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Valemount fence rules: permits and height limits

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

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

Short answer

In Valemount a fence does not need a building permit, but it must meet the Zoning Bylaw height limits. In residential zones such as R1 and R2 a fence can be 1.2 m (4 ft) high in the front yard and 1.8 m (6 ft) in the side and rear yards. Retaining walls over 1.2 m need a permit.

Key facts

PermitNo building permit: the Building Bylaw does not apply to a fence, except retaining walls over 1.2 m, which need one. Fences still have to meet the Zoning Bylaw height rules.Building Bylaw No. 892, 2024, s. 3.3(a); Zoning Bylaw No. 847, 2021, s. 1.7 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
Official wording
except as set out in Part 11 [Retaining Walls] of this bylaw, a fence;
Fencing and screening shall be restricted as follows:
Height, front yard1.2 m (4 ft) in the ENV, RR1, R1, R2, R3, MHP and C1 to C5 zones. 1.8 m (6 ft) in the M1, P1 and P2 zones.Zoning Bylaw No. 847, 2021, s. 1.7 table · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
Official wording
R1, R2 1.2 m (4.0 ft.) 1.8 m (6.0 ft.)
RR1 1.2 m (4.0 ft.) 1.8 m (6.0 ft.)
M1 1.8 m (6.0 ft.) 2.4 m (8.0 ft.)
P1, P2 1.8 m (6.0 ft.) 1.8 m (6.0 ft.)
Height, side and rear yards1.8 m (6 ft) in residential and commercial zones, and in P1 and P2; 2.4 m (8 ft) in M1. In a required side yard next to a highway right-of-way (other than a lane): 1.2 m. Where a rear line meets the front or side line of a neighbour, no higher than the front or side limit.Zoning Bylaw No. 847, 2021, s. 1.7 table and notes · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
Official wording
R1, R2 1.2 m (4.0 ft.) 1.8 m (6.0 ft.)
M1 1.8 m (6.0 ft.) 2.4 m (8.0 ft.)
No screening or fencing shall be higher than 1.2 m (4.0 ft.) from ground level in a required side yard where adjacent to a highway right-of-way other than a lane
Where a rear parcel line of a parcel abuts the front parcel line or side parcel line of an adjoining parcel
Corner lots and sightlinesIn every zone except C1 and C2, no fence, wall, structure, parking space, loading area or outside storage may be over 1.1 m high (and no hedge or shrub may block vision) within the corner triangle formed by the property lines and a line joining points 6.0 m from the corner along the side lines.Zoning Bylaw No. 847, 2021, s. 1.8 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
Official wording
no Fence, wall, Structure, Parking Space or Loading Area or outside storage area shall be erected to a height greater than 1.1 m
a line joining points along Side Parcel Lines 6.0 m from their point of intersection
Other rulesHeight is measured from grade within 1 m of both sides. A retaining wall's exposed part counts as a fence. Fences must be attractive, compatible with the neighbourhood and not railroad ties. Pools need a fence of at least 1.83 m (Building Bylaw; Zoning says 1.8 m) with openings under 100 mm and a self-closing, locking gate.Zoning Bylaw No. 847, 2021, s. 1.7 and 2.12; Building Bylaw No. 892, 2024, s. 14.1 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
Official wording
The height of a Fence or hedge shall be determined by the measurement from the ground level at the Grade level within 1 m of both sides of such Fence or hedge.
Fences shall be attractive in appearance, be compatible with the surrounding neighbourhood, and not consist of railroad ties.
The portion of the retaining wall which projects above the surface of the ground which it supports shall be considered as a Fence
Swimming pools shall be enclosed with a fence of not less than 1.83 M in height
Swimming pools shall be enclosed with a fence of not less than 1.83 M in height with no
equipped with a self-closing gate
BylawVillage of Valemount Zoning Bylaw No. 847, 2021, sections 1.7 and 1.8; Building Bylaw No. 892, 2024, s. 3.3(a) and Part 11Zoning Bylaw No. 847, 2021, Notes; Building Bylaw No. 892, 2024, Title · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
Official wording
Zoning Bylaw No. 847, 2021 was adopted by the Village of Valemount Council on August 24, 2021 and became effective on that date.
BUILDING BYLAW NO. 892, 2024

How it works

The Village of Valemount's Building Bylaw No. 892 does not apply to a fence, so no building permit is needed. Retaining walls over 1.2 m are the exception and need one. Fences must still meet sections 1.7 and 1.8 of the Zoning Bylaw No. 847. No separate fence permit is described in the bylaw or on the Village's pages.

Good to know

  • Front yard: 1.2 m (4 ft) in the ENV, RR1, R1, R2, R3, MHP and C1 to C5 zones; 1.8 m (6 ft) in the M1, P1 and P2 zones.
  • Side and rear yards: 1.8 m (6 ft) in residential and commercial zones and in P1 and P2; 2.4 m (8 ft) in M1. In a required side yard next to a highway right-of-way (other than a lane), the limit is 1.2 m. Where a rear line meets the front or side line of a neighbour, the fence can be no higher than the front or side limit.
  • Corner lots: in every zone except C1 and C2, no fence, wall, structure, parking space, loading area or outside storage may be over 1.1 m high, and no hedge or shrub may block vision, within the corner triangle formed by the property lines and a line joining points 6.0 m from the corner along the side lines.
  • Height is measured from grade within 1 m of both sides. The exposed part of a retaining wall counts as a fence. Fences must be attractive, compatible with the neighbourhood and not made of railroad ties.
  • Pools must be enclosed by a fence at least 1.83 m high under the Building Bylaw (the Zoning Bylaw says 1.8 m), with openings under 100 mm and a self-closing, locking gate.
  • Call the Village Office to confirm the rule for your zone before you build.

Official forms and pages

The same question in other places

Clearwater · 100 Mile House · Barriere · Williams Lake · Quesnel · Revelstoke

Fence height limits in British Columbia, by municipality →

Sources

  1. Zoning Bylaw No. 847, 2021 (PDF), Village of Valemount (read 2026-11-08)
  2. Building Bylaw No. 892, 2024 (PDF), Village of Valemount (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.