---
title: "Sayward fence rules: permits and height limits"
question: "Do I need a permit to build a fence in Sayward, and how high can it be?"
place: Sayward, British Columbia, Canada
place_path: ca/bc/sayward
category: Building, renovating and your property
owner: municipal
owner_body: Village of Sayward
sources_read: 2026-11-08
review: machine_checked
canonical: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/sayward/fence-rules/"
json: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/sayward/fence-rules.json"
---

# Sayward fence rules: permits and height limits

**Question:** Do I need a permit to build a fence in Sayward, and how high can it be?

**Short answer:** In the Village of Sayward you do not need a building permit for a fence under 2 m (6.6 ft). In residential zones the Zoning Bylaw limits fences to 1.2 m (3.9 ft) along the front lot line and 2.0 m (6.6 ft) at the sides and rear.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (Village of Sayward, https://www.sayward.ca)  
**Cost:** No permit fee for a fence under 2 m; no separate fence permit is mentioned.  
**How long:** Not applicable.  
**Where:**
- In person: Village Office, 652 H'Kusam Way, Sayward, BC (Monday to Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. (closed holidays))
- Phone: Village Office, 250-282-5512

## Key facts

- **Permit:** A building permit is not needed for fences under 2 m (6.6 ft) high: the Building Bylaw does not apply to them. No separate fence permit is mentioned.
  - Source: [Building Bylaw No. 334, 2005 (PDF, consolidated), s. 5.2.2](https://www.sayward.ca/sites/1/files/2021-05/Bylaw%20334%20-%20Building%20Bylaw%20Consolidated%20Version%2C%20for%20convenience%20only.pdf)
  - Official wording: "fences and retaining structures less than 2 metres (6.6 feet) in height."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Height, front yard:** 1.2 m (3.9 ft) along the front lot line, in residential zones.
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 309, 2000 (PDF, consolidated), s. 308(1)](https://www.sayward.ca/sites/1/files/2025-09/Bylaw%20309%20-%20Zoning%20Consolidated%20Version%2C%20for%20convenience%20only.pdf)
  - Official wording: "except along the front lot line where the height shall not exceed 1.2 metres (3.9 feet)."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Height, side and rear yards:** 2.0 m (6.6 ft) in residential zones.
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 309, 2000 (PDF, consolidated), s. 308(1)](https://www.sayward.ca/sites/1/files/2025-09/Bylaw%20309%20-%20Zoning%20Consolidated%20Version%2C%20for%20convenience%20only.pdf)
  - Official wording: "In residential zones, fences shall not exceed 2.0 metres (6.6 feet)"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Corner lots and sightlines:** Zoning s. 404: no tree, shrub, plant, fence or other structure wider than 0.6 m (2.0 ft) in the sight triangle at an intersection. Public Nuisance Bylaw s. 7.7 uses 0.46 m (1.5 ft) and a triangle 2.4 m from the corner. (Sources differ: The two bylaws give different dimensions; Zoning s. 101(7) says the more restrictive regulation applies.)
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 309, 2000 (PDF, consolidated), s. 404](https://www.sayward.ca/sites/1/files/2025-09/Bylaw%20309%20-%20Zoning%20Consolidated%20Version%2C%20for%20convenience%20only.pdf)
  - Official wording: "with horizontal dimension exceeding 0.6m (2.0ft) within the sight triangle"
  - Source: [Public Nuisance Bylaw No. 502, s. 7.7](https://www.sayward.ca/sites/1/files/2023-06/Bylaw%20502%20-%20Public%20Nuisance.pdf)
  - Official wording: "with horizontal dimension exceeding 0.46 metres (1.5 feet) within the triangular area"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Other rules:** Pool areas must be enclosed by a fence at least 1.4 m (4.6 ft) high (Building Bylaw s. 23.1.3). Fences next to a street must be kept in repair (Bylaw 502 s. 7.6). No fence on a boulevard without the Village's written permission (s. 7.5(b)).
  - Source: [Public Nuisance Bylaw No. 502, ss. 7.5(b), 7.6](https://www.sayward.ca/sites/1/files/2023-06/Bylaw%20502%20-%20Public%20Nuisance.pdf)
  - Official wording: "erect any sign, fence, wall or other structure on any Boulevard, except" … "shall not allow that fence to fall into a state of disrepair"
  - Source: [Building Bylaw No. 334, 2005 (PDF, consolidated), s. 23.1.3](https://www.sayward.ca/sites/1/files/2021-05/Bylaw%20334%20-%20Building%20Bylaw%20Consolidated%20Version%2C%20for%20convenience%20only.pdf)
  - Official wording: "enclose an exterior pool area within a fence:" … "not less than 1.4 metres (4.6 feet) in height;"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Bylaw:** Zoning Bylaw No. 309, 2000, s. 308
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 309, 2000 (PDF, consolidated), s. 308](https://www.sayward.ca/sites/1/files/2025-09/Bylaw%20309%20-%20Zoning%20Consolidated%20Version%2C%20for%20convenience%20only.pdf)
  - Official wording: "In residential zones, fences shall not exceed 2.0 metres (6.6 feet)"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08

