---
title: "Summerland fence rules: permits and height limits"
question: "Do I need a permit to build a fence, and how high can it be?"
place: Summerland, British Columbia, Canada
place_path: ca/bc/summerland
category: Building, renovating and your property
owner: municipal
owner_body: District of Summerland
sources_read: 2026-11-05
review: machine_checked
canonical: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/summerland/fence-rules/"
json: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/summerland/fence-rules.json"
---

# Summerland 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 the District of Summerland a plain fence needs no building permit. The Zoning Bylaw sets a general maximum of 1.8 m and 1.2 m in a front or exterior side yard, unless a zone says otherwise. Pool fences and retaining walls over 1.2 m need a permit.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (District of Summerland, https://www.summerland.ca)  
**Cost:** No fee for a plain fence. Pool fences and retaining walls need a building permit; see building-permit-fees.  
**Where:**
- Phone: Development Services, 250-494-1373
- Email: Development Services, devserv@summerland.ca

## Key facts

- **Permit:** A plain fence needs no building permit; the Building Bylaw does not apply to fences except pool fences and retaining walls. A fence built on a retaining wall over 1.2 m needs a permit for the wall. Pool fences are part of the pool permit.
  - Source: [Building Bylaw No. 2022-002, consolidated to March 25, 2026, s. 6.3(a); Parts 19, 20](https://www.summerland.ca/docs/default-source/your-city-hall/bylaws---policies/district-bylaws/building-bylaw-no-2022-002_cons-to-mar-25-2026.pdf)
  - Official wording: "except as set out in Parts 19 or 20 of this bylaw, a fence;" … "a retaining wall without a valid building permit."
  - Source: [Home Improvements, Building Bulletin 19-04, Building Bulletin 19-04 (Fence)](https://www.summerland.ca/docs/default-source/planning---building/building/bulletins/2019-09-09-home-improvements.pdf)
  - Official wording: "A building permit is not required to construct a fence unless the fence is to be built on top of a retaining wall over"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Height, front yard:** 1.2 m maximum in the front yard or exterior side yard of a residential or commercial lot (unless the Zoning Bylaw states otherwise for a particular zone).
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw 2000-450 Schedule A, consolidated to March 3, 2026 (s. 5.5), s. 5.5.6(b)](https://www.summerland.ca/docs/default-source/city-services/emergency-response/2026-bald-range-wildfire/schedule-%27a%27---consolidated-to-march-3-2026.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Except as otherwise specifically stated in this Bylaw:" … "no Fence situated in the Front Yard or the Exterior Side Yard of any residential or commercial zoned Lot shall exceed a Height of 1.2m;"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Height, side and rear yards:** 1.8 m maximum (wire-mesh wildlife fencing in agricultural zones may be up to 2.4 m), unless the Zoning Bylaw states otherwise for a zone.
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw 2000-450 Schedule A, consolidated to March 3, 2026 (s. 5.5), s. 5.5.6(a)](https://www.summerland.ca/docs/default-source/city-services/emergency-response/2026-bald-range-wildfire/schedule-%27a%27---consolidated-to-march-3-2026.pdf)
  - Official wording: "no Fence shall exceed 1.8m in Height other than wildlife fencing constructed with wire" … "mesh in agricultural zones which may not exceed 2.4m in Height;"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Corner lots and sightlines:** On a corner lot at a street or lane intersection, a fence may not be higher than 0.9 m within the site triangle (the area measured 7.0 m along each property line from where they meet).
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw 2000-450 Schedule A, consolidated to March 3, 2026 (s. 5.5), s. 5.5.6(c); definition of Site Triangle](https://www.summerland.ca/docs/default-source/city-services/emergency-response/2026-bald-range-wildfire/schedule-%27a%27---consolidated-to-march-3-2026.pdf)
  - Official wording: "no Fence located on a Corner Lot contiguous to a Street or lane intersection shall exceed a Height greater than 0.9m within the Site Triangle;" … "each such point being 7.0 m from the point of intersection of the Property Lines."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Other rules:** No barbed wire except in agricultural and industrial zones; no razor wire; no fence within 1.8 m of a pool's edge. Retaining walls: height measured from finished grade on the lowest side, maximum 2.0 m. In-ground pool fences must be at least 1.22 m high with a self-closing, self-latching gate (Building Bylaw 19.4, 19.7).
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw 2000-450 Schedule A, consolidated to March 3, 2026 (s. 5.5), s. 5.5.6(d) to (f); s. 5.5.4](https://www.summerland.ca/docs/default-source/city-services/emergency-response/2026-bald-range-wildfire/schedule-%27a%27---consolidated-to-march-3-2026.pdf)
  - Official wording: "no Fence shall be placed closer than 1.8m to the edge of a swimming pool or other artificial body of water;" … "no Fence shall use barbed wire except in agricultural and industrial zones; and" … "A retaining wall shall not exceed 2.0 m in Height, except:" … "The Height of a retaining wall shall be measured from the Finished Grade on the lowest side of the wall."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Bylaw:** Zoning Bylaw No. 2000-450 (Schedule A), s. 5.5.6; Building Bylaw No. 2022-002, s. 6.3(a)
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw 2000-450 Schedule A, consolidated to March 3, 2026 (s. 5.5), s. 5.5.6](https://www.summerland.ca/docs/default-source/city-services/emergency-response/2026-bald-range-wildfire/schedule-%27a%27---consolidated-to-march-3-2026.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Summerland Zoning Bylaw 2000-450"
  - Source: [Building Bylaw No. 2022-002, consolidated to March 25, 2026, s. 6.3(a)](https://www.summerland.ca/docs/default-source/your-city-hall/bylaws---policies/district-bylaws/building-bylaw-no-2022-002_cons-to-mar-25-2026.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Building Bylaw No. 2022-002"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06

