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

# 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?

**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.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (District of Sechelt, https://www.sechelt.ca)  
**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:**
- In person: Municipal Hall, 2nd Floor, 5797 Cowrie Street, Sechelt, BC V0N 3A0 (9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. (days of the week not stated on the page))
- Phone: Planning Department, 604-740-8459
- Phone: Building Department, 604-740-8468

## Key facts

- **Permit:** 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.
  - Source: [Building Bylaw No. 409, 2003 (PDF, consolidated February 3, 2022), s. 1.5.2](https://www.sechelt.ca/media/xynpo3be/409-2003-building-bylaw-consolidation.pdf)
  - Official wording: "(2) retaining structures less than 1.2 meters (4 ft) in height (3) fences (4) non-structural repairs"
  - Source: [Building Permits, Scope and Exemptions](https://www.sechelt.ca/business-and-development/building-and-renovating/building-permits/)
  - Official wording: "(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: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Height, front yard:** 1.2 m maximum for a fence within a front yard setback. (Sources differ: Zoning Bylaw consolidated May 2025.)
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 580, 2022 (PDF, consolidated May 2025), s. 2.12.4](https://www.sechelt.ca/media/rdjpiexj/580-2022-zoning-bylaw.pdf)
  - Official wording: "2.12.4 Fences located within a front yard Setback shall have a maximum Height of 1.2 m."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Height, side and rear yards:** 2.0 m maximum for a fence located outside a front yard setback.
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 580, 2022 (PDF, consolidated May 2025), s. 2.12.5](https://www.sechelt.ca/media/rdjpiexj/580-2022-zoning-bylaw.pdf)
  - Official wording: "2.12.5 Fences located outside a front yard Setback shall have a maximum Height of 2.0 m."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Corner lots and sightlines:** Not confirmed. Not found in the official sources that were read.
- **Other rules:** 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.
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 580, 2022 (PDF, consolidated May 2025), ss. 2.12.1-2.12.3, 2.13](https://www.sechelt.ca/media/rdjpiexj/580-2022-zoning-bylaw.pdf)
  - Official wording: "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."
  - Source: [Pools and Hot Tubs, Fencing and Self Closing Gates](https://www.sechelt.ca/business-and-development/building-and-renovating/pools-and-hot-tubs/)
  - Official wording: "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"
  - Source: [Building Bylaw No. 409, 2003 (PDF, consolidated February 3, 2022), s. 13.2](https://www.sechelt.ca/media/xynpo3be/409-2003-building-bylaw-consolidation.pdf)
  - Official wording: "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: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Bylaw:** Zoning Bylaw No. 580, 2022, ss. 2.12 (Fences) and 2.13 (Retaining Walls); Building Bylaw No. 409, 2003, s. 1.5.2
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 580, 2022 (PDF, consolidated May 2025), ss. 2.12-2.13](https://www.sechelt.ca/media/rdjpiexj/580-2022-zoning-bylaw.pdf)
  - Official wording: "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"
  - Source: [Building Bylaw No. 409, 2003 (PDF, consolidated February 3, 2022), s. 1.5.2](https://www.sechelt.ca/media/xynpo3be/409-2003-building-bylaw-consolidation.pdf)
  - Official wording: "This bylaw does not apply to:"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06

## How it works

The 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.

Height is measured from natural or finished grade, whichever is lower, to the top of the fence, including lattice or wires.

## Steps

1. Check your property's zone and setbacks (see the zoning-lookup answer).
2. Keep a fence within the front yard setback to 1.2 m, and a fence outside it to 2.0 m.
3. If the fence sits on a retaining wall, count the wall's height too (see below).
4. Call Planning (604-740-8459) if your plan is unusual.

## Good to know

- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.

## Official forms and pages

- [Zoning Bylaw No. 580, 2022 (PDF)](https://www.sechelt.ca/media/rdjpiexj/580-2022-zoning-bylaw.pdf)
- [Pools and Hot Tubs, District of Sechelt](https://www.sechelt.ca/business-and-development/building-and-renovating/pools-and-hot-tubs/)

## Related questions

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

## The same question elsewhere

- [Fence height limits in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/fence-rules.md)
- [Gibsons](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/gibsons/fence-rules.md)
- [Bowen Island](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/bowen-island/fence-rules.md)
- [Lantzville](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/lantzville/fence-rules.md)
- [Nanaimo](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/nanaimo/fence-rules.md)
- [Lions Bay](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/lions-bay/fence-rules.md)
- [West Vancouver](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/west-vancouver/fence-rules.md)

## Sources

- [Building and Renovating | District of Sechelt](https://www.sechelt.ca/business-and-development/building-and-renovating/) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Zoning Bylaw No. 580, 2022 (PDF, consolidated May 2025)](https://www.sechelt.ca/media/rdjpiexj/580-2022-zoning-bylaw.pdf) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Building Bylaw No. 409, 2003 (PDF, consolidated February 3, 2022)](https://www.sechelt.ca/media/xynpo3be/409-2003-building-bylaw-consolidation.pdf) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Building Permits, District of Sechelt](https://www.sechelt.ca/business-and-development/building-and-renovating/building-permits/) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Pools and Hot Tubs, District of Sechelt](https://www.sechelt.ca/business-and-development/building-and-renovating/pools-and-hot-tubs/) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Contacts Directory, District of Sechelt](https://www.sechelt.ca/contacts-directory/) (read 2026-11-06)

_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. Gov Handbook is an independent guide, not affiliated with District of Sechelt. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/sechelt/fence-rules/_