Oak Bay","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/oak-bay/fence-rules/"},{"place":"ca/bc/esquimalt","name":"Esquimalt","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/esquimalt/fence-rules/"},{"place":"ca/bc/victoria","name":"Victoria","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/victoria/fence-rules/"},{"place":"ca/bc/view-royal","name":"View Royal","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/view-royal/fence-rules/"},{"place":"ca/bc/central-saanich","name":"Central Saanich","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/central-saanich/fence-rules/"},{"place":"ca/bc/colwood","name":"Colwood","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/colwood/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 building permit for an ordinary fence: the Building Bylaw does not apply to fences except retaining walls (usually needed from 1.20 m high). A swimming pool or liquid storage tank fence needs a written permit from Inspection Services under Bylaw 6016. Zoning height limits still apply.","short":"No building permit","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.saanich.ca/assets/Local~Government/Documents/Bylaws~and~Policies/BUILDING%20BYLAW,%202019,%20NO.%209529.pdf","title":"Building Bylaw, 2019, No. 9529 (PDF)","section":"s. 3.3(a) and 7.3(d)","quotes":["except as set out in Part 11 [Retaining Walls] of this bylaw, a fence","for retaining structures less than 1.20 metres in height"]},{"url":"https://www.saanich.ca/assets/Local~Government/Documents/Bylaws~and~Policies/swimming-pool-and-liquid-storage-tank-fence-bylaw-1988-no-6016.pdf","title":"Swimming Pool and Liquid Storage Tank Fence Bylaw, 1988, No. 6016 (PDF)","section":"Bylaw 6016 s. 6","quotes":["No person shall erect, add to or replace, except for maintenance purposes, any fence or","The fence and gate shall be not less than 1.2 m (4’) in height above the ground at"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"height_front":{"label":"Height, front yard","value":"1.5 m (4.9 ft) for a fence between the principal building's minimum setback and a lot line abutting a street.","short":"1.5 m","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.saanich.ca/assets/Local~Government/Documents/Planning/zone8200.pdf","title":"Zoning Bylaw, 2003, No. 8200 (PDF)","section":"s. 6.2(f)(i)","quotes":["any lot line abutting a street, shall exceed a height of 1.5m (4.9 ft)","Unless expressly provided for elsewhere in this section"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"height_side_rear":{"label":"Height, side and rear yards","value":"1.9 m (6.2 ft) for a fence in any other yard. Deer fences up to 2.5 m (8 ft) are allowed on agricultural lots, and on other lots if not bordering a street or on a street corner.","short":"1.9 m","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.saanich.ca/assets/Local~Government/Documents/Planning/zone8200.pdf","title":"Zoning Bylaw, 2003, No. 8200 (PDF)","section":"s. 6.2(f)(ii) and (g)","quotes":["no fence in any other yard shall exceed a height of 1.9 m (6.2 ft)","deer fences and deer fence extensions not exceeding a","On lots zoned for Agricultural use"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"corner_lots":{"label":"Corner lots and sightlines","value":"In single- and two-family zones, no fence over 1 m (3.3 ft) high within the corner area bounded by the street lot lines and a line joining points 9.0 m (29.53 ft) from where they meet. On arterial highways, Ministry consent is needed for structures over 60 cm wide and 90 cm high within 6 m of the intersection.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.saanich.ca/assets/Local~Government/Documents/Planning/zone8200.pdf","title":"Zoning Bylaw, 2003, No. 8200 (PDF)","section":"s. 6.3(b)","quotes":["no person shall construct, install, suffer or maintain a fence which exceeds a height of 1 m (3.3 ft) in the area bounded by the intersecting lot lines at a street corner","9.0 m (29.53 ft) from their point of intersection"]},{"url":"https://www.saanich.ca/assets/Local~Government/Documents/Planning/zone8200.pdf","title":"Zoning Bylaw, 2003, No. 8200 (PDF)","section":"s. 5.15(b)","quotes":["permit landscaping or any structure to exceed 60 cm (1.96 ft) in width and 90 cm (2.95 ft)"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"other_rules":{"label":"Other rules","value":"Height is measured from natural grade. A fence on a retaining wall counts toward one combined limit, except a guard or fence up to 1.07 m (42 in) may sit on a retaining wall. Within 7.5 m of the ocean, a fence or wall may not exceed 0.6 m. No rule on barbed or electric wire found.