{"title":"Sun Peaks fence rules: permits and height limits","question":"Do I need a permit to build a fence, and how high can it be?","slug":"fence-rules","place":{"path":"ca/bc/sun-peaks","name":"Sun Peaks","region":{"code":"bc","name":"British Columbia"},"country":{"code":"ca","name":"Canada"}},"category":{"slug":"building-and-renovating","name":"Building, renovating and your property"},"owner":"municipal","owner_label":"Municipal","owner_body":{"name":"Sun Peaks Mountain Resort Municipality","url":"https://www.sunpeaksmunicipality.ca"},"short_answer":"In Sun Peaks no fence permit is mentioned in the bylaws read, and the Building Regulations Bylaw leaves out fences under 1.2 m (4 ft). Zoning limits fences to 1 m in front setback areas in most residential zones and 2 m elsewhere. A retaining wall over 1.2 m needs a building permit.","aliases":["fence height sun peaks","fence permit sun peaks","fence bylaw sun peaks","retaining wall sun peaks"],"cost":"No fence permit fee is stated in the bylaws read.","how_long":"Not applicable; no fence permit is mentioned.","where":[{"type":"phone","label":"Municipal Hall","value":"250-578-2020"},{"type":"in_person","label":"Municipal Hall","value":"106-3270 Village Way, Sun Peaks, BC V0E 5N0","note":"Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. (closed statutory holidays)"}],"documents":[],"forms":[{"title":"Sun Peaks Resort Area Zoning Bylaw No. 1400 (PDF)","url":"https://sunpeaks.civicweb.net/document/48158/"},{"title":"Building Regulations Bylaw No. 0209, 2023 (PDF)","url":"https://sunpeaks.civicweb.net/document/52961/"}],"related":[{"slug":"deck-shed-garage-permit","title":"Sun Peaks permits for decks, sheds, carports and garages","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/sun-peaks/deck-shed-garage-permit/"},{"slug":"building-permit","title":"Sun Peaks building permits: when you need one and how to apply","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/sun-peaks/building-permit/"},{"slug":"zoning-lookup","title":"Sun Peaks zoning: find your zone and what it allows","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/sun-peaks/zoning-lookup/"}],"nearby":[{"place":"ca/bc/kamloops","name":"Kamloops","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/kamloops/fence-rules/"},{"place":"ca/bc/barriere","name":"Barriere","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/barriere/fence-rules/"},{"place":"ca/bc/enderby","name":"Enderby","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/enderby/fence-rules/"},{"place":"ca/bc/sicamous","name":"Sicamous","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/sicamous/fence-rules/"},{"place":"ca/bc/armstrong","name":"Armstrong","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/armstrong/fence-rules/"},{"place":"ca/bc/spallumcheen","name":"Spallumcheen","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/spallumcheen/fence-rules/"}],"topic":{"title":"Fence height limits in British Columbia, by municipality","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/fence-rules/"},"facts":{"permit":{"label":"Permit","value":"No fence permit is mentioned in the documents read. The Building Regulations Bylaw's definition of 'structure' leaves out fences and retaining structures under 1.2 m (4 ft), so a building permit is not required for them under that bylaw. A retaining wall over 1.2 m needs a building permit and professional design.","short":"No building permit","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://sunpeaks.civicweb.net/document/52961/","title":"Building Regulations Bylaw No. 0209, 2023 (PDF, consolidated to Amendment Bylaw No. 0233), Sun Peaks Mountain Resort Municipality","section":"s. 2 (Structure); s. 6.7","quotes":["but does not include landscaping, fences, paving, or retaining","A registered professional must undertake the design and conduct field reviews of the","construction of a retaining structure greater than 1.2 m (4 ft) in height."]