Knowledge Base

Fence Requirements

• Fences shall be constructed to encompass property lines only.

• Gates shall not open over a public sidewalk.

•  Fences shall be made of suitable building material or decorative metal to the satisfaction of the Development Authority.

•  Fences shall be located on or just within property lines.

•  Chain link fences may be constructed subject to the approval of the Development Authority.

• For corner lots in all districts, see Standards of Development, Schedule 4, Section D. Land Use Bylaw No. 1525
  

• Fencing shall not be permitted to be constructed within any developed or undeveloped roadway or laneway right-of-way. Removal of such fencing will be at the property owner’s expense.

Residential Districts

• No fence, wall, hedge or any combination thereof shall extend more than 0.9 m (3 ft.) above the ground in any front yard area, without a development permit approved by the Municipal Planning Commission.
  
  
• Fences in the rear and side yards shall be 1.8 m (6 ft.) in height or less.
  

• Fences shall not be more than 0.5 m (1.5 ft.) away from the nearest edge of the sidewalk, where applicable.

• All multiple residential developments are required to fence side and rear yards.
  In residential districts, the use of barbwire and razor wire is prohibited; other security fencing must be approved by the Municipal Planning Commission. 

Commercial, Public & Industrial Districts

• All industrial uses must fence their development.
  
  
• Fences for commercial and industrial uses shall provide specification of building materials prior to permit approval.
  
  
• In an Industrial district, no fence, wall, gate, hedge or other means of enclosure shall extend more than 2.4 m (8 ft.) in height in any side or rear yard. A fence, wall, gate, hedge or other means of structural enclosure that exceeds 0.9 m (3 ft.) in height within a front yard or secondary front yard requires approval by the Development Authority.
  
  
• In commercial, public and industrial districts, the use of razor wire is prohibited.
  
  
• In commercial and public districts, the use of barbwire must be approved by the Municipal Planning Commission.
  
  
• In industrial districts, the use of 3 strand barbwire at the top of a fence is permitted when the overall height as described in subsection 3 is met; otherwise it must be approved by the Municipal Planning Commission.