The City of Ottawa's Fence By-law (By-law 2003-462) governs fence construction in residential areas. Understanding these rules before building prevents costly mistakes and neighbour disputes. Maximum fence heights: Rear yard and side yard fences — maximum 2 meters (6 feet 7 inches). Front yard fences — maximum 1 meter (3 feet 3 inches). Corner lot flanking side yard fences — maximum 1 meter within the front yard setback, 2 meters behind it. No building permit is required for fences that comply...
Fence placement relative to property lines is a common source of disputes. Key rules: You can build a fence on your property line, but it's advisable to build 2–4 inches inside your property to ensure the fence is entirely on your land. This avoids disputes about encroachment. If building on the property line, the fence is technically shared. Both neighbours are responsible for maintenance, and neither can remove the fence without the other's consent. The 'good side' of the fence (the finishe...
Pressure-treated wood privacy fence: The most common residential fence in Ottawa. 6-foot privacy boards on pressure-treated posts. Cost: $25–$40 per linear foot installed. Lifespan: 15–20 years with maintenance (staining every 2–3 years). Cedar fence: Premium wood option with natural rot resistance. Cost: $35–$55 per linear foot. Lifespan: 15–25 years. Weathers to silver-grey if left unstained. Vinyl (PVC) fence: Low maintenance, doesn't rot or need painting. Cost: $40–$60 per linear foot. Lif...
If you have a pool, the City of Ottawa's Pool Fence By-law requires an enclosure around the entire pool area. Requirements include: minimum fence height of 1.5 meters (5 feet), no openings that allow passage of a sphere 100mm (4 inches) in diameter, self-closing and self-latching gates, gate latches at least 1.5m above grade on the pool side, and no structures that could be used to climb the fence within 1 meter of the fence. Pool fences must be in place before the pool is filled. The City cond...
Before you dig, call Ontario One Call (1-800-400-2255) to locate underground utilities. This free service marks the location of buried gas, electric, water, and telecommunications lines. Hitting a gas or electric line is dangerous and expensive. Get at least 3 quotes from fence contractors. Prices in Ottawa vary significantly — we've seen quotes range from $25 to $60 per linear foot for the same fence style. Understand what's included: post holes, concrete, hardware, stain/finish, and cleanup. ...
Maximum 2 meters (6 feet 7 inches) in rear and side yards. Maximum 1 meter (3 feet 3 inches) in front yards. Corner lot flanking sides have specific rules. No permit required if heights are met.
No permit is needed for fences that comply with by-law height limits. Permits are required for fences exceeding maximum heights, masonry/concrete fences, or fences incorporating retaining walls over 1 meter.
Set fence posts at least 36–48 inches deep (below the frost line) in concrete. Ottawa's freeze-thaw cycles cause improperly set posts to heave. Deeper posts = longer fence lifespan.
If the fence is on the property line, both neighbours share responsibility for maintenance. Cost-sharing for new fences is negotiable — there's no legal requirement for your neighbour to pay half, but many do.
Pressure-treated wood: $25–$40/linear foot. Cedar: $35–$55/linear foot. Vinyl: $40–$60/linear foot. Chain link: $15–$25/linear foot. A typical 150-foot perimeter fence costs $3,750–$9,000 depending on material.