---
title: "Victoria fence rules: permits and height limits"
question: "Do I need a permit to build a fence, and how high can it be?"
place: Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
place_path: ca/bc/victoria
category: Building, renovating and your property
owner: municipal
owner_body: City of Victoria
sources_read: 2026-11-05
review: machine_checked
canonical: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/victoria/fence-rules/"
json: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/victoria/fence-rules.json"
---

# Victoria fence rules: permits and height limits

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

**Short answer:** A fence in the City of Victoria does not need a building permit, but zoning sets the height. On a lot with an existing residential use the limit is 1.22 m in the front yard and 1.83 m elsewhere. Barbed wire, razor wire and electrified fences are not allowed. Check which zoning bylaw covers your property.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (City of Victoria, https://www.victoria.ca)  
**Cost:** No building permit fee for a fence.  
**How long:** Not applicable for a fence.  
**Where:**
- Phone: Development Services (zoning questions), 250-361-0316
- Email: Zoning, zoning@victoria.ca
- Phone: Building and Inspection Services, 250-361-0344
- Email: Permit Services, permits@victoria.ca

## Key facts

- **Permit:** No building permit is needed for a fence: the Building and Plumbing Regulation Bylaw excludes fences (and retaining structures under 1.2 m) from 'structure'. Zoning height and material rules still apply.
  - Source: [Building and Plumbing Regulation Bylaw 17-113, Bylaw 17-113 s. 2(2), definition of 'structure'](https://www.victoria.ca/media/file/building-and-plumbing-regulation-bylaw-17-113-consolidated)
  - Official wording: "landscaping, fences, paving, or retaining structures less than 1.2 meters in height."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Height, front yard:** 1.22 m for a lot with an existing residential use. Gate posts, gates and decorative features that are part of or above a gate in a front yard may be up to 2.6 m high and 1.5 m wide. Fence posts may project 0.30 m above the maximum.
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw 2018 (18-072), Part 3 section 25, Zoning Bylaw 2018, Part 3, s. 25(e), (i), (j)](https://www.victoria.ca/media/file/zoning-bylaw-2018)
  - Official wording: "The maximum height of a Fence for a Lot with an existing residential use is 1.22m in the" … "Front Yard Setback and 1.83m in all other Setbacks." … "Fence posts are permitted to project up to 0.30m above the maximum permitted height of" … "are permitted up to 2.6m in height and 1.5m in width."
  - Source: [Zoning Regulation Bylaw, Schedule S Fences, Zoning Regulation Bylaw, Schedule S, s. 3(a)](https://www.victoria.ca/media/file/schedule-s)
  - Official wording: "For a lot with an existing residential use (maximum)" … "In the front yard 1.22m"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Height, side and rear yards:** 1.83 m for a lot with an existing residential use (all setbacks other than the front yard).
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw 2018 (18-072), Part 3 section 25, Zoning Bylaw 2018, Part 3, s. 25(e)](https://www.victoria.ca/media/file/zoning-bylaw-2018)
  - Official wording: "Front Yard Setback and 1.83m in all other Setbacks."
  - Source: [Zoning Regulation Bylaw, Schedule S Fences, Zoning Regulation Bylaw, Schedule S, s. 3(a)](https://www.victoria.ca/media/file/schedule-s)
  - Official wording: "In all side yards or rear yards 1.83m"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Corner lots and sightlines:** On a corner lot, no fence over 1.0 m may be closer to the street corner than a diagonal line between points 6.0 m from the corner (if one street is an arterial) or 3.0 m (otherwise). Fences must also meet section 28 of the Highway Access Bylaw near driveways.
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw 2018 (18-072), Part 3 section 25, Zoning Bylaw 2018, Part 3, s. 25(k), (l)](https://www.victoria.ca/media/file/zoning-bylaw-2018)
  - Official wording: "On Corner Lots, to secure sight lines, no Fence over 1.0m shall be sited closer to the corner" … "6.0m distant from the corner of the Lot when one of the Streets is an arterial." … "Fences must comply with section 28 of the Highway Access"
  - Source: [Zoning Regulation Bylaw, Schedule S Fences, Zoning Regulation Bylaw, Schedule S, s. 4](https://www.victoria.ca/media/file/schedule-s)
  - Official wording: "3m distant from the corner of the lot in all other circumstances."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Other rules:** No barbed wire, razor wire or electrified fences. Height is measured from natural grade; on a retaining wall, from natural grade on its highest side to the top of the fence. On sloping sites it is measured at the highest corner or edge and every 2.5 m after.
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw 2018 (18-072), Part 3 section 25, Zoning Bylaw 2018, Part 3, s. 25(a)-(d)](https://www.victoria.ca/media/file/zoning-bylaw-2018)
  - Official wording: "construct, keep or permit the construction or keeping of a Fence of barbed wire, razor wire, razor sharp" … "the height of a Fence is measured in a vertical straight line between the" … "from Natural Grade on the highest side of the retaining wall to the top of the Fence." … "at intervals of a maximum horizontal distance of 2.5 metres"
  - Source: [Zoning Regulation Bylaw, Schedule S Fences, Zoning Regulation Bylaw, Schedule S, s. 1-2](https://www.victoria.ca/media/file/schedule-s)
  - Official wording: "steel strips or a similar material, or electrified in any manner."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Bylaw:** Zoning Bylaw 2018 (No. 18-072), Part 3, s. 25; for properties still under the older bylaw, Zoning Regulation Bylaw (No. 80-159), Schedule S - Fences.
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw 2018 (18-072), Part 3 section 25, Part 3, s. 25](https://www.victoria.ca/media/file/zoning-bylaw-2018)
  - Official wording: "Fences must comply with the following:"
  - Source: [Zoning Regulation Bylaw, Schedule S Fences](https://www.victoria.ca/media/file/schedule-s)
  - Official wording: "Schedule S - FENCES 2 Measuring Height a. Subject to section 2.(b) and (c) the height of a fence is measured in a vertical straight line"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06

