---
title: "Smithers fence rules: permits and height limits"
question: "Do I need a permit to build a fence, and how high can it be?"
place: Smithers, British Columbia, Canada
place_path: ca/bc/smithers
category: Building, renovating and your property
owner: municipal
owner_body: Town of Smithers
sources_read: 2026-11-06
review: machine_checked
canonical: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/smithers/fence-rules/"
json: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/smithers/fence-rules.json"
---

# Smithers fence rules: permits and height limits

**Question:** Do I need a permit to build a fence, and how high can it be?

**Short answer:** In Smithers a fence needs no building permit, but it must meet the Zoning Bylaw: 1.2 m maximum in the front yard setback in residential zones, 1.8 m at the sides and rear. A retaining wall over 1.2 m high does need a permit, and pools must be fenced.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (Town of Smithers, https://www.smithers.ca)  
**Cost:** No permit fee for a fence. A retaining wall permit is a building permit (see the building-permit-fees answer).  
**How long:** No approval is needed for a fence that meets the zoning rules.  
**Where:**
- Phone: Development Services, 250-847-1600 (Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.)
- In person: Town Hall, 1027 Aldous Street, Smithers, BC

## Key facts

- **Permit:** No building permit is needed for a fence; it only has to meet the Zoning Bylaw height and setback rules. A retaining wall over 1.2 m high does need a permit, and a swimming pool needs a permit and a fence.
  - Source: [Building Bylaw No. 1924, s. 3.3(a)](https://smithers.civicweb.net/document/196969/)
  - Official wording: "except as set out in Part 11 [Retaining Walls] of this bylaw, a fence;" … "No person may construct, or structurally repair, a retaining wall more than 1.2m in"
  - Source: [Building Permits, Building Permits page](https://www.smithers.ca/business-building/building-development/building-permits)
  - Official wording: "Fencing (Zoning Bylaw contains permitted height and setbacks)."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Height, front yard:** 1.2 m maximum for a fence, wall or hedge within the front yard setback in all residential zones (also applies to principal residential uses in commercial zones).
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 1987, s. 2.7 and 2.9, s. 2.9.2(b), (d)](https://smithers.civicweb.net/document/265053/)
  - Official wording: "In all Residential zones, fences, walls, or hedges within the front yard setback" … "may not exceed 1.2 m in height;" … "Sections 2.9.2 (a) and (b) apply to principal residential uses located in commercial"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Height, side and rear yards:** 1.8 m maximum in all residential zones; 2.5 m in commercial, public use and industrial zones. A fence abutting a residentially zoned property may not exceed 2 m.
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 1987, s. 2.7 and 2.9, s. 2.9.2(a), (c), (e)](https://smithers.civicweb.net/document/265053/)
  - Official wording: "In all Residential zones, fences, walls, or hedges may not exceed 1.8 m in height;" … "In all Commercial, Public Use and Industrial zones, fences, walls, or hedges" … "Where abutting a Residential zoned property, a fence may not exceed 2 m in"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Corner lots and sightlines:** Nothing may block the line of vision between 1 m and 3 m above street grade inside a triangle formed by points 6 m along each parcel line from the corner. Vegetation in the 6 m by 6 m sight triangle may not exceed 0.6 m high at maturity.
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 1987, s. 2.7 and 2.9, s. 2.7.1](https://smithers.civicweb.net/document/265053/)
  - Official wording: "There shall be no obstruction to the line of vision by landscaping, buildings," … "Points along each parcel line 6 metres from their intersection; and" … "a 6 metre by 6 metre sight triangle is to be maintained with"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Other rules:** Height is measured from average grade within 1.0 m of both sides of the fence. No barbed wire or chain link fencing is permitted within public view in the downtown. A pool, spa or hot tub must be fenced at least 1.2 m high with openings no larger than 100 mm and a self-closing, self-latching gate.
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 1987, s. 2.7 and 2.9, s. 2.9.1, s. 2.9.4](https://smithers.civicweb.net/document/265053/)
  - Official wording: "The height of a fence, wall or hedge shall be determined by measurement from the" … "No barbed wire or chain link fencing is permitted within view of the public in the"
  - Source: [Building Bylaw No. 1924, s. 14.2, s. 14.3](https://smithers.civicweb.net/document/196969/)
  - Official wording: "fence constructed without footholds or grips that children may use to climb into the" … "having a minimum height of 1.2 metres and no openings greater" … "through a self-closing and self-latching gate designed and constructed or installed"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Bylaw:** Zoning Bylaw No. 1987, s. 2.9 (Fences) and s. 2.7 (Visibility at Intersections); Building Bylaw No. 1924, s. 3.3(a), Part 11 and Part 14.
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 1987, s. 2.7 and 2.9, Section 2.9](https://smithers.civicweb.net/document/265053/)
  - Official wording: "Section 2.9 Fences 2.9.1 The height of a fence, wall or hedge shall be determined by measurement from the"
  - Source: [Building Bylaw No. 1924, s. 3.3(a)](https://smithers.civicweb.net/document/196969/)
  - Official wording: "except as set out in Part 11 [Retaining Walls] of this bylaw, a fence;"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06

