Composite privacy screen beside a Nepean patio, same rules as a fence?

A freestanding composite privacy screen beside a patio is a fence under the City of Ottawa Fence By-law No. 2003-462, so yes, the same rules apply. The by-law defines a fence as any freestanding structure, wall or barrier other than a building, erected at grade to mark a boundary, restrict access, or provide security or protection, and a privacy screen fits that description exactly.

Height and placement

In a side or rear yard, the limit is 213 cm (about 7 feet); any part of the screen in the front yard is limited to 1 m. Height is measured from the grade at the base of the screen, using the higher grade where the ground differs on each side. We found no rule in the by-law for a screen built on a raised patio, a deck or a retaining wall, so confirm how height is measured with the City of Ottawa before building.

The by-law requires the finished side of the screen to face the street and neighbouring properties. The by-law excepts only cedar, redwood and treated wood from its coating rule; every other fence, composite included, must be protected by paint, preservatives or another weather-resistant material, so ask the installer what the maker says about finish and care, in writing. No building permit is needed for a fence that does not enclose a pool.

Published 2025-26 Ontario installer prices for composite fencing run about $55 to $95 or more per linear foot installed. Gates are priced separately: a pedestrian gate is roughly $500 to $1,500. What shows up in a quote for a patio privacy screen includes the material and panel style, the height and length of the run, the number of posts and how they are set, any gate, and removal of an existing structure if there is one.

Ask the installer to confirm in writing exactly how they will measure height from grade at your specific patio, so there is no disagreement with the by-law after the screen is up.