Slocan fence rules: permits and height limits

Do I need a permit to build a fence in Slocan, and how high can it be?

Slocan, British ColumbiaChecked against official textSources read 2026-11-08

How it works

The Village of Slocan's Building Permits page lists fences as work that does not need a building permit, but fence height must follow the Zoning Bylaw No. 633 (s. 4.11).

In the R-1, R-2, R-3, C-2 and C-3 zones the maximum fence height is 2.0 m. The bylaw sets no separate front-yard limit and lets fences be sited on any portion of a lot. The limit is the same for side and rear yards.

Steps

1. Find your zone on the Zoning Map (see the zoning-lookup answer).
2. Keep the fence to 2.0 m or lower in the zones above.
3. At a street corner, keep the sight triangle clear (below).
4. Ask the Village Office about zones or situations not covered here.

Good to know

• Corner lots: no structure or vegetation over 0.9 m high within the sight triangle formed by the lot lines and a line joining points 6.0 m from where they meet (s. 4.10).
• A pool fence must be at least 1.5 m high and is part of the pool permit (RDCK Building Bylaw s. 20.2).
• In the C-1, M-1 and M-2 zones, shipping containers and outdoor industrial storage must be screened by a landscape screen or tight board fence at least 2.0 m high.
• A retaining structure over 1.2 m needs a registered professional.
• The bylaw text read does not address barbed wire, electric fences or how height is measured. Ask the Village Office.