## How it works

The [Building Bylaw No. 1924](https://smithers.civicweb.net/document/196969/) does not apply to fences, so no building permit is needed. The fence must meet section 2.9 of the [Zoning Bylaw No. 1987](https://smithers.civicweb.net/document/265053/). Height is measured from the average grade within 1.0 m of both sides of the fence.

| Where | Maximum height |
|---|---|
| Front yard setback, residential zones | 1.2 m |
| Side and rear, residential zones | 1.8 m |
| Side and rear, commercial, public use and industrial zones | 2.5 m |
| A fence abutting a residentially zoned property | 2 m |

Open mesh or chain link fences at cemeteries, playgrounds, parks, playfields, schools, childcare centres and in industrial zones may be up to 3.5 m. No barbed wire or chain link fencing is allowed within public view in the downtown.

## Steps

1. Check your zoning and setbacks (see the zoning-lookup answer).
2. On a corner lot, keep clear the sight triangle: nothing may block the line of vision between 1 m and 3 m above street grade within 6 m of the corner along each parcel line, and vegetation there may not exceed 0.6 m at maturity.
3. Build to the heights above. Call Development Services at 250-847-1600 if unsure.

## Good to know

- A retaining wall over 1.2 m high needs a building permit. The Town's web page says a permit is needed when a wall retains more than 1.5 m of fill. The bylaw figure is stricter, so check with the Town.
- A swimming pool, spa or hot tub must be fenced at least 1.2 m high with openings no larger than 100 mm and a self-closing, self-latching gate. The bylaw lets a hot tub use a locking cover instead.
- A fence that breaks the zoning rules can get a bylaw notice. The Penalty amount in Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 2011 is $300. Check the amount on your notice.

## Official forms and pages

- [Zoning Bylaw No. 1987](https://smithers.civicweb.net/document/265053/)
- [Building Bylaw No. 1924](https://smithers.civicweb.net/document/196969/)

## Related questions

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

## The same question elsewhere

- [Fence height limits in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/fence-rules.md)
- [Telkwa](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/telkwa/fence-rules.md)
- [Houston](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/houston/fence-rules.md)
- [New Hazelton](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/new-hazelton/fence-rules.md)
- [Hazelton](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/hazelton/fence-rules.md)
- [Granisle](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/granisle/fence-rules.md)
- [Terrace](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/terrace/fence-rules.md)

## Sources

- [Zoning Bylaw No. 1987, s. 2.7 and 2.9, Town of Smithers](https://smithers.civicweb.net/document/265053/) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Building Bylaw No. 1924, Town of Smithers](https://smithers.civicweb.net/document/196969/) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Building Permits, Town of Smithers](https://www.smithers.ca/business-building/building-development/building-permits) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 2011, Town of Smithers](https://smithers.civicweb.net/document/290948/) (read 2026-11-06)

_Checked by script, not yet by a person: the official wording behind 6 of 6 facts was matched to the official text. Gov Handbook is an independent guide, not affiliated with Town of Smithers. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/smithers/fence-rules/_