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Ucluelet fence rules: permits and height limits

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

Ucluelet, British ColumbiaChecked against official textSources read 2026-11-08

Short answer

In Ucluelet you do not need a building permit for a fence, but it must meet zoning rules. On a lot with a single family dwelling, a fence can be up to 1.4 m in the required front yard and 2 m behind it. At corners, nothing over 1.2 m may block the sight triangle.

Key facts

PermitNo building permit for a fence; the Building Regulation Bylaw does not apply to fences. Fences must still comply with zoning. A pool, spa or hot tub enclosure is covered by the pool building permit.Building Regulation Bylaw No. 2001, 2026, s. 4.1.3(a); Building Permits & Inspection, Building Permits & Inspection page; Building Regulation Bylaw No. 2001, 2026, s. 15.1.1 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
Official wording
(a) a fence; (b) an accessory building with a floor area of less than 10 square metres;
Typical maintenance projects can be completed without a permit.
a person must not construct, or structurally repair, a swimming pool without a valid building permit.
Height, front yard1.4 m (4.6 ft) in the required front yard, on a lot whose principal building is a single family dwelling with residential use and no commercial tourist accommodation.Zoning Bylaw No. 1160, 2013, unofficial consolidation, s. 601.1(2)(a) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
Official wording
must not have a fence of a height exceeding:
(a) 1.4 m (4.6 ft) in the required front yard, and
Height, side and rear yards2 m (6.6 ft) to the rear of the required front yard, on a lot whose principal building is a single family dwelling with residential use and no commercial tourist accommodation.Zoning Bylaw No. 1160, 2013, unofficial consolidation, s. 601.1(2)(b) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
Official wording
(b) 2 m (6.6 ft) to the rear of the required front yard.
Corner lots and sightlinesAt corners, no fence, wall or structure over 1.2 m (4 ft), and no hedge, bush, tree or growth that blocks vision, inside a triangle formed by extending 6 m (20 ft) along each lot line from the corner and joining those points.Zoning Bylaw No. 1160, 2013, unofficial consolidation, s. 306.2(2) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
Official wording
(a) no fence, wall, building or structure, other than a permitted principal
building, may be placed, constructed, sunk into, erected, moved,
minimum 6 m (20 ft) boundary along the lot lines from the point of the
Other rulesHeight is measured from the average natural grade of the lot to the highest point of the structure. One fence along each property line is allowed despite setbacks, subject to corner vision clearance. Pool or spa fences: at least 1.22 m high, openings 100 mm or less, self-latching gate. No barbed or electric wire rules found.Zoning Bylaw No. 1160, 2013, unofficial consolidation, s. 306.3(1); Building Regulation Bylaw No. 2001, 2026, s. 15.1.2; https://ucluelet.civicweb.net/filepro/document/84301/2017%20Bylaw,%202026%20-%20Unsightly%20Premises%20Bylaw.pdf, s. 3.5 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
Official wording
(1) one fence along each property line;
the shortest vertical distance from the average elevation of the natural grade of the lot measured at the base of the building or structure, to the highest point of that building or structure
having a minimum height of 1.22 metres and no openings greater
shall allow that fence to fall into disrepair.
BylawDistrict of Ucluelet Zoning Bylaw No. 1160, 2013, ss. 306.2(2), 306.3(1) and 601.1; Building Regulation Bylaw No. 2001, 2026, s. 4.1.3 and the Pools part (headed 16, sections numbered 15.1 to 16.5).Zoning Bylaw No. 1160, 2013, unofficial consolidation, s. 601.1 and footer; Building Regulation Bylaw No. 2001, 2026, s. 1 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
Official wording
Zoning Bylaw No. 1160, 2013 (unofficial consolidation up to Bylaw 1412, 2026)
Building Regulation Bylaw No. 2001, 2026
16. POOLS: 15.1 Swimming Pool Permit and Fencing

How it works

Ucluelet does not require a building permit for a fence: the Building Regulation Bylaw No. 2001, 2026 does not apply to fences. Fences must still follow the Zoning Bylaw No. 1160, 2013. A pool, spa or hot tub enclosure is covered by the pool building permit instead.

The height limits apply on a lot whose principal building is a single family dwelling with residential use and no commercial tourist accommodation. There, a fence can be 1.4 m (4.6 ft) high in the required front yard and 2 m (6.6 ft) to the rear of the required front yard. Height is measured from the average natural grade of the lot to the highest point of the structure.

Steps

  1. Find your zone and setbacks (see the zoning-lookup answer).
  2. Check the height limits above and the corner rule below.
  3. Build the fence. If you are unsure, email the Building Official or call the Municipal Office first.

Good to know

  • Corner lots: no fence, wall or structure over 1.2 m (4 ft), and no hedge, bush or tree that blocks vision, inside a triangle formed by going 6 m (20 ft) along each lot line from the corner and joining those points.
  • One fence along each property line is allowed even where setbacks would otherwise apply, subject to the corner rule.
  • Other lots (commercial, industrial, multi-family, home occupation or tourist accommodation uses in certain zones) must screen along lot lines that abut residential lots with a solid decorative fence 1.5 m to 2 m high.
  • Pool or spa fences: at least 1.22 m high, openings of 100 mm or less, and a self-latching gate.
  • A retaining wall over 1.2 m, or any that supports a building, needs a building permit.
  • Zoning fines: a fence over the height limit is $100 for a first offence and $200 after that. Breaking the corner vision rule is $200, then $400.
  • The bylaws we read set no rules on barbed or electric wire. Ask the Municipal Office.

Official forms and pages

The same question in other places

Tofino · Port Alberni · Cumberland · Courtenay · Qualicum Beach · Comox

Fence height limits in British Columbia, by municipality →

Sources

  1. Zoning Bylaw No. 1160, 2013, unofficial consolidation, District of Ucluelet (read 2026-11-08)
  2. Building Regulation Bylaw No. 2001, 2026 (PDF), District of Ucluelet (read 2026-11-08)
  3. Building Permits & Inspection, District of Ucluelet (read 2026-11-08)
  4. https://ucluelet.civicweb.net/filepro/document/84301/2017%20Bylaw,%202026%20-%20Unsightly%20Premises%20Bylaw.pdf (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.