## How it works

The [Building Bylaw](https://www.summerland.ca/docs/default-source/your-city-hall/bylaws---policies/district-bylaws/building-bylaw-no-2022-002_cons-to-mar-25-2026.pdf) does not apply to fences, except pool fences and retaining walls, so a plain fence needs no building permit. Height limits are in section 5.5.6 of the [Zoning Bylaw 2000-450](https://www.summerland.ca/docs/default-source/city-services/emergency-response/2026-bald-range-wildfire/schedule-%27a%27---consolidated-to-march-3-2026.pdf) and apply unless the Zoning Bylaw states otherwise for a particular zone.

## Limits

- 1.8 m maximum height. Wire-mesh wildlife fencing in agricultural zones may be up to 2.4 m. The bylaw gives no separate side or rear yard figure.
- 1.2 m maximum in the front yard or exterior side yard of a residential or commercial lot.
- 0.9 m maximum within the site triangle on a corner lot at a street or lane intersection (the area measured 7.0 m along each property line from where they meet).
- No fence closer than 1.8 m to the edge of a swimming pool or other artificial body of water.
- No barbed wire except in agricultural and industrial zones; no razor wire.

## Good to know

- A fence built on a retaining wall over 1.2 m high needs a permit for the wall. Retaining wall height is measured from finished grade on the lowest side, and the maximum is 2.0 m (with exceptions in section 5.5.4).
- In-ground pool fences must be at least 1.22 m high with a self-closing, self-latching gate (Building Bylaw 19.4 and 19.7), and are part of the pool permit.
- Build on your own property. The District's bulletin says it does not settle shared-fence disputes between neighbours.
- A fence over the permitted height can bring a bylaw notice of $100 ($90 if paid early, $110 if late) or a municipal ticket of $250.

## Official forms and pages

- [Zoning page (Zoning Bylaw Schedule A)](https://www.summerland.ca/planning-building/zoning)
- [Zoning Bylaw 2000-450, Schedule A (PDF)](https://www.summerland.ca/docs/default-source/city-services/emergency-response/2026-bald-range-wildfire/schedule-%27a%27---consolidated-to-march-3-2026.pdf)
- [Building Bylaw No. 2022-002 (PDF)](https://www.summerland.ca/docs/default-source/your-city-hall/bylaws---policies/district-bylaws/building-bylaw-no-2022-002_cons-to-mar-25-2026.pdf)

## Related questions

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

## The same question elsewhere

- [Fence height limits in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/fence-rules.md)
- [Penticton](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/penticton/fence-rules.md)
- [Peachland](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/peachland/fence-rules.md)
- [West Kelowna](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/west-kelowna/fence-rules.md)
- [Kelowna](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/kelowna/fence-rules.md)
- [Keremeos](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/keremeos/fence-rules.md)
- [Oliver](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/oliver/fence-rules.md)

## Sources

- [Zoning Bylaw 2000-450 Schedule A (PDF), consolidated to March 3, 2026 (s. 5.5)](https://www.summerland.ca/docs/default-source/city-services/emergency-response/2026-bald-range-wildfire/schedule-%27a%27---consolidated-to-march-3-2026.pdf) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Building Bylaw No. 2022-002 (PDF), consolidated to March 25, 2026](https://www.summerland.ca/docs/default-source/your-city-hall/bylaws---policies/district-bylaws/building-bylaw-no-2022-002_cons-to-mar-25-2026.pdf) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw 2000-375 (PDF), consolidated to December 9, 2025](https://www.summerland.ca/docs/default-source/your-city-hall/bylaws---policies/district-bylaws/bneb-no-2000-375---consolidated-to-december-9-2025.pdf) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Municipal Ticket Information System Bylaw 95-030 (PDF), consolidated to December 9, 2025](https://www.summerland.ca/docs/default-source/your-city-hall/bylaws---policies/district-bylaws/mti-system-bylaw-95-030---consolidated-to-december-9-2025.pdf) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Home Improvements, Building Bulletin 19-04 (PDF)](https://www.summerland.ca/docs/default-source/planning---building/building/bulletins/2019-09-09-home-improvements.pdf) (read 2026-11-05)

_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 District of Summerland. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/summerland/fence-rules/_