## How it works

Victoria's [Building and Plumbing Regulation Bylaw 17-113](https://www.victoria.ca/media/file/building-and-plumbing-regulation-bylaw-17-113-consolidated) leaves fences, and retaining structures under 1.2 m high, out of its definition of a "structure", so a fence needs no building permit. Zoning height and material rules still apply.

Victoria has two zoning bylaws, each covering different properties: [Zoning Bylaw 2018](https://www.victoria.ca/media/file/zoning-bylaw-2018) (most residential lands) and the older Zoning Regulation Bylaw, whose fence rules are in [Schedule S](https://www.victoria.ca/media/file/schedule-s). Check which one applies to your property (see the zoning-lookup answer). For a lot with an existing residential use, the limits below are the same in both.

## Steps

1. Find out which zoning bylaw covers your property.
2. Measure height from natural grade. On a retaining wall, measure from natural grade on its highest side to the top of the fence. On a slope, measure at the highest corner or edge and every 2.5 m after.
3. Keep within the limits below, then build. For a taller fence, call Development Services at 250-361-0316 or email zoning@victoria.ca.

## Good to know

- Lot with an existing residential use: 1.22 m in the front yard; 1.83 m in all other setbacks.
- Lot without an existing residential use: the two bylaws differ. Zoning Bylaw 2018 says 2.13 m; Schedule S says 1.83 m. Confirm with staff.
- Next to a park, playing field or industrial use: 3.05 m in both bylaws.
- Where two lots with different uses meet, the greater height applies on the shared line.
- Fence posts may project 0.30 m above the maximum. Front yard gates and gate features may be up to 2.6 m high and 1.5 m wide.
- Corner lot: no fence over 1.0 m closer to the street corner than a diagonal line between points 6.0 m from the corner (if one street is an arterial) or 3.0 m (otherwise). Fences must also meet section 28 of the Highway Access Bylaw near driveways.
- Barbed wire, razor wire and electrified fences are not allowed.
- To find where your boundary is, see the property lines answer.

## Official forms and pages

- [Zoning Bylaw 2018, Part 3 section 25 Fences (PDF)](https://www.victoria.ca/media/file/zoning-bylaw-2018)
- [Zoning Regulation Bylaw, Schedule S Fences (PDF)](https://www.victoria.ca/media/file/schedule-s)

## Related questions

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

## The same question elsewhere

- [Fence height limits in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/fence-rules.md)
- [Oak Bay](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/oak-bay/fence-rules.md)
- [Esquimalt](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/esquimalt/fence-rules.md)
- [View Royal](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/view-royal/fence-rules.md)
- [Saanich](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/saanich/fence-rules.md)
- [Colwood](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/colwood/fence-rules.md)
- [Langford](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/langford/fence-rules.md)

## Sources

- [Zoning Bylaw 2018 (18-072), Part 3 section 25 (PDF)](https://www.victoria.ca/media/file/zoning-bylaw-2018) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Zoning Regulation Bylaw, Schedule S Fences (PDF)](https://www.victoria.ca/media/file/schedule-s) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Building and Plumbing Regulation Bylaw 17-113 (PDF)](https://www.victoria.ca/media/file/building-and-plumbing-regulation-bylaw-17-113-consolidated) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Starting a Business, City of Victoria Business Hub (Development Services contact)](https://www.victoria.ca/building-business/business-hub/starting-business) (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. Gov Handbook is an independent guide, not affiliated with City of Victoria. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/victoria/fence-rules/_