Taylor fence rules: permits and height limits
Do I need a permit to build a fence in Taylor, and how high can it be?
Short answer
In Taylor a fence does not need a building permit. Under the Zoning Bylaw, fences can be 1.2 m high in a front yard and 2.0 m along side and rear lines in residential zones. Nothing taller than 0.9 m is allowed in the corner sight triangle.
Key facts
| Permit | No building permit under the Building Bylaw, whose definition of structure excludes fences. A fence may not be built until a principal use has been established on the parcel.District of Taylor Building Bylaw No. 391, 1991, s. 1.3 (structure); Zoning Bylaw No. 898, 2025, Second Reading Version, s. 5.3.1 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wordingspecifically excludes landscaping, paving improvements, retaining walls under 1.0 metre in height, signs and fences; A fence shall not be constructed on a parcel unless a principal use has been |
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| Height, front yard | 1.2 m in the front yard in all zones; on a corner parcel, 0.9 m within the sight triangle.Zoning Bylaw No. 898, 2025, Second Reading Version, s. 5.3.2 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wordingThe maximum fence height in the front yard of all zones shall not exceed 1.2 m, except on a corner parcel where the maximum height within the sight triangle is 0.9 m in compliance with Section 5.1. |
| Height, side and rear yards | R-zones: 2.0 m along side and rear parcel lines. I-zones and C-zones: 2.5 m on any side or rear yard. Open mesh and chain link in a P-zone for a cemetery, public works, playground, park or school: 3.0 m.Zoning Bylaw No. 898, 2025, Second Reading Version, s. 5.3.3-.6 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wordingFences in R-zones shall not exceed a height of 2.0 m along the side and rear parcel lines. A fence located in an I-zone or C-zone shall have a maximum height of 2.5 m on any side or rear yard. must not exceed a height of 3.0 m. |
| Corner lots and sightlines | On a corner parcel, nothing (fence, screening, landscaping, building) in the sight triangle, formed by lines 6.0 m from where the curb lines meet, may be higher than 0.9 m above the adjacent street grade.Zoning Bylaw No. 898, 2025, Second Reading Version, s. 5.1.1 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wordingformed by the lines extending 6.0 m from the point of intersection of the curb lines, no landscaping, screening, fence, building or structure shall be planted, constructed, or maintained to a height greater than 0.9 m above the grade of the adjacent street |
| Other rules | Allowed: pressure-treated or cedar wood, vinyl, composite, metal, hedges, or other materials at the District's discretion. Scrap, salvaged, hazardous or non-traditional materials are prohibited. Barbed wire may be used in A- and I-zones. Fence height is not measured from grade. Fences and retaining walls are exempt from setbacks. Pool fences: see Building Bylaw s. 8.2.Zoning Bylaw No. 898, 2025, Second Reading Version, s. 5.3.7-.9; District of Taylor Building Bylaw No. 391, 1991, ss. 8.2, 8.3 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wordingThe use of scrap, salvaged, hazardous, or non-traditional materials for fences and retaining walls is prohibited. Barbed wire may be used as part of fences in all A- and I-zones. Fence height is an exception and is not measured from grade. A swimming pool shall be enclosed with a fence having a minimum height of 1.5 m, and having no openings greater than 100 mm at their least dimension. |
| Bylaw | Zoning Bylaw No. 898, 2025, s. 5.3 (fencing) and s. 5.1 (sight triangle); Building Bylaw No. 391, 1991, s. 8.2 (pool fences)Zoning Bylaw No. 898, 2025, Second Reading Version, s. 5.3; District of Taylor Building Bylaw No. 391, 1991, s. 8.2 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wordingDistrict of Taylor – Zoning Bylaw No. 898, 2025 BUILDING BYLAW NO. 391, 1991 |
How it works
The Building Bylaw No. 391, 1991 defines "structure" so that it excludes fences, so a fence needs no building permit in the District of Taylor. A fence may not be built until a principal use is established on the parcel. Height and material rules are in the Zoning Bylaw No. 898, 2025 (Second Reading Version).
Maximum heights:
- Front yard, all zones: 1.2 m.
- Side and rear lines, residential (R) zones: 2.0 m.
- Industrial (I) and commercial (C) zones: 2.5 m on any side or rear yard.
- Open mesh or chain link in a public (P) zone for a cemetery, public works, playground, park or school: 3.0 m.
Steps
- Find your zone (see the zoning-lookup answer).
- Keep the fence within the height limit and out of the corner sight triangle.
- Choose an allowed material: pressure-treated or cedar wood, vinyl, composite, metal, hedges, or other materials at the District's discretion.
- Call 250-789-3392 if you are unsure.
Good to know
- On a corner parcel, nothing (fence, screening, landscaping or building) within the sight triangle, formed by lines 6.0 m from where the curb lines meet, may be higher than 0.9 m above the street grade.
- Scrap, salvaged, hazardous or non-traditional materials are prohibited. Barbed wire may be used in A- and I-zones.
- Fence height is not measured from grade. Fences and retaining walls are exempt from setbacks.
- Pool fences follow Building Bylaw s. 8.2.
- The Zoning Bylaw text we could read is an unsigned draft version; the adopted copy on the District's bylaws page could not be read. Confirm with the District.
Official forms and pages
The same question in other places
Fort St. John · Dawson Creek · Pouce Coupe · Chetwynd · Hudson's Hope · Tumbler Ridge
Sources
- Zoning Bylaw No. 898, 2025, Second Reading Version (PDF), District of Taylor document centre (read 2026-11-08)
- District of Taylor Building Bylaw No. 391, 1991 (PDF) (read 2026-11-08)
- Contact, District of Taylor (read 2026-11-08)
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.