## How it works

Fence heights are in section 308 of the Village of Sayward's [Zoning Bylaw No. 309](https://www.sayward.ca/sites/1/files/2025-09/Bylaw%20309%20-%20Zoning%20Consolidated%20Version%2C%20for%20convenience%20only.pdf). In residential zones a fence may be up to 1.2 m (3.9 ft) high along the front lot line and 2.0 m (6.6 ft) high at the sides and rear. Section 308 sets no fence rules for commercial, industrial or other zones. Ask the Village Office about those.

The [Building Bylaw No. 334](https://www.sayward.ca/sites/1/files/2021-05/Bylaw%20334%20-%20Building%20Bylaw%20Consolidated%20Version%2C%20for%20convenience%20only.pdf) does not apply to fences under 2 m (6.6 ft) high, so no building permit is needed. No separate fence permit is mentioned.

## Good to know

- Pool areas must be enclosed by a fence at least 1.4 m (4.6 ft) high (Building Bylaw s. 23.1.3).
- On a corner lot, Zoning s. 404 bars any tree, shrub, plant, fence or other structure wider than 0.6 m (2.0 ft) in the sight triangle at an intersection. The [Public Nuisance Bylaw No. 502](https://www.sayward.ca/sites/1/files/2023-06/Bylaw%20502%20-%20Public%20Nuisance.pdf) s. 7.7 uses 0.46 m (1.5 ft) and a triangle 2.4 m from the corner. The two bylaws differ, so confirm with the Village Office; the Zoning Bylaw says the more restrictive rule applies.
- Fences next to a street must be kept in repair (Bylaw 502 s. 7.6).
- No fence is allowed on a boulevard without the Village's written permission (s. 7.5(b)).
- The sources state no rule on materials such as barbed wire. Ask the Village Office at 250-282-5512.

## Official forms and pages

- [Zoning Bylaw No. 309 (PDF)](https://www.sayward.ca/sites/1/files/2025-09/Bylaw%20309%20-%20Zoning%20Consolidated%20Version%2C%20for%20convenience%20only.pdf)
- [Building Bylaw No. 334 (PDF)](https://www.sayward.ca/sites/1/files/2021-05/Bylaw%20334%20-%20Building%20Bylaw%20Consolidated%20Version%2C%20for%20convenience%20only.pdf)

## Related questions

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

## The same question elsewhere

- [Fence height limits in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/fence-rules.md)
- [Campbell River](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/campbell-river/fence-rules.md)
- [Gold River](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/gold-river/fence-rules.md)
- [Tahsis](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/tahsis/fence-rules.md)
- [Port McNeill](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/port-mcneill/fence-rules.md)
- [Courtenay](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/courtenay/fence-rules.md)
- [Cumberland](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/cumberland/fence-rules.md)

## Sources

- [Zoning Bylaw No. 309, 2000 (PDF, consolidated)](https://www.sayward.ca/sites/1/files/2025-09/Bylaw%20309%20-%20Zoning%20Consolidated%20Version%2C%20for%20convenience%20only.pdf) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Building Bylaw No. 334, 2005 (PDF, consolidated)](https://www.sayward.ca/sites/1/files/2021-05/Bylaw%20334%20-%20Building%20Bylaw%20Consolidated%20Version%2C%20for%20convenience%20only.pdf) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Public Nuisance Bylaw No. 502 (PDF)](https://www.sayward.ca/sites/1/files/2023-06/Bylaw%20502%20-%20Public%20Nuisance.pdf) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Staff Directory, Village of Sayward](https://www.sayward.ca/contact/staff-directory) (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. Gov Handbook is an independent guide, not affiliated with Village of Sayward. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/sayward/fence-rules/_