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Victoria fence rules: permits and height limits

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

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

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.

Key facts

PermitNo 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.Building and Plumbing Regulation Bylaw 17-113, Bylaw 17-113 s. 2(2), definition of 'structure' · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
Official wording
landscaping, fences, paving, or retaining structures less than 1.2 meters in height.
Height, front yard1.22 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.Zoning Bylaw 2018 (18-072), Part 3 section 25, Zoning Bylaw 2018, Part 3, s. 25(e), (i), (j); Zoning Regulation Bylaw, Schedule S Fences, Zoning Regulation Bylaw, Schedule S, s. 3(a) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
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.
For a lot with an existing residential use (maximum)
In the front yard 1.22m
Height, side and rear yards1.83 m for a lot with an existing residential use (all setbacks other than the front yard).Zoning Bylaw 2018 (18-072), Part 3 section 25, Zoning Bylaw 2018, Part 3, s. 25(e); Zoning Regulation Bylaw, Schedule S Fences, Zoning Regulation Bylaw, Schedule S, s. 3(a) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
Official wording
Front Yard Setback and 1.83m in all other Setbacks.
In all side yards or rear yards 1.83m
Corner lots and sightlinesOn 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.Zoning Bylaw 2018 (18-072), Part 3 section 25, Zoning Bylaw 2018, Part 3, s. 25(k), (l); Zoning Regulation Bylaw, Schedule S Fences, Zoning Regulation Bylaw, Schedule S, s. 4 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
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
3m distant from the corner of the lot in all other circumstances.
Other rulesNo 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.Zoning Bylaw 2018 (18-072), Part 3 section 25, Zoning Bylaw 2018, Part 3, s. 25(a)-(d); Zoning Regulation Bylaw, Schedule S Fences, Zoning Regulation Bylaw, Schedule S, s. 1-2 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
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
steel strips or a similar material, or electrified in any manner.
BylawZoning 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.Zoning Bylaw 2018 (18-072), Part 3 section 25, Part 3, s. 25; Zoning Regulation Bylaw, Schedule S Fences · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
Official wording
Fences must comply with the following:
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

How it works

Victoria's Building and Plumbing Regulation Bylaw 17-113 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 (most residential lands) and the older Zoning Regulation Bylaw, whose fence rules are in 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

The same question in other places

Oak Bay · Esquimalt · View Royal · Saanich · Colwood · Langford

Fence height limits in British Columbia, by municipality →

Sources

  1. Zoning Bylaw 2018 (18-072), Part 3 section 25 (PDF) (read 2026-11-05)
  2. Zoning Regulation Bylaw, Schedule S Fences (PDF) (read 2026-11-05)
  3. Building and Plumbing Regulation Bylaw 17-113 (PDF) (read 2026-11-05)
  4. Starting a Business, City of Victoria Business Hub (Development Services contact) (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.