Corner triangle rules for a fence in Riverside South?

Riverside South is fully within the City of Ottawa, so the City of Ottawa Fence By-law No. 2003-462 and Ottawa's zoning by-laws both apply. There are two separate triangle rules that can affect a corner lot here, and they come from different sources with different measurements.

Corner triangle rules in Riverside South

The Fence By-law (s.4) says that on a corner lot, no fence may exceed 75 cm in height within a triangle formed by measuring 3 m along each lot line from the corner where the two streets meet. This applies to any fence material, solid or see-through.

Ottawa's zoning by-laws (Zoning By-law 2026-50, s.216, and Zoning By-law 2008-250, s.57) add a second, larger triangle on residential corner lots: no solid obstruction higher than 0.75 m within a triangle measured 6 m along each street lot line from the corner. Under the zoning rules, a chain link fence or other similar see-through feature is not considered an obstruction, so a see-through fence is not restricted by the zoning triangle the way a solid fence is. Keep in mind that the Fence By-law (s.18) still requires any chain link on residential property to be vinyl or powder coated, even if it is see-through for zoning purposes.

These two triangles are separate rules from separate sources, each with its own measurement. On a corner lot in Riverside South, confirm the exact layout with the City of Ottawa before setting any posts near a street corner.

There is also a driveway triangle that applies to every lot, not just corner lots. The Fence By-law (s.4) says no fence may exceed 75 cm within a triangle formed by measuring 2 m along the lot line and 2 m along the driveway edge, from the point where the driveway meets the lot line at the street. This matters wherever a driveway exits to a street, regardless of whether the lot is on a corner.

Outside those triangles, the standard height limits apply: no higher than 1 m in the front yard, and no higher than 213 cm (about 7 feet) in a side or rear yard. Height is measured from the grade at the base of the fence, and where the ground is higher on one side, measurement starts from the higher grade. A berm does not raise the limit.

You can use the form on this page to have local fence installers from the Ottawa Construction Network directory contact you by email with quotes for your Riverside South project.

Ask the City first if the layout near your corner is unclear, then ask the installer to mark both triangles on the drawing that goes with the quote.