{"title":"Sechelt fence rules: permits and height limits","question":"Do I need a permit to build a fence in Sechelt, and how high can it be?","slug":"fence-rules","place":{"path":"ca/bc/sechelt","name":"Sechelt","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 Sechelt","url":"https://www.sechelt.ca"},"short_answer":"In Sechelt a fence does not need a building permit, but the Zoning Bylaw limits height: 1.2 m within a front yard setback and 2.0 m elsewhere. Pool fences must be at least 1.5 m high.","aliases":["fence height sechelt","fence permit sechelt","how tall can my fence be sechelt","pool fence sechelt"],"cost":"No fence permit fee; the District's pages and Zoning Bylaw mention no separate fence permit.","how_long":"Not applicable; no permit is needed for a fence that meets the zoning limits.","where":[{"type":"in_person","label":"Municipal Hall","value":"2nd Floor, 5797 Cowrie Street, Sechelt, BC V0N 3A0","note":"9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. (days of the week not stated on the page)"},{"type":"phone","label":"Planning Department","value":"604-740-8459"},{"type":"phone","label":"Building Department","value":"604-740-8468"}],"documents":[],"forms":[{"title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 580, 2022 (PDF)","url":"https://www.sechelt.ca/media/rdjpiexj/580-2022-zoning-bylaw.pdf"},{"title":"Pools and Hot Tubs, District of Sechelt","url":"https://www.sechelt.ca/business-and-development/building-and-renovating/pools-and-hot-tubs/"}],"related":[{"slug":"building-permit","title":"Sechelt building permits: when you need one and how to apply","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/sechelt/building-permit/"},{"slug":"deck-shed-garage-permit","title":"Sechelt permits for decks, sheds, carports and garages","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/sechelt/deck-shed-garage-permit/"},{"slug":"zoning-lookup","title":"Sechelt zoning: find your zone and what it allows","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/sechelt/zoning-lookup/"}],"nearby":[{"place":"ca/bc/gibsons","name":"Gibsons","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/gibsons/fence-rules/"},{"place":"ca/bc/bowen-island","name":"Bowen Island","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/bowen-island/fence-rules/"},{"place":"ca/bc/lantzville","name":"Lantzville","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/lantzville/fence-rules/"},{"place":"ca/bc/nanaimo","name":"Nanaimo","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/nanaimo/fence-rules/"},{"place":"ca/bc/lions-bay","name":"Lions Bay","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/lions-bay/fence-rules/"},{"place":"ca/bc/west-vancouver","name":"West Vancouver","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/west-vancouver/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: the Building Bylaw does not apply to fences. The Zoning Bylaw height limits still apply. Retaining structures 1.2 m or higher are not exempt.","short":"No building permit","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.sechelt.ca/media/xynpo3be/409-2003-building-bylaw-consolidation.pdf","title":"Building Bylaw No. 409, 2003 (PDF, consolidated February 3, 2022)","section":"s. 1.5.2","quotes":["(2) retaining structures less than 1.2 meters (4 ft) in height (3) fences (4) non-structural repairs"]},{"url":"https://www.sechelt.ca/business-and-development/building-and-renovating/building-permits/","title":"Building Permits, District of Sechelt","section":"Scope and Exemptions","quotes":["(1) retaining structures less than 1.2 meters (4 ft) in height or a series of retaining structures not less than 1 vertical element to 2 horizontal elements with a cumulative height of not more than 1.2 m. (2) fences (3) bridges, except pedestrian and vehicle bridges attached to buildings"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"height_front":{"label":"Height, front yard","value":"1.2 m maximum for a fence within a front yard setback.","short":"1.2 m","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.sechelt.ca/media/rdjpiexj/580-2022-zoning-bylaw.pdf","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 580, 2022 (PDF, consolidated May 2025)","section":"s. 2.12.4","quotes":["2.12.4 Fences located within a front yard Setback shall have a maximum Height of 1.2 m."]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"},"sources_differ":"Zoning Bylaw consolidated May 2025."},"height_side_rear":{"label":"Height, side and rear yards","value":"2.0 m maximum for a fence located outside a front yard setback.","short":"2.0 m","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.sechelt.ca/media/rdjpiexj/580-2022-zoning-bylaw.pdf","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 580, 2022 (PDF, consolidated May 2025)","section":"s. 2.12.5","quotes":["2.12.5 Fences located outside a front yard Setback shall have a maximum Height of 2.0 m."]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"corner_lots":{"label":"Corner lots and sightlines","value":null,"status":"unknown","reason":"not_found","sources":[]},"other_rules":{"label":"Other rules","value":"Height is measured from natural or finished grade, whichever is lower, to the top, including lattice or wires. A fence on a retaining wall counts the wall's height if they are under 1.0 m apart. A single retaining wall may not exceed 1.2 m; wall plus fence may not exceed 2.0 m. Pool fences must be at least 1.5 m high.