---
title: "Telkwa fence rules: permits and height limits"
question: "Do I need a permit to build a fence in Telkwa, and how high can it be?"
place: Telkwa, British Columbia, Canada
place_path: ca/bc/telkwa
category: Building, renovating and your property
owner: municipal
owner_body: Village of Telkwa
sources_read: 2026-11-08
review: machine_checked
canonical: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/telkwa/fence-rules/"
json: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/telkwa/fence-rules.json"
---

# Telkwa fence rules: permits and height limits

**Question:** Do I need a permit to build a fence in Telkwa, and how high can it be?

**Short answer:** In Telkwa a fence does not need a building permit, but the Zoning Bylaw limits it. In residential (R) zones a fence along the front parcel line can be up to 1.2 m high, and a fence anywhere else on the property up to 1.8 m.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (Village of Telkwa, https://www.telkwa.ca)  
**Cost:** No permit fee. A Development Variance Permit is needed to exceed the limits.  
**How long:** Not applicable for a fence within the limits.  
**Where:**
- In person: Village Office, 1415 Hankin Avenue, Telkwa, BC V0J 2X0 (Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (closed 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. and statutory holidays).)
- Phone: Village Office, 250-846-5212
- Email: Village Office, info@telkwa.ca

## Key facts

- **Permit:** No building permit is required under the Building Bylaw: its definition of "structure" excludes fences. The Zoning Bylaw fence limits still apply.
  - Source: [Building Bylaw No. 533, 2003, s. 1 "Structure"](https://telkwa.civicweb.net/document/17042/)
  - Official wording: "but specifically excludes landscaping, fences, paving and retaining structures less than 1.5 meters in height"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Height, front yard:** In any R (residential) zone, a fence along the front parcel line may be no more than 1.2 m high.
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 747, 2022 (PDF, "Consolidated 2023"), s. 15.2.4](https://telkwa.civicweb.net/document/32707/)
  - Official wording: "In any R Zone, no fence constructed along the front Parcel Line shall exceed 1.2 m in Height"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Height, side and rear yards:** In any R zone, a fence anywhere else on the property may be no more than 1.8 m high.
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 747, 2022 (PDF, "Consolidated 2023"), s. 15.2.4](https://telkwa.civicweb.net/document/32707/)
  - Official wording: "and no fence constructed elsewhere on the property shall exceed 1.8 metres in Height."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Corner lots and sightlines:** On a corner parcel, nothing (fence, hedge, wall, landscaping or structure) may be higher than 0.5 m above street level inside the triangle formed by measuring 6.0 m along the curb lines of the two streets and joining those points.
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 747, 2022 (PDF, "Consolidated 2023"), s. 3.18.1](https://telkwa.civicweb.net/document/32707/)
  - Official wording: "on a corner Parcel within the shaded space formed by measuring 6.0 m along the curb lines of the two (2) streets and joining these points on the diagonal, no landscaping, screening, fence, hedge, wall, retaining wall, Building or other Structure will be planted or erected to a Height greater than 0.5 m"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Other rules:** Height is measured from ground level (from the neighbour's ground if on the property line); a fence on a retaining wall includes the wall. No barbed wire, razor wire, electrified wire, sheet metal or corrugated metal in R1, R2, R3, C1, C3 or P zones.
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 747, 2022 (PDF, "Consolidated 2023"), s. 15.2.1, 15.2.5](https://telkwa.civicweb.net/document/32707/)
  - Official wording: "The Height of a fence or wall shall be measured from ground level." … "No fence in an R1, R2, R3, C1, C3, or P zone shall contain barbed wire, razor wire, electrified wire, sheet metal or corrugated metal."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Bylaw:** Zoning Bylaw No. 747, 2022, s. 15.2 (fence height and materials) and s. 3.18 (vision clearance at intersections).
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 747, 2022 (PDF, "Consolidated 2023"), title](https://telkwa.civicweb.net/document/32707/)
  - Official wording: "The Village of Telkwa Zoning Bylaw No. 747, 2022"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08

## How it works

Telkwa's [Building Bylaw No. 533](https://telkwa.civicweb.net/document/17042/) defines "structure" so that it excludes fences, so a fence needs no building permit. The fence rules are in section 15.2 of the [Zoning Bylaw No. 747](https://telkwa.civicweb.net/document/32707/). In any residential (R) zone:

- A fence along the front parcel line: no more than 1.2 m high.
- A fence anywhere else on the property: no more than 1.8 m high.
- All fencing: no more than 2.5 m unless the bylaw says otherwise.

Height is measured from ground level, or from the neighbour's ground if the fence is on the property line. A fence on a retaining wall counts the wall too.

## Steps

1. Find your zone (see the zoning-lookup answer).
2. Check the height limits above and the corner-lot rule below.
3. If you want a taller fence, apply to the Village for a Development Variance Permit (see the Planning page).

## Good to know

- Corner lots: inside the triangle formed by measuring 6.0 m along the curb lines of the two streets and joining those points, nothing (fence, hedge, wall, landscaping or structure) may be higher than 0.5 m above street level.
- Barbed wire, razor wire, electrified wire, sheet metal and corrugated metal are not allowed in R1, R2, R3, C1, C3 or P zones.
- In C1 and P1 zones the limit is 1.8 m between the front parcel line and the front face of the building.
- The Village's guide does not mention fences, and no pool fence rule was found. Ask the Village office about pools.

## Official forms and pages

- [Zoning Bylaw No. 747, 2022 (PDF)](https://telkwa.civicweb.net/document/32707/)

## Related questions

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

## The same question elsewhere

- [Fence height limits in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/fence-rules.md)
- [Smithers](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/smithers/fence-rules.md)
- [Houston](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/houston/fence-rules.md)
- [Granisle](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/granisle/fence-rules.md)
- [New Hazelton](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/new-hazelton/fence-rules.md)
- [Hazelton](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/hazelton/fence-rules.md)
- [Terrace](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/terrace/fence-rules.md)

## Sources

- [Zoning Bylaw No. 747, 2022 (PDF, "Consolidated 2023"), Village of Telkwa](https://telkwa.civicweb.net/document/32707/) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Building Bylaw No. 533, 2003 (PDF), Village of Telkwa](https://telkwa.civicweb.net/document/17042/) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Planning and Development, Village of Telkwa](https://www.telkwa.ca/planning) (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. Gov Handbook is an independent guide, not affiliated with Village of Telkwa. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/telkwa/fence-rules/_