Sun Peaks fence rules: permits and height limits
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.
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.Building Regulations Bylaw No. 0209, 2023 (PDF, consolidated to Amendment Bylaw No. 0233), Sun Peaks Mountain Resort Municipality, s. 2 (Structure); s. 6.7; Building and Planning Services, Sun Peaks Mountain Resort Municipality, Building Permits/Inspections page · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wordingbut 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. construct a retaining wall more than 1.2 metres (four feet) in height |
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| 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.Sun Peaks Resort Area Zoning Bylaw No. 1400 (PDF, revised May 7, 2025), Sun Peaks Mountain Resort Municipality, s. 3.5(a); 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) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wordingThe 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 not more than 1 metre high in front yards; and |
| 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.Sun Peaks Resort Area Zoning Bylaw No. 1400 (PDF, revised May 7, 2025), Sun Peaks Mountain Resort Municipality, s. 3.5(a), (b); 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) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wording2 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 not more than 2 metres high in side and rear yards. |
| 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.Sun Peaks Resort Area Zoning Bylaw No. 1400 (PDF, revised May 7, 2025), Sun Peaks Mountain Resort Municipality, s. 1 (definition of Fence); Building Regulations Bylaw No. 0209, 2023 (PDF, consolidated to Amendment Bylaw No. 0233), Sun Peaks Mountain Resort Municipality, s. 6.7; Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 0011 (PDF, consolidated September 22, 2026), Sun Peaks Mountain Resort Municipality, Schedule B (Good Neighbour Bylaw No. 0216) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official 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 A registered professional must undertake the design and conduct field reviews of the 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 |
| Bylaw | Sun Peaks Resort Area Zoning Bylaw No. 1400, s. 3.5 (and ss. 26.9(d), 27.9(d), 28.9(c))Sun Peaks Resort Area Zoning Bylaw No. 1400 (PDF, revised May 7, 2025), Sun Peaks Mountain Resort Municipality, Title page; Sun Peaks Resort Area Zoning Bylaw No. 1400 (PDF, revised May 7, 2025), Sun Peaks Mountain Resort Municipality, s. 3.5 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wordingSUN PEAKS RESORT AREA ZONING BYLAW NO. 1400 3.5 FENCES (a) The maximum height of a fence in LR-1 |
How it works
The Zoning Bylaw No. 1400 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 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
The same question in other places
Kamloops · Barriere · Enderby · Sicamous · Armstrong · Spallumcheen
Sources
- Sun Peaks Resort Area Zoning Bylaw No. 1400 (PDF, revised May 7, 2025), Sun Peaks Mountain Resort Municipality (read 2026-11-08)
- Building Regulations Bylaw No. 0209, 2023 (PDF, consolidated to Amendment Bylaw No. 0233), Sun Peaks Mountain Resort Municipality (read 2026-11-08)
- Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 0011 (PDF, consolidated September 22, 2026), Sun Peaks Mountain Resort Municipality (read 2026-11-08)
- Building and Planning Services, Sun Peaks Mountain Resort Municipality (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. How answers are checked.