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Spallumcheen fence rules: permits and height limits

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

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

Short answer

In the Township of Spallumcheen a fence does not need a building permit. Under the Zoning Bylaw, fences up to 1.2 m (3.9 ft) may go anywhere on a lot, and fences up to 2 m (6.56 ft) are allowed behind the required front yard in most zones. A fence on a road allowance or boulevard needs a written permit.

Key facts

PermitNo building permit: the Building Bylaw does not apply to fences. A fence may not be built on a road allowance or boulevard without a written permit from the Manager of Operations.Building Bylaw No. 2009, 2020, s. 105.2 and 702.3 (PDF, consolidated), s. 105.2(e); Highway and Traffic Regulation Bylaw No. 2085, 2022, s. 11.2, s. 11.2(a) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
Official wording
d. retaining structures 1.2 metres in height or less; e. fences; f. non-structural repairs or alterations to a building or structure or the repair or
Except as authorized in writing by the Manager of Operations, in the form of a permit,
maintained in, upon, or over any highway or lane, any structure, sign, building
Height, front yard1.2 m (3.9 ft). Fences and hedges up to 1.2 m may be anywhere on a lot; taller fences or walls (2 m) are allowed only to the rear of the required front yard.Zoning Bylaw No. 1700, 2008, s. 1801.1 (PDF, consolidated), s. 1801.1.f.i-ii (Schedule I) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
Official wording
In all zones, fences and hedges not greater than 1.2 metres (3.937 feet) in height may be located anywhere on a lot.
In all zones, except Commercial and Industrial zones, fences or walls not greater than 2 metres (6.562 feet) in height may be located on any lot to the rear of a required front yard.
Height, side and rear yards2 m (6.56 ft) for fences or walls to the rear of the required front yard, in all zones except commercial and industrial (2.5 m). Where a rear lot line meets a neighbour's side lot line, the rear fence can be no taller than the side-line limit.Zoning Bylaw No. 1700, 2008, s. 1801.1 (PDF, consolidated), s. 1801.1.f.ii-iv (Schedule I) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
Official wording
In all zones, except Commercial and Industrial zones, fences or walls not greater than 2 metres (6.562 feet) in height may be located on any lot to the rear of a required front yard.
In Residential zones, where the rear lot line abuts the side lot line of an adjoining lot, the height of fences, walls, or hedges, on such rear lot line shall be not greater than the height permitted on the side lot line of an adjoining lot.
Corner lots and sightlinesNo fence, wall or hedge over 1 m (3.3 ft) high, or any lower height that is a traffic hazard, within the triangle at a corner lot formed by the corner and points 6 m along the front and exterior side lot lines (where those lines meet at 135 degrees or less).Boulevard Maintenance Bylaw No. 2036, 2020, s. 3.1(b), (d); Zoning Bylaw No. 1700, 2008, s. 1801.1 (PDF, consolidated), s. 1801.1.b (Schedule I); definition of LANDSCAPE SCREEN · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
Official wording
Maintain the height and width of any shrubs or non-standard landscaping below a
maximum height of 0.5m from the boulevard level
Not allow the landscaping to interfere with intersection sightlines.
A landscape screen over 1 metre (3.281 feet) in height or any lesser height which constitutes a traffic hazard shall not be permitted within the area described by three (3) lines interconnecting an exterior lot corner,
LANDSCAPE SCREEN means a hedge of compact plant material, fence, or wall, when such hedge, fence, or wall is continuous except for access driveways and walkways.
Other rulesPool fences: at least 1.2 m high, openings no more than 100 mm, self-closing gate. Height is measured from finished grade. New perimeter fence: existing fences must be removed from Township rights of way; no hedges on the boulevard; broken or leaning fences are an offence. No barbed wire or electric fence rule found.Boulevard Maintenance Bylaw No. 2036, 2020, s. 3.1(f), 4.3; Untidy and Unsightly Premises Bylaw No. 1710, s. 3(a); Building Bylaw No. 2009, 2020, s. 105.2 and 702.3 (PDF, consolidated), s. 702.3 (Swimming Pool); Zoning s. 1801.1.c for measurement · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
Official wording
When installing new perimeter fence(s), existing fence(s) must be removed from
Hedges, rocks or gravel are not permitted to be placed by the property owner on the
a) dilapidated, broken or leaning fences;
an enclosed fence not less than 1.2 metres in height with no openings greater than 100mm and so designed that members, attachments or openings will not facilitate climbing;
a self-closing gate so designed and installed as to cause the gate to return to a locked position automatically; and
BylawZoning Bylaw No. 1700, 2008, s. 1801.1 (Schedule I: fence heights and corner sightlines); Building Bylaw No. 2009, 2020 (s. 105.2(e) fences exempt; s. 702.3 pool fences); Boulevard Maintenance Bylaw No. 2036, 2020 (s. 3.1); Highway and Traffic Regulation Bylaw No. 2085, 2022 (s. 11.2).Building Bylaw No. 2009, 2020, s. 105.2 and 702.3 (PDF, consolidated), s. 105.2(e); Boulevard Maintenance Bylaw No. 2036, 2020, s. 3.1(f); Zoning Bylaw No. 1700, 2008, s. 1801.1 (PDF, consolidated), s. 1801.1.f (Schedule I, Division Eighteen) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
Official wording
d. retaining structures 1.2 metres in height or less; e. fences; f. non-structural repairs or alterations to a building or structure or the repair or
TOWNSHIP OF SPALLUMCHEEN BUILDING BYLAW NO. 2009, 2020 CONSOLIDATED WITH AMENDMENTS FOR CONVENIENCE ONLY
When installing new perimeter fence(s), existing fence(s) must be removed from
Subject to the vision clearance provisions, the following height limitations shall apply to a landscape screen:

How it works

The Building Bylaw does not apply to fences, so a fence on your own lot needs no building permit. Heights are set by the landscape-screen rule in the Zoning Bylaw (s. 1801.1), which covers fences, walls and hedges:

  • Anywhere on a lot, including the front: up to 1.2 m (3.9 ft).
  • Behind the required front yard: up to 2 m (6.56 ft) in all zones except commercial and industrial.
  • Where a rear lot line meets a neighbour's side lot line in residential zones, the rear fence can be no taller than the side-line limit.
  • Corner lots: a fence, wall or hedge over 1 m (3.3 ft), or any lower height that is a traffic hazard, is not allowed in the triangle at the corner formed by points 6 m along the front and exterior side lot lines (where those lines meet at 135 degrees or less).

A fence may not be built on a road allowance or boulevard without a written permit from the Manager of Operations.

Steps

  1. Find your property lines and the zone your lot is in.
  2. Check the heights above. For commercial or industrial zones, or if unsure, call Planning at 250-546-3013.
  3. If any part of the fence would sit on a road allowance or boulevard, get a written permit from the Manager of Operations through the Township office first.
  4. For a pool, check the pool fence rules below before building.

Good to know

  • Pool fences must be at least 1.2 m high with no openings greater than 100 mm and a self-closing gate that returns to a locked position (Building Bylaw s. 702.3). Height is measured from finished grade.
  • When you install a new perimeter fence, any existing fence must be removed from Township rights of way. Hedges are not allowed on the boulevard (Boulevard Maintenance Bylaw).
  • Under the Untidy and Unsightly Premises Bylaw, dilapidated, broken or leaning fences are an offence.
  • Retaining structures 1.2 m or less are exempt from the Building Bylaw.
  • No rule on barbed wire or electric fences was found in the bylaws read. Ask Planning.

Official forms and pages

The same question in other places

Armstrong · Enderby · Vernon · Coldstream · Lumby · Lake Country

Fence height limits in British Columbia, by municipality →

Sources

  1. Zoning Bylaw No. 1700, 2008, s. 1801.1 (PDF, consolidated) (read 2026-11-06)
  2. Building Bylaw No. 2009, 2020, s. 105.2 and 702.3 (PDF, consolidated) (read 2026-11-06)
  3. Boulevard Maintenance Bylaw No. 2036, 2020 (PDF) (read 2026-11-06)
  4. Highway and Traffic Regulation Bylaw No. 2085, 2022, s. 11.2 (PDF) (read 2026-11-06)
  5. Untidy and Unsightly Premises Bylaw No. 1710 (PDF) (read 2026-11-06)
  6. Contact Us, Township of Spallumcheen (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. How answers are checked.