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.saanich.ca/assets/Local~Government/Documents/Planning/zone8200.pdf","title":"Zoning Bylaw, 2003, No. 8200 (PDF)","section":"s. 6.2(a), (c), (e), (h)","quotes":["The height of a fence or retaining wall shall mean the vertical distance between natural","the combined height of the retaining","a fence or guard not exceeding a height of 1.07 m (42 in) may be","fences and retaining walls may be constructed","No building, structure, retaining wall, screen, or fence or combination thereof in excess of","0.6 m (1.96 ft) in height shall be constructed or located on a lot within 7.5 m (24.6 ft) of"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"bylaw":{"label":"Bylaw","value":"Zoning Bylaw, 2003, No. 8200, ss. 6.2 and 6.3 (height). Pool and tank fences: Swimming Pool and Liquid Storage Tank Fence Bylaw, 1988, No. 6016. Retaining walls: Building Bylaw, 2019, No. 9529, Part 11.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.saanich.ca/assets/Local~Government/Documents/Bylaws~and~Policies/ticket-bylaw-2010-no-9029.pdf","title":"Ticket Bylaw, 2010, No. 9029 (PDF)","section":"Schedule 5","quotes":["ZONING BYLAW, 2003, NO. 8200","Constructing fence in excess of 1.5 metres (4.9"]},{"url":"https://www.saanich.ca/assets/Local~Government/Documents/Bylaws~and~Policies/swimming-pool-and-liquid-storage-tank-fence-bylaw-1988-no-6016.pdf","title":"Swimming Pool and Liquid Storage Tank Fence Bylaw, 1988, No. 6016 (PDF)","section":"title","quotes":["SWIMMING POOL AND LIQUID STORAGE TANK FENCE BY-LAW, 1988, NO. 6016"]}],"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 [Building Bylaw](https://www.saanich.ca/assets/Local~Government/Documents/Bylaws~and~Policies/BUILDING%20BYLAW,%202019,%20NO.%209529.pdf) does not apply to fences, except retaining walls, so an ordinary fence needs no building permit. Height limits come from the [Zoning Bylaw, 2003, No. 8200](https://www.saanich.ca/assets/Local~Government/Documents/Planning/zone8200.pdf), s. 6.2:\n\n- 1.5 m (4.9 ft) for a fence between the main building's minimum setback and a lot line that abuts a street.\n- 1.9 m (6.2 ft) in any other yard.\n- Deer fences up to 2.5 m (8 ft) are allowed on agricultural lots, and on other lots if not bordering a street or on a street corner.\n\nHeight is measured from natural grade.\n\n## Steps\n\n1. Check your zone and lot lines (see the zoning-lookup answer).\n2. Keep the fence within the height limits above.\n3. If the fence is for a swimming pool or liquid storage tank, get a written permit from Inspection Services under [Bylaw 6016](https://www.saanich.ca/assets/Local~Government/Documents/Bylaws~and~Policies/swimming-pool-and-liquid-storage-tank-fence-bylaw-1988-no-6016.pdf).\n4. If you build a retaining wall, ask Inspection Services whether a permit is needed. One is usually needed from 1.20 m high.\n\n## Good to know\n\n- Corner lots: in single- and two-family zones, no fence over 1 m (3.3 ft) high within the corner area bounded by the street lot lines and a line joining points 9.0 m (29.53 ft) from where they meet. On arterial highways, Ministry consent is needed for structures over 60 cm wide and 90 cm high within 6 m of the intersection.\n- A fence on a retaining wall counts toward one combined limit, except a guard or fence up to 1.07 m (42 in) may sit on a retaining wall.\n- Within 7.5 m of the ocean, a fence or wall may not exceed 0.6 m.\n- The Zoning Bylaw sections read set no rule on barbed wire or electric fencing. Ask Bylaw Enforcement or Inspection Services.\n- A bylaw notice for a fence over the limit is $150 ($100 if paid early); a municipal ticket is $150 ($200 after 30 days).","sources":[{"url":"https://www.saanich.ca/assets/Local~Government/Documents/Planning/zone8200.pdf","title":"Zoning Bylaw, 2003, No. 8200 (PDF)","accessed":"2026-11-06"},{"url":"https://www.saanich.ca/assets/Local~Government/Documents/Bylaws~and~Policies/BUILDING%20BYLAW,%202019,%20NO.%209529.pdf","title":"Building Bylaw, 2019, No. 9529 (PDF)","accessed":"2026-11-06"},{"url":"https://www.saanich.ca/assets/Local~Government/Documents/Bylaws~and~Policies/swimming-pool-and-liquid-storage-tank-fence-bylaw-1988-no-6016.pdf","title":"Swimming Pool and Liquid Storage Tank Fence Bylaw, 1988, No. 6016 (PDF)","accessed":"2026-11-06"},{"url":"https://www.saanich.ca/assets/Local~Government/Documents/Bylaws~and~Policies/ticket-bylaw-2010-no-9029.pdf","title":"Ticket Bylaw, 2010, No. 9029 (PDF)","accessed":"2026-11-06"},{"url":"https://www.saanich.ca/assets/Local~Government/Documents/Bylaws~and~Policies/bylawnoticeenforcementbylaw.pdf","title":"Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw (PDF)","accessed":"2026-11-06"},{"url":"https://www.saanich.ca/EN/main/local-government/inspections-services/residential-permits.html","title":"Residential Permits, District of Saanich","accessed":"2026-11-06"}],"sources_read":"2026-11-06","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/saanich/fence-rules/","markdown":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/saanich/fence-rules.md","json":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/saanich/fence-rules.json"}}