},{"url":"https://www.sunpeaksmunicipality.ca/building-and-planning-services","title":"Building and Planning Services, Sun Peaks Mountain Resort Municipality","section":"Building Permits/Inspections page","quotes":["construct a retaining wall more than 1.2 metres (four feet) in height"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}},"height_front":{"label":"Height, front yard","value":"1 m in a front setback area in the LR-1, LP-1, RS-1, RT-1, RM-1, RM-2, RM-3, TA-1, TA-2 and TA-3 zones. In the R-1, R-1A and R-3 zones fences are not more than 1 m high in front yards.","short":"1 m","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://sunpeaks.civicweb.net/document/48158/","title":"Sun Peaks Resort Area Zoning Bylaw No. 1400 (PDF, revised May 7, 2025), Sun Peaks Mountain Resort Municipality","section":"s. 3.5(a)","quotes":["The maximum height of a fence in LR-1, LP-1, RS-1, RT-1, RM-1, RM-2,","RM-3, TA-1, TA-2 and TA-3 zones is 1 metre in a front setback area and"]},{"url":"https://sunpeaks.civicweb.net/document/48158/","title":"Sun Peaks Resort Area Zoning Bylaw No. 1400 (PDF, revised May 7, 2025), Sun Peaks Mountain Resort Municipality","section":"ss. 26.9(d), 27.9(d), 28.9(c)","quotes":["not more than 1 metre high in front yards; and"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}},"height_side_rear":{"label":"Height, side and rear yards","value":"2 m in all other setback areas on a parcel in the LR-1, LP-1, RS-1, RT-1, RM-1, RM-2, RM-3, TA-1, TA-2 and TA-3 zones. 2 m in side and rear yards in R-1, R-1A and R-3. 2 m in CC-1, CL-1, CS-1 and IL-1.","short":"2 m","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://sunpeaks.civicweb.net/document/48158/","title":"Sun Peaks Resort Area Zoning Bylaw No. 1400 (PDF, revised May 7, 2025), Sun Peaks Mountain Resort Municipality","section":"s. 3.5(a), (b)","quotes":["2 metres in all other setback areas on a parcel.","The maximum height of a fence is 2 metres in CC-1, CL-1, CS-1 and IL-1"]},{"url":"https://sunpeaks.civicweb.net/document/48158/","title":"Sun Peaks Resort Area Zoning Bylaw No. 1400 (PDF, revised May 7, 2025), Sun Peaks Mountain Resort Municipality","section":"ss. 26.9(d), 27.9(d)","quotes":["not more than 2 metres high in side and rear yards."]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}},"corner_lots":{"label":"Corner lots and sightlines","value":null,"status":"unknown","reason":"not_published","note":"No corner-lot or sightline fence limit was found in the documents read.","sources":[]},"other_rules":{"label":"Other rules","value":"The zoning bylaw defines a fence broadly (arbours, gates, pergolas, screens, trellises, walls, hedges and similar). A retaining wall over 1.2 m needs a registered professional's design. Failing to maintain a fence or retaining wall: $500 bylaw notice (Good Neighbour Bylaw No. 0216), plus 25% late fee after 14 days.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://sunpeaks.civicweb.net/document/48158/","title":"Sun Peaks Resort Area Zoning Bylaw No. 1400 (PDF, revised May 7, 2025), Sun Peaks Mountain Resort Municipality","section":"s. 1 (definition of Fence)","quotes":["\"Fence\" means a tangible barrier such as an arbour, archways, boundary fences, gates,","pergolas, screens, trellises, walls, hedges and similar structures constructed to stop"]},{"url":"https://sunpeaks.civicweb.net/document/52961/","title":"Building Regulations Bylaw No. 0209, 2023 (PDF, consolidated to Amendment Bylaw No. 0233), Sun Peaks Mountain Resort Municipality","section":"s. 6.7","quotes":["A registered professional must undertake the design and conduct field reviews of the"]},{"url":"https://sunpeaks.civicweb.net/document/55686/","title":"Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 0011 (PDF, consolidated September 22, 2026), Sun Peaks Mountain Resort Municipality","section":"Schedule B (Good Neighbour Bylaw No. 0216)","quotes":["Failure to properly maintain a fence or retaining wall $ 500","A 25% late payment fee will be