---
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?"
place: Sun Peaks, British Columbia, Canada
place_path: ca/bc/sun-peaks
category: Building, renovating and your property
owner: municipal
owner_body: Sun Peaks Mountain Resort Municipality
sources_read: 2026-11-08
review: machine_checked
canonical: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/sun-peaks/fence-rules/"
json: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/sun-peaks/fence-rules.json"
---

# Sun Peaks 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 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.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (Sun Peaks Mountain Resort Municipality, https://www.sunpeaksmunicipality.ca)  
**Cost:** No fence permit fee is stated in the bylaws read.  
**How long:** Not applicable; no fence permit is mentioned.  
**Where:**
- Phone: Municipal Hall, 250-578-2020
- In person: Municipal Hall, 106-3270 Village Way, Sun Peaks, BC V0E 5N0 (Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. (closed statutory holidays))

## Key facts

- **Permit:** 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.
  - Source: [Building Regulations Bylaw No. 0209, 2023 (PDF, consolidated to Amendment Bylaw No. 0233), Sun Peaks Mountain Resort Municipality, s. 2 (Structure); s. 6.7](https://sunpeaks.civicweb.net/document/52961/)
  - Official wording: "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."
  - Source: [Building and Planning Services, Sun Peaks Mountain Resort Municipality, Building Permits/Inspections page](https://www.sunpeaksmunicipality.ca/building-and-planning-services)
  - Official wording: "construct a retaining wall more than 1.2 metres (four feet) in height"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Height, front yard:** 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.
  - Source: [Sun Peaks Resort Area Zoning Bylaw No. 1400 (PDF, revised May 7, 2025), Sun Peaks Mountain Resort Municipality, s. 3.5(a)](https://sunpeaks.civicweb.net/document/48158/)
  - Official wording: "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"
  - Source: [Sun Peaks Resort Area Zoning Bylaw No. 1400 (PDF, revised May 7, 2025), Sun Peaks Mountain Resort Municipality, ss. 26.9(d), 27.9(d), 28.9(c)](https://sunpeaks.civicweb.net/document/48158/)
  - Official wording: "not more than 1 metre high in front yards; and"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Height, side and rear yards:** 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.
  - Source: [Sun Peaks Resort Area Zoning Bylaw No. 1400 (PDF, revised May 7, 2025), Sun Peaks Mountain Resort Municipality, s. 3.5(a), (b)](https://sunpeaks.civicweb.net/document/48158/)
  - Official wording: "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"
  - Source: [Sun Peaks Resort Area Zoning Bylaw No. 1400 (PDF, revised May 7, 2025), Sun Peaks Mountain Resort Municipality, ss. 26.9(d), 27.9(d)](https://sunpeaks.civicweb.net/document/48158/)
  - Official wording: "not more than 2 metres high in side and rear yards."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Corner lots and sightlines:** Not confirmed. No corner-lot or sightline fence limit was found in the documents read.
- **Other rules:** 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.
  - Source: [Sun Peaks Resort Area Zoning Bylaw No. 1400 (PDF, revised May 7, 2025), Sun Peaks Mountain Resort Municipality, s. 1 (definition of Fence)](https://sunpeaks.civicweb.net/document/48158/)
  - Official wording: ""Fence" means a tangible barrier such as an arbour, archways, boundary fences, gates," … "pergolas, screens, trellises, walls, hedges and similar structures constructed to stop"
  - Source: [Building Regulations Bylaw No. 0209, 2023 (PDF, consolidated to Amendment Bylaw No. 0233), Sun Peaks Mountain Resort Municipality, s. 6.7](https://sunpeaks.civicweb.net/document/52961/)
  - Official wording: "A registered professional must undertake the design and conduct field reviews of the"
  - Source: [Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 0011 (PDF, consolidated September 22, 2026), Sun Peaks Mountain Resort Municipality, Schedule B (Good Neighbour Bylaw No. 0216)](https://sunpeaks.civicweb.net/document/55686/)
  - Official wording: "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: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Bylaw:** Sun Peaks Resort Area Zoning Bylaw No. 1400, s. 3.5 (and ss. 26.9(d), 27.9(d), 28.9(c))
  - Source: [Sun Peaks Resort Area Zoning Bylaw No. 1400 (PDF, revised May 7, 2025), Sun Peaks Mountain Resort Municipality, Title page](https://sunpeaks.civicweb.net/document/48158/)
  - Official wording: "SUN PEAKS RESORT AREA" … "ZONING BYLAW NO. 1400"
  - Source: [Sun Peaks Resort Area Zoning Bylaw No. 1400 (PDF, revised May 7, 2025), Sun Peaks Mountain Resort Municipality, s. 3.5](https://sunpeaks.civicweb.net/document/48158/)
  - Official wording: "3.5 FENCES (a) The maximum height of a fence in LR-1"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08

## How it works

The [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.

## Good to know

- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- Height limits do not apply to open mesh and chain link fences for tennis courts, public utility uses, playgrounds and industrial storage areas.
- A retaining wall over 1.2 m needs a building permit and a registered professional's design.
- 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.
- 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.
- Find your zone with the zoning-lookup answer, or call Municipal Hall at 250-578-2020.

## Official forms and pages

- [Sun Peaks Resort Area Zoning Bylaw No. 1400 (PDF)](https://sunpeaks.civicweb.net/document/48158/)
- [Building Regulations Bylaw No. 0209, 2023 (PDF)](https://sunpeaks.civicweb.net/document/52961/)

## Related questions

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

## The same question elsewhere

- [Fence height limits in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/fence-rules.md)
- [Kamloops](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/kamloops/fence-rules.md)
- [Barriere](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/barriere/fence-rules.md)
- [Enderby](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/enderby/fence-rules.md)
- [Sicamous](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/sicamous/fence-rules.md)
- [Armstrong](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/armstrong/fence-rules.md)
- [Spallumcheen](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/spallumcheen/fence-rules.md)

## Sources

- [Sun Peaks Resort Area Zoning Bylaw No. 1400 (PDF, revised May 7, 2025), Sun Peaks Mountain Resort Municipality](https://sunpeaks.civicweb.net/document/48158/) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Building Regulations Bylaw No. 0209, 2023 (PDF, consolidated to Amendment Bylaw No. 0233), Sun Peaks Mountain Resort Municipality](https://sunpeaks.civicweb.net/document/52961/) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 0011 (PDF, consolidated September 22, 2026), Sun Peaks Mountain Resort Municipality](https://sunpeaks.civicweb.net/document/55686/) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Building and Planning Services, Sun Peaks Mountain Resort Municipality](https://www.sunpeaksmunicipality.ca/building-and-planning-services) (read 2026-11-08)

_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. Gov Handbook is an independent guide, not affiliated with Sun Peaks Mountain Resort Municipality. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/sun-peaks/fence-rules/_