Summerland fence rules: permits and height limits
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.
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.Building Bylaw No. 2022-002, consolidated to March 25, 2026, s. 6.3(a); Parts 19, 20; Home Improvements, Building Bulletin 19-04, Building Bulletin 19-04 (Fence) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingexcept as set out in Parts 19 or 20 of this bylaw, a fence; a retaining wall without a valid building permit. A building permit is not required to construct a fence unless the fence is to be built on top of a retaining wall over |
|---|---|
| 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).Zoning Bylaw 2000-450 Schedule A, consolidated to March 3, 2026 (s. 5.5), s. 5.5.6(b) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingExcept 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; |
| 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.Zoning Bylaw 2000-450 Schedule A, consolidated to March 3, 2026 (s. 5.5), s. 5.5.6(a) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingno 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; |
| 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).Zoning Bylaw 2000-450 Schedule A, consolidated to March 3, 2026 (s. 5.5), s. 5.5.6(c); definition of Site Triangle · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingno 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. |
| 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).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 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingno 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. |
| Bylaw | Zoning Bylaw No. 2000-450 (Schedule A), s. 5.5.6; Building Bylaw No. 2022-002, s. 6.3(a)Zoning Bylaw 2000-450 Schedule A, consolidated to March 3, 2026 (s. 5.5), s. 5.5.6; Building Bylaw No. 2022-002, consolidated to March 25, 2026, s. 6.3(a) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingSummerland Zoning Bylaw 2000-450 Building Bylaw No. 2022-002 |
How it works
The Building Bylaw 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 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
The same question in other places
Penticton · Peachland · West Kelowna · Kelowna · Keremeos · Oliver
Sources
- Zoning Bylaw 2000-450 Schedule A (PDF), consolidated to March 3, 2026 (s. 5.5) (read 2026-11-05)
- Building Bylaw No. 2022-002 (PDF), consolidated to March 25, 2026 (read 2026-11-05)
- Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw 2000-375 (PDF), consolidated to December 9, 2025 (read 2026-11-05)
- Municipal Ticket Information System Bylaw 95-030 (PDF), consolidated to December 9, 2025 (read 2026-11-05)
- Home Improvements, Building Bulletin 19-04 (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. How answers are checked.