applied to all fines unpaid after 14 days"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}},"bylaw":{"label":"Bylaw","value":"Sun Peaks Resort Area Zoning Bylaw No. 1400, s. 3.5 (and ss. 26.9(d), 27.9(d), 28.9(c))","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://sunpeaks.civicweb.net/document/48158/","title":"Sun Peaks Resort Area Zoning Bylaw No. 1400 (PDF, revised May 7, 2025), Sun Peaks Mountain Resort Municipality","section":"Title page","quotes":["SUN PEAKS RESORT AREA","ZONING BYLAW NO. 1400"]},{"url":"https://sunpeaks.civicweb.net/document/48158/","title":"Sun Peaks Resort Area Zoning Bylaw No. 1400 (PDF, revised May 7, 2025), Sun Peaks Mountain Resort Municipality","section":"s. 3.5","quotes":["3.5 FENCES (a) The maximum height of a fence in LR-1"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}}},"facts_summary":{"total":6,"stated":5,"matched":5,"none":0,"unknown":1},"body_markdown":"## How it works\n\nThe [Zoning Bylaw No. 1400](https://sunpeaks.civicweb.net/document/48158/) sets fence heights (section 3.5). It defines a fence broadly: arbours, gates, pergolas, screens, trellises, walls, hedges and similar. No fence permit is mentioned in the documents read. The [Building Regulations Bylaw](https://sunpeaks.civicweb.net/document/52961/) leaves fences and retaining structures under 1.2 m (4 ft) out of its definition of a structure, so they need no building permit under that bylaw.\n\n## Good to know\n\n- Front: 1 m in a front setback area in the LR-1, LP-1, RS-1, RT-1, RM-1, RM-2, RM-3, TA-1, TA-2 and TA-3 zones, and in front yards in R-1, R-1A and R-3.\n- Side and rear: 2 m in all other setback areas in those zones, and in side and rear yards in R-1, R-1A and R-3. In CC-1, CL-1, CS-1 and IL-1 the maximum is 2 m.\n- The zoning bylaw does not list RS-1A or RS-2 in section 3.5, and no other fence height was found for them. Ask Municipal Hall.\n- Height limits do not apply to open mesh and chain link fences for tennis courts, public utility uses, playgrounds and industrial storage areas.\n- A retaining wall over 1.2 m needs a building permit and a registered professional's design.\n- No corner-lot or sightline fence limit was found in the documents read. Materials, barbed wire, electric fences and pool fences were not found either.\n- Failing to maintain a fence or retaining wall under the Good Neighbour Bylaw No. 0216 is a $500 bylaw notice, plus a 25% late fee after 14 days. That bylaw is a scanned copy, so the maintenance standard could not be read.\n- Find your zone with the zoning-lookup answer, or call Municipal Hall at 250-578-2020.","sources":[{"url":"https://sunpeaks.civicweb.net/document/48158/","title":"Sun Peaks Resort Area Zoning Bylaw No. 1400 (PDF, revised May 7, 2025), Sun Peaks Mountain Resort Municipality","accessed":"2026-11-08"},{"url":"https://sunpeaks.civicweb.net/document/52961/","title":"Building Regulations Bylaw No. 0209, 2023 (PDF, consolidated to Amendment Bylaw No. 0233), Sun Peaks Mountain Resort Municipality","accessed":"2026-11-08"},{"url":"https://sunpeaks.civicweb.net/document/55686/","title":"Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 0011 (PDF, consolidated September 22, 2026), Sun Peaks Mountain Resort Municipality","accessed":"2026-11-08"},{"url":"https://www.sunpeaksmunicipality.ca/building-and-planning-services","title":"Building and Planning Services, Sun Peaks Mountain Resort Municipality","accessed":"2026-11-08"}],"sources_read":"2026-11-08","review":{"status":"machine_checked","badge":"Checked against official text","label":"Checked by script, not yet by a person: the official wording behind 5 of 6 facts was matched to the official text; 1 could not be confirmed."},"urls":{"html":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/sun-peaks/fence-rules/","markdown":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/sun-peaks/fence-rules.md","json":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/sun-peaks/fence-rules.json"}}