Repair or replace a leaning cedar fence in Kanata?

Whether to repair or replace depends on what is actually failing, which is something an installer has to look at; if more than a few posts are involved, ask for a full replacement to be priced alongside the repair.

For repair work, published Ontario installer pricing puts post replacement at too few published figures to quote a range, so ask each installer to price it as a separate line. There are also too few published prices for board replacement and general repairs, so a written quote is the number to work from. For a full cedar replacement, published 2025-26 prices show installed cedar fence at about $45 to $85 per linear foot, with gates priced on top of that: a pedestrian gate about $500 to $1,500, a driveway gate about $800 to $2,200. Removing and disposing of the old fence adds roughly $5 to $15 per linear foot, and posts set in concrete cost more to pull.

A few things affect which way the quote goes. Cedar, redwood and treated wood are the three materials the City of Ottawa Fence By-law, as published on ottawa.ca, excepts from the requirement to protect the surface with paint, preservatives or another weather-resistant material, so a cedar fence meets that rule without coating. The by-law also requires the fence to be stable, vertical, of good-quality materials, kept in good repair, and free from accident hazards (sections 11 and 12). Municipal Law Enforcement Officers enforce the by-law.

On height: the Fence By-law sets 1 m in a front yard and 213 cm (about 7 feet) in a side or rear yard. If the existing fence is already at or near 213 cm, confirm the replacement matches that, measured from the grade at the base of the fence, not from a berm or raised bed.

Because any post replacement breaks ground, the Underground Infrastructure Notification System Act requires a locate request before digging. Ontario Dig Authority asks for it at least 5 business days ahead; the request is free. Ontario Dig Authority does not mark lines itself; each utility sends its own locator. Ask about any private lines on your property as well.

Photos of the lean, taken before any work starts, make it easier to compare what each installer says needs doing.