---
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?"
place: Saanich, British Columbia, Canada
place_path: ca/bc/saanich
category: Building, renovating and your property
owner: municipal
owner_body: District of Saanich
sources_read: 2026-11-06
review: machine_checked
canonical: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/saanich/fence-rules/"
json: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/saanich/fence-rules.json"
---

# 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?

**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.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (District of Saanich, https://www.saanich.ca)  
**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:**
- Phone: Inspection Services, 250-475-5457
- Email: Inspection Services, inspections@saanich.ca
- Phone: Bylaw Enforcement, 250-475-5456
- In person: Saanich Municipal Hall, 770 Vernon Ave., Victoria BC V8X 2W7

## Key facts

- **Permit:** 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.
  - Source: [Building Bylaw, 2019, No. 9529, s. 3.3(a) and 7.3(d)](https://www.saanich.ca/assets/Local~Government/Documents/Bylaws~and~Policies/BUILDING%20BYLAW,%202019,%20NO.%209529.pdf)
  - Official wording: "except as set out in Part 11 [Retaining Walls] of this bylaw, a fence" … "for retaining structures less than 1.20 metres in height"
  - Source: [Swimming Pool and Liquid Storage Tank Fence Bylaw, 1988, No. 6016, Bylaw 6016 s. 6](https://www.saanich.ca/assets/Local~Government/Documents/Bylaws~and~Policies/swimming-pool-and-liquid-storage-tank-fence-bylaw-1988-no-6016.pdf)
  - Official wording: "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: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Height, front yard:** 1.5 m (4.9 ft) for a fence between the principal building's minimum setback and a lot line abutting a street.
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw, 2003, No. 8200, s. 6.2(f)(i)](https://www.saanich.ca/assets/Local~Government/Documents/Planning/zone8200.pdf)
  - Official wording: "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: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Height, side and rear yards:** 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.
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw, 2003, No. 8200, s. 6.2(f)(ii) and (g)](https://www.saanich.ca/assets/Local~Government/Documents/Planning/zone8200.pdf)
  - Official wording: "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: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Corner lots and sightlines:** 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.
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw, 2003, No. 8200, s. 6.3(b)](https://www.saanich.ca/assets/Local~Government/Documents/Planning/zone8200.pdf)
  - Official wording: "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"
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw, 2003, No. 8200, s. 5.15(b)](https://www.saanich.ca/assets/Local~Government/Documents/Planning/zone8200.pdf)
  - Official wording: "permit landscaping or any structure to exceed 60 cm (1.96 ft) in width and 90 cm (2.95 ft)"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Other rules:** 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.
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw, 2003, No. 8200, s. 6.2(a), (c), (e), (h)](https://www.saanich.ca/assets/Local~Government/Documents/Planning/zone8200.pdf)
  - Official wording: "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: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Bylaw:** 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.
  - Source: [Ticket Bylaw, 2010, No. 9029, Schedule 5](https://www.saanich.ca/assets/Local~Government/Documents/Bylaws~and~Policies/ticket-bylaw-2010-no-9029.pdf)
  - Official wording: "ZONING BYLAW, 2003, NO. 8200" … "Constructing fence in excess of 1.5 metres (4.9"
  - Source: [Swimming Pool and Liquid Storage Tank Fence Bylaw, 1988, No. 6016, title](https://www.saanich.ca/assets/Local~Government/Documents/Bylaws~and~Policies/swimming-pool-and-liquid-storage-tank-fence-bylaw-1988-no-6016.pdf)
  - Official wording: "SWIMMING POOL AND LIQUID STORAGE TANK FENCE BY-LAW, 1988, NO. 6016"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06

## How it works

The [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:

- 1.5 m (4.9 ft) for a fence between the main building's minimum setback and a lot line that abuts a street.
- 1.9 m (6.2 ft) 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.

Height is measured from natural grade.

## Steps

1. Check your zone and lot lines (see the zoning-lookup answer).
2. Keep the fence within the height limits above.
3. 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).
4. If you build a retaining wall, ask Inspection Services whether a permit is needed. One is usually needed from 1.20 m high.

## Good to know

- 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.
- 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.
- The Zoning Bylaw sections read set no rule on barbed wire or electric fencing. Ask Bylaw Enforcement or Inspection Services.
- A bylaw notice for a fence over the limit is $150 ($100 if paid early); a municipal ticket is $150 ($200 after 30 days).

## Official forms and pages

- [Zoning Bylaw, 2003, No. 8200 (PDF)](https://www.saanich.ca/assets/Local~Government/Documents/Planning/zone8200.pdf)
- [Swimming Pool and Liquid Storage Tank Fence Bylaw, 1988, No. 6016 (PDF)](https://www.saanich.ca/assets/Local~Government/Documents/Bylaws~and~Policies/swimming-pool-and-liquid-storage-tank-fence-bylaw-1988-no-6016.pdf)

## Related questions

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

## The same question elsewhere

- [Fence height limits in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/fence-rules.md)
- [Oak Bay](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/oak-bay/fence-rules.md)
- [Esquimalt](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/esquimalt/fence-rules.md)
- [Victoria](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/victoria/fence-rules.md)
- [View Royal](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/view-royal/fence-rules.md)
- [Central Saanich](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/central-saanich/fence-rules.md)
- [Colwood](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/colwood/fence-rules.md)

## Sources

- [Zoning Bylaw, 2003, No. 8200 (PDF)](https://www.saanich.ca/assets/Local~Government/Documents/Planning/zone8200.pdf) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Building Bylaw, 2019, No. 9529 (PDF)](https://www.saanich.ca/assets/Local~Government/Documents/Bylaws~and~Policies/BUILDING%20BYLAW,%202019,%20NO.%209529.pdf) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Swimming Pool and Liquid Storage Tank Fence Bylaw, 1988, No. 6016 (PDF)](https://www.saanich.ca/assets/Local~Government/Documents/Bylaws~and~Policies/swimming-pool-and-liquid-storage-tank-fence-bylaw-1988-no-6016.pdf) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Ticket Bylaw, 2010, No. 9029 (PDF)](https://www.saanich.ca/assets/Local~Government/Documents/Bylaws~and~Policies/ticket-bylaw-2010-no-9029.pdf) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw (PDF)](https://www.saanich.ca/assets/Local~Government/Documents/Bylaws~and~Policies/bylawnoticeenforcementbylaw.pdf) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Residential Permits, District of Saanich](https://www.saanich.ca/EN/main/local-government/inspections-services/residential-permits.html) (read 2026-11-06)

_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 District of Saanich. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/saanich/fence-rules/_