---
title: "Sicamous fence rules: permits and height limits"
question: "Do I need a fence permit in Sicamous, and how high can my fence be?"
place: Sicamous, British Columbia, Canada
place_path: ca/bc/sicamous
category: Building, renovating and your property
owner: municipal
owner_body: District of Sicamous
sources_read: 2026-11-09
review: machine_checked
canonical: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/sicamous/fence-rules/"
json: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/sicamous/fence-rules.json"
---

# Sicamous fence rules: permits and height limits

**Question:** Do I need a fence permit in Sicamous, and how high can my fence be?

**Short answer:** In Sicamous residential and rural zones, the standard fence limit is 1.2 metres in the front yard or within 6 metres of a driveway or road right-of-way. Elsewhere on the parcel the usual limit is 2 metres. Agricultural boundaries have separate provisions.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (District of Sicamous, https://www.sicamous.ca)  
**Where:**
- Phone: The planning office, 250-836-2477

## Key facts

- **Permit:** The building bylaw exempts fences generally. It covers fences surrounding public swimming pools or hot tubs.
  - Source: [Building Regulations Bylaw No. 1056, 2025, PDF p. 3 / PDF p. 4](https://sicamous.civicweb.net/document/2858)
  - Official wording: "j) The construction, installation, relocation or alteration of public swimming pools and hot tubs, together with all ancillary equipment, services and attachments normally employed in the use of a public swimming pool or hot tub, and to the construction of fences surrounding such public swimming pools or hot tubs;District of Sicamous Building Regulations Bylaw No. 1056, 2025" … "105. This Bylaw does not apply to:" … "d) Fences, except as required by Sentence 104(j);"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-09
- **Height, front yard:** In Sicamous residential and rural zones, the standard fence limit is 1.2 metres in the front yard or within 6 metres of a driveway or road right-of-way.
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 1100, 2024, PDF p. 44](https://sicamous.civicweb.net/document/125687)
  - Official wording: ".1 Fences a. Within Residential and Rural zones, fences may be: (i) 1.2 m high for a Front Yard or within 6 m of an existing driveway or road right-of-way; and (ii) 2 m in Height anywhere else on a Parcel; except (iii) no Fence constructed at Natural Grade in a Residential Zone shall exceed 2 m in Height, except where Abutting an Agriculturally Zoned Parcel where the maximum Height is 2.4 m; and"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-09
- **Height, side and rear yards:** Generally 2 metres away from the front yard and driveway or road clearance area, subject to exceptions.
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 1100, 2024, PDF p. 44](https://sicamous.civicweb.net/document/125687)
  - Official wording: "a. Within Residential and Rural zones, fences may be: (i) 1.2 m high for a Front Yard or within 6 m of an existing driveway or road right-of-way; and (ii) 2 m in Height anywhere else on a Parcel; except (iii) no Fence constructed at Natural Grade in a Residential Zone shall exceed 2 m in Height, except where Abutting an Agriculturally Zoned Parcel where the maximum Height is 2.4 m; and"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-09
- **Corner lots and sightlines:** Not confirmed. Checked Bylaw No. 1000, 2022; not found there.
- **Other rules:** A residential fence abutting agriculturally zoned land can reach 2.4 m. Vacant parcels have a 1.2 m limit between the principal building setback and a highway lot line.
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 1100, 2024, PDF p. 44](https://sicamous.civicweb.net/document/125687)
  - Official wording: "(iii) no Fence constructed at Natural Grade in a Residential Zone shall exceed 2 m in Height, except where Abutting an Agriculturally Zoned Parcel where the maximum Height is 2.4 m; and (iv) vacant Parcels shall not have Fences exceeding 1.2 m in Height between the minimum Setback distance required for a Principal Building and any Parcel Line abutting a Highway."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-09
- **Bylaw:** Zoning Bylaw No. 1100, 2024, section 3.9.
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 1100, 2024, PDF p. 1](https://sicamous.civicweb.net/document/125687)
  - Official wording: "District of Sicamous Zoning Bylaw No. 1100, 2024 Effective Date – September 11, 2024"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-09

## How it works

Sketch the lot before choosing a fence height. Show the street, the front of the building, each length of proposed fence and any intersection or driveway near it. The same fence can cross more than one regulated area. Generally 2 metres away from the front yard and driveway or road clearance area, subject to exceptions.

## Steps

1. Check the fence provisions in [Zoning Bylaw No. 1100, 2024 (PDF)](https://sicamous.civicweb.net/document/125687). Find the rule for each segment and the point from which height is measured. Mark where a segment changes from one yard or regulated area to another.
2. For a corner lot, also check visibility requirements. If the site slopes or the fence sits on a retaining wall, describe that to the planning office before ordering panels.

## Good to know

- A residential fence abutting agriculturally zoned land can reach 2.4 m. Vacant parcels have a 1.2 m limit between the principal building setback and a highway lot line.
- The building bylaw exempts fences generally. It covers fences surrounding public swimming pools or hot tubs.
- Open the Sicamous Map Hub and choose the Property Information app.
- Include any gates, screens or changes in material on your sketch. Ask planning to identify the applicable clause if it is unclear where a limit changes.
- For a question about which yard the fence crosses and whether the corner has a sightline requirement, call the planning office at 250-836-2477. A sketch showing the street, house and proposed fence will help identify which limits you need.
- Read the applicable provisions in [Building Regulations Bylaw No. 1056, 2025 (PDF)](https://sicamous.civicweb.net/document/2858).

## Related questions

- [Sicamous secondary suite and carriage house rules](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/sicamous/secondary-suite.md)
- [Sicamous zoning: find your zone and what it allows](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/sicamous/zoning-lookup.md)

## The same question elsewhere

- [Fence height limits in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/fence-rules.md)
- [Enderby](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/enderby/fence-rules.md)
- [Armstrong](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/armstrong/fence-rules.md)
- [Spallumcheen](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/spallumcheen/fence-rules.md)
- [Revelstoke](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/revelstoke/fence-rules.md)
- [Sun Peaks](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/sun-peaks/fence-rules.md)
- [Lumby](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/lumby/fence-rules.md)

## Sources

- [Zoning Bylaw No. 1100, 2024 (PDF)](https://sicamous.civicweb.net/document/125687) (read 2026-11-09)
- [Building Regulations Bylaw No. 1056, 2025 (PDF)](https://sicamous.civicweb.net/document/2858) (read 2026-11-09)
- [District of Sicamous Mapping](https://www.sicamous.ca/maps) (read 2026-11-09)
- [Sicamous municipal office contact information](https://www.sicamous.ca/DOING-BUSINESS/BUSINESS-LICENSING) (read 2026-11-09)
- [Development Services: District of Sicamous](https://www.sicamous.ca/your-municipality/departments/development-services) (read 2026-11-09)

_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 Sicamous. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/sicamous/fence-rules/_