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.sechelt.ca/media/rdjpiexj/580-2022-zoning-bylaw.pdf","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 580, 2022 (PDF, consolidated May 2025)","section":"ss. 2.12.1-2.12.3, 2.13","quotes":["2.12.1 Fences may be sited within the minimum Setbacks established in a zone.","whichever is lower, to the highest portion of the fence, including lattice or wires on top of the main structure of the fence.","2.13.1 A single retaining wall may not exceed 1.2 m in Height.","cannot exceed 2.0 m in combined Height from lowest natural grade."]},{"url":"https://www.sechelt.ca/business-and-development/building-and-renovating/pools-and-hot-tubs/","title":"Pools and Hot Tubs, District of Sechelt","section":"Fencing and Self Closing Gates","quotes":["Every private swimming pool shall be enclosed within a secure and sturdy fence or other vertical barrier not less than 4' (1.22m) in height"]},{"url":"https://www.sechelt.ca/media/xynpo3be/409-2003-building-bylaw-consolidation.pdf","title":"Building Bylaw No. 409, 2003 (PDF, consolidated February 3, 2022)","section":"s. 13.2","quotes":["A swimming pool shall be enclosed within a continuous non-climbable fence or other vertical","barrier having a minimum height of 1.5m and have no openings greater than 100mm at their greatest dimension"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"bylaw":{"label":"Bylaw","value":"Zoning Bylaw No. 580, 2022, ss. 2.12 (Fences) and 2.13 (Retaining Walls); Building Bylaw No. 409, 2003, s. 1.5.2","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.sechelt.ca/media/rdjpiexj/580-2022-zoning-bylaw.pdf","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 580, 2022 (PDF, consolidated May 2025)","section":"ss. 2.12-2.13","quotes":["2.11 Height and Setback Exemptions ............................................................................................. 81 2.12 Fences ..................................................................................................................................... 82 2.13 Retaining Walls ....................................................................................................................... 82","2.12.5 Fences located outside a front yard Setback shall have a maximum Height of 2.0 m. 2.13 Retaining Walls 2.13.1 A single retaining wall may not exceed 1.2 m in Height.","DISTRICT OF SECHELT | ZONING BYLAW Schedule A to Bylaw No. 580, 2022 PAGE | i"]},{"url":"https://www.sechelt.ca/media/xynpo3be/409-2003-building-bylaw-consolidation.pdf","title":"Building Bylaw No. 409, 2003 (PDF, consolidated February 3, 2022)","section":"s. 1.5.2","quotes":["This bylaw does not apply to:"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}}},"facts_summary":{"total":6,"stated":5,"matched":5,"none":0,"unknown":1},"body_markdown":"## How it works\n\nThe District of Sechelt's [Building Bylaw 409](https://www.sechelt.ca/media/xynpo3be/409-2003-building-bylaw-consolidation.pdf) does not apply to fences, so you do not need a building permit. Fence height is controlled by section 2.12 of the [Zoning Bylaw 580](https://www.sechelt.ca/media/rdjpiexj/580-2022-zoning-bylaw.pdf). Retaining structures 1.2 m or higher are not exempt from a building permit.\n\nHeight is measured from natural or finished grade, whichever is lower, to the top of the fence, including lattice or wires.\n\n## Steps\n\n1. Check your property's zone and setbacks (see the zoning-lookup answer).\n2. Keep a fence within the front yard setback to 1.2 m, and a fence outside it to 2.0 m.\n3. If the fence sits on a retaining wall, count the wall's height too (see below).\n4. Call Planning (604-740-8459) if your plan is unusual.\n\n## Good to know\n\n- A fence on a retaining wall counts the wall's height if they are less than 1.0 m apart. A single retaining wall may not exceed 1.2 m, and wall plus fence may not exceed 2.0 m.\n- Pool fences must be at least 1.5 m high under the Building Bylaw, as the District's Pools and Hot Tubs page summarises it. That page also shows a smaller figure, 1.22 m, which looks out of date. Confirm with the Building Department.\n- An FAQ on the District's site gives 1.3 m for a front fence; the Zoning Bylaw says 1.2 m. Confirm with Planning.\n- The Zoning Bylaw has no corner-lot or sightline fence rule that we found, and we found no rule on barbed wire or electric fences. Ask Planning.","sources":[{"url":"https://www.sechelt.ca/business-and-development/building-and-renovating/","title":"Building and Renovating | District of Sechelt","accessed":"2026-11-06"},{"url":"https://www.sechelt.ca/media/rdjpiexj/580-2022-zoning-bylaw.pdf","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 580, 2022 (PDF, consolidated May 2025)","accessed":"2026-11-06"},{"url":"https://www.sechelt.ca/media/xynpo3be/409-2003-building-bylaw-consolidation.pdf","title":"Building Bylaw No. 409, 2003 (PDF, consolidated February 3, 2022)","accessed":"2026-11-06"},{"url":"https://www.sechelt.ca/business-and-development/building-and-renovating/building-permits/","title":"Building Permits, District of Sechelt","accessed":"2026-11-06"},{"url":"https://www.sechelt.ca/business-and-development/building-and-renovating/pools-and-hot-tubs/","title":"Pools and Hot Tubs, District of Sechelt","accessed":"2026-11-06"},{"url":"https://www.sechelt.ca/contacts-directory/","title":"Contacts Directory, District of Sechelt","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 5 of 6 facts was matched to the official text; 1 could not be confirmed."},"urls":{"html":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/sechelt/fence-rules/","markdown":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/sechelt/fence-rules.md","json":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/sechelt/fence-rules.json"}}