Silverton fence rules: permits and height limits
Do I need a permit to build a fence in Silverton, and how high can it be?
Short answer
In Silverton you do not need an RDCK building permit for a fence, and the Village's Zoning Bylaw sets no general fence height. Keep fences off the boulevard, and keep corner sight lines clear above 0.6 m (2 ft) within 5 m of the corner.
Key facts
| Permit | No building permit for a fence (RDCK), but fence height must comply with zoning. A fence may not be placed on a boulevard.Building Permit brochure, Regional District of Central Kootenay, When is a building permit required; Boulevard Improvement and Regulation Bylaw No. 490, 2015, s. 3(b) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wordingFences (fence height must comply with Regional No person shall place a wall, fence, tree, shrub or hedge on a Boulevard. |
|---|---|
| Height, front yard | None set. The Village's Zoning Bylaw does not set a general fence height for front, side or rear yards.Read: Zoning Bylaw No. 563, 2026 |
| Height, side and rear yards | None set. The Village's Zoning Bylaw does not set a general fence height for front, side or rear yards.Read: Zoning Bylaw No. 563, 2026 |
| Corner lots and sightlines | In all zones nothing may obstruct sight above 0.6 m (2 ft) above street grade within 5 m of the intersection of the front and exterior parcel lines.Zoning Bylaw No. 563, 2026, s. 3.29 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wordingno obstruction to the line of vision above the Height of 0.6 m (2 ft) above the established Grade of streets within 5 m of the intersection of the Front Parcel Line and Exterior Parcel Line |
| Other rules | A pool needs a building permit and an exterior pool area must be fenced at least 1.5 m (5 ft) high with a self-closing gate. A registered professional must design retaining structures over 1.2 m (4 ft). Commercial and industrial lots need 2 m screening next to R-1, P-1 or a highway.Zoning Bylaw No. 563, 2026, s. 3.12; Boulevard Improvement and Regulation Bylaw No. 490, 2015, s. 4(a); Building Bylaw No. 2200, 2010, Regional District of Central Kootenay, Bylaw 2200 ss. 20.1, 20.2, 21.1 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wordingowner shall provide Screening having a Height of not less than 2 m (6.6 ft) No Person shall improve or otherwise alter, modify, landscape or place structures, objects or improvements No person shall commence or continue any work related to the installation, construction and Alteration of a pool unless a valid building permit has been An exterior pool area must be enclosed within a fence of not less than 1.5 meters (5 ft.) in height. A registered professional must undertake the design and conduct field reviews of the construction of a retaining structure greater than 1.2 meters (4 ft.) in height. |
| Bylaw | Zoning Bylaw No. 563, 2026, s. 3.29; Boulevard Improvement and Regulation Bylaw No. 490, 2015, s. 3(b)Zoning Bylaw No. 563, 2026, Title; Boulevard Improvement and Regulation Bylaw No. 490, 2015, Title · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wordingZoning Bylaw No. 563, 2026 BOULEVARD IMPROVEMENT AND REGULATION BYLAW NO. 490 - 2015 |
How it works
The RDCK does not require a building permit for a fence, but the brochure says the fence height must comply with zoning. Silverton's Zoning Bylaw No. 563 does not set a general fence height for front, side or rear yards, so the Village does not state one. Ask the Village Office if you are unsure.
A fence may not be placed on a boulevard under the Boulevard Improvement and Regulation Bylaw No. 490.
Steps
- Confirm your property line before you build, so the fence stays on your lot and off the boulevard.
- On a corner lot, keep anything above 0.6 m (2 ft) above street grade out of the area within 5 m of where the front and exterior parcel lines meet.
- Check the other rules below if you are building a pool fence, a retaining wall or a commercial lot screen.
Good to know
- A pool needs a building permit, and the pool area must be fenced at least 1.5 m (5 ft) high with a self-closing gate.
- A registered professional must design retaining structures over 1.2 m (4 ft).
- Commercial and industrial lots need 2 m screening next to R-1, P-1 or a highway.
- Corner structures that already existed and met the earlier rules are exempt from the sight-line rule.
Official forms and pages
The same question in other places
Sources
- Zoning Bylaw No. 563, 2026, Village of Silverton (read 2026-11-08)
- Boulevard Improvement and Regulation Bylaw No. 490, 2015, Village of Silverton (read 2026-11-08)
- Building Permit brochure (PDF), Regional District of Central Kootenay (read 2026-11-08)
- Building Bylaw No. 2200, 2010 (PDF), Regional District of Central Kootenay (read 2026-11-08)
Checked by script, not yet by a person: the official wording behind 4 of 6 facts was matched to the official text; 2 are recorded as not set. How answers are checked.