Question 1

Who enforces fence height rules in Ottawa?

Accepted Answer

Municipal Law Enforcement Officers enforce the City of Ottawa Fence By-law, No. 2003-462, and fines are under the Provincial Offences Act; we found no set fine amount on the by-law page. The by-law (s.25) says no one may erect, own or maintain a fence on private property that does not comply with it. The rules they apply are straightforward. In a front yard, no fence may exceed 1 m. In a side or rear yard, the limit is 213 cm (about 7 feet).

Question 2

Does Ottawa have a fence by-law for townhouses in Riverside South?

Accepted Answer

Yes, the City of Ottawa Fence By-law No. 2003-462 applies to townhouses in Riverside South, the same as any other residential property in Ottawa. The height limits are 1 m in the front yard and 213 cm (about 7 feet) in side and rear yards. A few specifics worth knowing for a townhouse setting: - Front yard: the front yard runs from the front lot line to the nearest point of the house, across the full width of the lot. No fence there may exceed 1 m.

Question 3

Does my backyard fence height count from my side or theirs in Ottawa?

Accepted Answer

The City of Ottawa Fence By-law, as published on ottawa.ca, answers this directly: height is measured from the grade at the base of the fence, and where the ground is higher on one side, from the higher side. So if your neighbour's yard sits higher than yours, the fence height is measured from their grade, not yours. "Grade" in the by-law means the finished ground right next to the fence.

Question 4

Taller fence in Orleans if my neighbour agrees?

Accepted Answer

Your neighbour's agreement does not raise the height limit. The City of Ottawa Fence By-law, as published on ottawa.ca, sets the maximum at 213 cm (about 7 feet) in a side or rear yard, and that limit applies regardless of what you and your neighbour have agreed between yourselves. The only route to a taller residential fence under the Fence By-law is an exemption the Director of By-law Services can grant, up to 3 m, where a taller fence is necessary for the health or safety of the public.

Fence Heights & the By-law

Who enforces fence height rules in Ottawa?

Does Ottawa have a fence by-law for townhouses in Riverside South?

Does my backyard fence height count from my side or theirs in Ottawa?

Taller fence in Orleans if my neighbour agrees?