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Vernon fence rules: permits and height limits

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

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

Short answer

In the City of Vernon a fence does not need a building permit, but Zoning Bylaw 6000 limits its height. In housing zones a fence can be 1.2 m high at the street setback and up to 2.0 m behind it or along side and rear lot lines. Retaining walls and pool enclosures have their own rules.

Key facts

PermitNo building permit is needed for a fence. Retaining walls are different (see other rules).Building Bylaw 5900, s. 3.3(a); Building Permit Application, Do I Need a Permit? · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
Official wording
except as set out in Part 11 [Retaining Walls] of this bylaw, a fence;
Fencing and other landscaping.
Height, front yard1.2 m maximum, measured from natural grade, in housing, resort, community and commercial mixed-use zones. One pedestrian gate up to 2.0 m high and 1.0 m wide is allowed within the setback abutting a street. All subject to traffic sight lines.Zoning Bylaw 6000, Section 6 Landscape and Screening, s. 6.5.1 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
Official wording
Subject to traffic sight lines, Fence height measured from Natural Grade shall not exceed:
1.2 m in housing, resort, community, and commercial mixed-use zones.
One gate for pedestrian access may be 2.0 m in height with a maximum width of 1.0
Height, side and rear yardsUp to 2.0 m if behind the setback abutting a street, or along a lot line not abutting a street (housing, resort, community and commercial mixed-use zones). Up to 2.4 m where abutting an agricultural or industrial zone.Zoning Bylaw 6000, Section 6 Landscape and Screening, s. 6.5.1.3-.4 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
Official wording
The maximum Fence height may increase to 2.0 m if situated behind the Setback
abutting a Street, or along a Lot Line not abutting a Street;
The maximum Fence height may increase to 2.4 m where abutting an agricultural or
Corner lots and sightlinesZoning fence limits are 'subject to traffic sight lines'. On a corner parcel, no fence, structure, retaining wall or vegetation is allowed between 0.9 m and 2.75 m above grade inside the sight triangle, which extends 9.0 m from the corner (5.0 m between laneways). A reduction needs an engineer's opinion and the City Engineer's approval.Traffic Bylaw 5600, Schedule B, B.1; Traffic Bylaw 5600, Schedule B, B.2; Zoning Bylaw 6000, Section 6 Landscape and Screening, s. 6.5.1 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
Official wording
No owner or occupier of a corner parcel at any intersection shall be permitted to
erect or grow any structure, fence, retaining wall or vegetation where it is within the
vertical area contained within 0.9 and 2.75 metres above the finished grade of the
measured 9.0 m from their
A Sight Triangle reduction may be considered for new or existing development,
Subject to traffic sight lines, Fence height measured from Natural Grade shall not exceed:
Other rulesBarbed wire and electric fences are not allowed (exceptions: livestock enclosures in agricultural zones; detention facilities); razor wire is banned everywhere. Retaining walls: 1.2 m maximum (except where required for subdivision approval). Pool or hot tub enclosure: at least 1.22 m high, openings no more than 100 mm, self-closing and self-latching gate.Zoning Bylaw 6000, Section 6 Landscape and Screening, s. 6.5.4; Zoning Bylaw 6000, Section 6 Landscape and Screening, s. 6.6.1; Building Bylaw 5900, s. 14.2-14.3 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
Official wording
No barbed wire or electrified Fencing shall be allowed, except:
Razor wire Fences shall not be permitted in any zone.
Retaining Wall height, measured from Natural Grade on the lower side of the wall, shall
not exceed 1.2 m, except for Retaining Walls required as a condition of subdivision
having a minimum height of 1.22 metres and no openings
Access through a fence enclosing a swimming pool, spa or hot tub must be
BylawZoning Bylaw No. 6000, s. 6.5 (Fencing) and 6.6 (Retaining Walls); Traffic Bylaw No. 5600, Schedule B (Sight Triangle Requirements); Building Bylaw No. 5900, Part 14 (Pools)Zoning Bylaw 6000, Section 6 Landscape and Screening, s. 6.5-6.6; Traffic Bylaw 5600, Schedule B; Building Bylaw 5900, Part 14 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
Official wording
Fence height measured from Natural Grade shall not exceed:
SCHEDULE B SIGHT TRIANGLE REQUIREMENTS B.1. No owner or occupier of a corner parcel at any intersection shall be permitted to
CONSOLIDATED FOR CONVENIENCE
AMENDMENTS TO BYLAW 5600 BYLAW ADOPTION AMENDMENTS
A swimming pool, including a spa or hot tub must be enclosed within a fence

How it works

A fence does not need a building permit (Building Bylaw 5900 s. 3.3). Height and materials are set by Zoning Bylaw 6000 sections 6.5 (fencing) and 6.6 (retaining walls). Heights are measured from natural grade and are subject to traffic sight lines.

Good to know

  • Housing, resort, community and commercial mixed-use zones: 1.2 m maximum. One pedestrian gate up to 2.0 m high and 1.0 m wide is allowed within the setback abutting a street.
  • In those zones a fence can be up to 2.0 m if it is behind the setback abutting a street, or along a lot line that does not abut a street. It can be up to 2.4 m where it abuts an agricultural or industrial zone. Industrial and servicing zones allow 2.4 m.
  • Corner lots: no fence, structure, retaining wall or vegetation is allowed between 0.9 m and 2.75 m above grade inside the sight triangle, which extends 9.0 m from the corner (5.0 m between laneways). A reduction needs an engineer's opinion and the City Engineer's approval (Traffic Bylaw 5600, Schedule B).
  • Barbed wire and electric fences are not allowed (exceptions: livestock enclosures in agricultural zones, and detention facilities). Razor wire is banned everywhere.
  • Retaining walls: 1.2 m maximum, except where required for subdivision approval. Where a fence and retaining wall are combined, the total at the lot line may not exceed 2.0 m. The City's page says a retaining wall permit is needed for walls 1.2 m or higher.
  • Pool or hot tub enclosure: at least 1.22 m high, openings no more than 100 mm, and a self-closing, self-latching gate. A pool enclosure needs a pool building permit.
  • An over-height fence in a housing zone can bring a bylaw notice of $250 ($225 if paid within 14 days) or a municipal ticket of $500 ($450 early).
  • Not sure of your lot line or zone? Ask Planning on 250-550-3634 before you build.

Official forms and pages

The same question in other places

Coldstream · Lake Country · Spallumcheen · Armstrong · Lumby · Enderby

Fence height limits in British Columbia, by municipality →

Sources

  1. Zoning Bylaw 6000, Section 6 Landscape and Screening (PDF) (read 2026-11-05)
  2. Building Bylaw 5900 (PDF) (read 2026-11-05)
  3. Traffic Bylaw 5600 (PDF) (read 2026-11-05)
  4. Building Permit Application, City of Vernon (read 2026-11-05)
  5. Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw 6048 (PDF) (read 2026-11-05)
  6. Municipal Ticket Information Bylaw 6049 (PDF) (read 2026-11-05)
  7. Contact Us, City of Vernon (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.