Sooke fence rules: permits and height limits

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

Sooke, British ColumbiaChecked against official textSources read 2026-11-06

Short answer

In Sooke you do not need a building permit for a fence, but the Zoning Bylaw sets height limits. In most residential zones fences may be 1.2 m in front and flanking yards and 2 m in side and rear yards. Rural, commercial, institutional and industrial zones allow 2.5 m.

Key facts

Permit	No building permit: the Building Bylaw does not apply to a fence. Zoning height limits still apply.Building Bylaw No. 780, 2020, s. 4(4)(b) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording This bylaw does not apply to: a fence;
Height, front yard	1.2 m in front and flanking yards in small-scale multi-unit residential (R1, R2, R3), multi-family, water, comprehensive development and mixed use zones. 2.5 m maximum in rural, commercial, institutional or industrial zones. Where yards overlap, the lower limit applies.Sooke Zoning Bylaw No. 600, 2013, consolidated to April 2026, s. 3.10(c), (d), (e) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording Front and flanking yard – 1.2 m Maximum height for fences in rural, commercial, institutional or industrial zones the lower maximum fence height will apply
Height, side and rear yards	2 m in rear and side yards (and 2 m in all yards abutting Highway 14 on residential properties) in small-scale multi-unit residential, multi-family, water, comprehensive development and mixed use zones. 2.5 m in rural, commercial, institutional or industrial zones.Sooke Zoning Bylaw No. 600, 2013, consolidated to April 2026, s. 3.10(c), (d) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording Rear and side yard – 2 m All yards abutting Highway #14 on residential properties – 2 m - 2.5 m;
Corner lots and sightlines	No fence may be built in the sight triangle: on a corner lot, the area joined by points 6 m along each lot line from the corner. Hedges there must be 1 m or lower.Sooke Zoning Bylaw No. 600, 2013, consolidated to April 2026, s. 3.10(g) and s. 3.22; Traffic and Highways Regulation Bylaw No. 67, s. 3(12) Corner Lots · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording Fences may not be constructed within the sight triangle; hedging and other vegetation shall be 1 m or less in height a distance of 6 m from the corner of the lot permit a fence, hedge or individual trees or any other things to
Other rules	Height is measured from the average natural grade within 1 m of both sides of the fence to its highest part; additions count. 'Fence' includes gates, trellis, arbour and walls but not hedges. Pool fences must be non-climbable, at least 1.5 m high, with a self-closing, self-latching gate. Retaining walls 1.2 m or higher need a building permit.Sooke Zoning Bylaw No. 600, 2013, consolidated to April 2026, s. 3.10(a), (b); s. 3.29(a); Sooke Zoning Bylaw No. 600, 2013, consolidated to April 2026, definitions; Building Bylaw No. 780, 2020, s. 12(1) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording Fence height shall be determined by measuring vertically from the average Fence additions shall be included in the calculation of total fence height Swimming pools must be provided with non-climbable fencing or equivalent barrier of not less than 1.5 m in height FENCE means free standing structures used to screen around all or part of a lot or site that is 1.2 meters or more in height, without a building
Bylaw	Sooke Zoning Bylaw No. 600, 2013, s. 3.10 (Fences) and s. 3.22 (Sight Triangle)Sooke Zoning Bylaw No. 600, 2013, consolidated to April 2026, s. 3.10; Municipal Ticket Information Bylaw No. 836, Schedule B18 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording with shared kitchen and bath facilities. 3.10 Fences Except as otherwise specifically stated in this Bylaw: opinions, as the District of Sooke takes no responsibility for information provided by it. Amendments to Bylaw No. 600, Sooke Zoning Bylaw, 2013 3.6 (e) Addition to RV $100.00 3.10 (a) to (f) Over-height Fence $100.00 3.10 (g); 3.22 Fence in Sight Triangle $100.00 Situations Bylaw No. 296, 2007 B18 Zoning Bylaw No. 600, 2013 Building Official Bylaw Enforcement Officer

How it works

Under Sooke Zoning Bylaw No. 600, section 3.10, a fence is any fence, gate, trellis, arbour or wall, but not a hedge. The Building Bylaw does not apply to a fence, so no building permit is needed. Height limits still apply.

Height is measured from the average natural grade within 1 m of both sides of the fence to its highest point, including any additions.

Zone type	Front and flanking yards	Side and rear yards
Small-scale multi-unit residential (R1, R2, R3), multi-family, water, comprehensive development, mixed use	1.2 m	2 m
Rural, commercial, institutional, industrial	2.5 m	2.5 m

Where yards overlap, the lower limit applies. Residential fences along Highway 14 may be 2 m in all yards.

Good to know

No fence may stand in the sight triangle on a corner lot, the area joined by points 6 m along each lot line from the corner. Hedges there must be 1 m or lower.
Pool fences must be non-climbable, at least 1.5 m high, with a self-closing, self-latching gate.
Retaining walls 1.2 m or higher need a building permit.
Work on a public road or boulevard needs a Highway Use Permit under the Traffic and Highways bylaw.
Some comprehensive development zones set their own heights, so check your zone.
An over-height fence ticket is $100.
Call Planning at 250-642-1634 or planning@sooke.ca to confirm your lot's zone.

Official forms and pages

Sooke Zoning Bylaw No. 600, 2013 (PDF)

The same question in other places

Metchosin · Langford · Colwood · Highlands · View Royal · Esquimalt

Fence height limits in British Columbia, by municipality →

Sources

Sooke Zoning Bylaw No. 600, 2013, consolidated to April 2026 (PDF), District of Sooke (read 2026-11-06)
Building Bylaw No. 780, 2020 (PDF), District of Sooke (read 2026-11-06)
Traffic and Highways Regulation Bylaw No. 67 (PDF), District of Sooke (read 2026-11-06)
Municipal Ticket Information Bylaw No. 836 (PDF), District of Sooke (read 2026-11-06)
Zoning, District of Sooke (read 2026-11-06)

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