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Surrey fence rules: permits and height limits

Do I need a permit to build a fence, and how high can it be?

Surrey, British ColumbiaChecked against official textSources read 2026-11-05

Short answer

A fence in the City of Surrey does not need a building permit. In residential zones it can be up to 1.8 m high, but only 1.2 m in a required front yard or street side yard, and 1.0 m in the corner triangle at a street corner. It must be on your own property.

Key facts

PermitNo building permit is needed for a fence. It must be on your own property and not on City property or any City right-of-way or easement.Residential Building Permits, Fence & storage shed information · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
Official wording
A building permit is not required.
Fences cannot be located on City property or on any City right-of-way or easement areas.
Height, front yard1.2 m maximum for a fence, wall or similar structure in a required front yard or street side yard in residential zones. The limit does not apply to hedges, shrubs or trees, or to open mesh or chain link fence that does not restrict vision.Surrey Zoning By-law 12000, Part 4 Section B.23 Fencing, Part 4, s. B.23(a) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
Official wording
Higher than 1.2 m when it is located within a required front yard or street side yard;
Restrictions under this Section shall not apply to any hedge, bush, shrub, tree or the natural growth, neither shall they apply to any open mesh or chain link fence which does not restrict vision
Height, side and rear yards1.8 m maximum in residential zones, unless the fence meets the height and yard limits that apply to principal buildings in that zone. Hedges, shrubs, trees, and open mesh or chain link fence that does not restrict vision are not limited.Surrey Zoning By-law 12000, Part 4 Section B.23 Fencing, Part 4, s. B.23(a) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
Official wording
Higher than 1.8 m unless it complies with the height and yard restrictions applicable to principal buildings for the Zone in which it is located;
Restrictions under this Section shall not apply to any hedge, bush, shrub, tree or the natural growth, neither shall they apply to any open mesh or chain link fence which does not restrict vision
Corner lots and sightlines1.0 m maximum within the corner triangle formed by the lot lines at a highway corner and a line joining points 9 m along those lines from where they meet. The limit does not apply to open mesh or chain link fence that does not restrict vision.Surrey Zoning By-law 12000, Part 4 Section B.23 Fencing, Part 4, s. B.23(a); Surrey Zoning By-law 12000, Part 4 Section B.23 Fencing, Part 4, s. B.23(c) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
Official wording
Higher than 1.0 m in an area bounded by the intersecting lot lines at a highway corner and a straight line joining points 9 m along said lot lines
neither shall they apply to any open mesh or chain link fence which does not restrict vision
Other rulesA fence on a retaining wall counts the wall in its height; if combined height is over 1.8 m, the fence itself may be 1.0 m at most. Barbed wire or electrified fencing is barred in residential zones except A-1, A-2 or lots of 2 ha+ in RA or RH. Barbed tape obstacle or razor wire is banned everywhere.Surrey Zoning By-law 12000, Part 4 Section B.23 Fencing, Part 4, s. B.23(a)(iv), (b), (d) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
Official wording
Constructed of barbed wire or electrified unless it is located in the A-1 or A-2 Zones or on a lot at least 2 ha in area in the RA or RH Zones.
the height of the fence shall include the height of the retaining wall
The use of barbed tape obstacle or razor wire as fencing material is prohibited in all Zones.
BylawSurrey Zoning By-law, 1993, No. 12000, Part 4 General Provisions, Section B.23 (Fencing)Sources differ: The City's residential permits page points to 'Subsection 8 of Section E of Part 4'; in the current consolidated bylaw (September 21, 2026) the fencing rule is Part 4, Section B, subsection 23. The bylaw text is used.Surrey Zoning By-law 12000, Part 4 Section B.23 Fencing, Part 4, s. B.23; Residential Building Permits, Building a fence · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
Official wording
Surrey Zoning By-law, 1993, No. 12000
Any fence, wall or similar structure located in any residential Zone shall not be:
Find fencing regulations under Subsection 8 of Section E of Part 4 of General Provisions in the Surrey Zoning By-law 12000.

How it works

The City of Surrey limits fences, walls and similar structures in residential zones through Part 4, Section B.23 of Zoning By-law 12000. The City's permits page says no building permit is needed for a fence. It must be on your own property, not on City property or any City right-of-way or easement.

Good to know

  • Side and rear yards: 1.8 m maximum, unless the fence meets the height and yard limits that apply to principal buildings in that zone.
  • Required front yard or street side yard: 1.2 m maximum.
  • Corner triangle (formed by lot lines at a street corner and a line joining points 9 m along them): 1.0 m maximum.
  • Hedges, shrubs, trees and open mesh or chain link fence that does not restrict vision are not limited.
  • A fence on a retaining wall counts the wall in its height. If the combined height is over 1.8 m, the fence itself can be 1.0 m at most.
  • Barbed wire and electrified fencing are barred in residential zones except A-1, A-2, or lots of 2 ha or more in RA or RH. Barbed tape obstacle and razor wire are banned everywhere.
  • A tall retaining wall may need its own building permit, because the Building Bylaw treats retaining walls over 1.2 m as structures. Design guidelines and development permits can also add restrictions.
  • If you do not know where your lot line is, ask buildingfileregistry@surrey.ca about a survey certificate on file.
  • Zoning questions: 604-591-4448. Permit questions: Building Information Line, 604-591-4366.

Official forms and pages

The same question in other places

Langley City · White Rock · New Westminster · Port Coquitlam · Township of Langley · Coquitlam

Fence height limits in British Columbia, by municipality →

Sources

  1. Surrey Zoning By-law 12000, Part 4 Section B.23 Fencing (read 2026-11-05)
  2. Residential Building Permits, City of Surrey (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.