Replacing chain link with wood in Barrhaven, any rules?
Replacing chain link with wood in Barrhaven, any rules?
Replacing chain link with wood in Barrhaven follows the City of Ottawa Fence By-law No. 2003-462, and the main rules are the same as for any new fence: no higher than 1 m in the front yard, and no higher than 213 cm (about 7 feet) in a side or rear yard. No building permit is needed for a residential fence that does not enclose a pool.
The by-law adds a few rules specific to the swap you are making. For the new wood fence, unless you choose cedar, redwood or treated wood, the by-law requires the fence to be protected by paint, preservatives or another weather-resistant material. The finished side of the new fence, meaning the side with the clean face rather than the structural rails and posts, must face the street and your neighbours' properties.
If the chain link sits on or near the property line, confirm the line before the new posts go in. geoOttawa shows approximate lines; for a confirmed boundary, only an Ontario Land Surveyor can survey it.
For the quote, ask the installer to break out the removal of the old chain link and posts separately, because posts set in concrete cost more to pull. Ask what wood species and treatment the quote assumes, how post holes will be set, and what the finished-side orientation will be along each run.
Under the Underground Infrastructure Notification System Act, 2012, whoever digs the post holes is the excavator and must make a locate request before digging; it is free, and Ontario Dig Authority asks for it at least 5 business days ahead. Ask the installer whether they submit the request or whether you do, and ask about any private lines on your property, such as a line running to a shed or garage, because we found no statement either way on whether those are marked.
Before the new posts go in, pull up geoOttawa to check the approximate property line, review your title documents for any easements along the fence run, and check whether any trees near the line fall within the City's protected root zone under the Tree Protection By-law.
What it costs: Old fence removal
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Fencing IQ -- Built from the Ontario Building Code, Ontario regulations and City of Ottawa sources and real construction experience. Answers are for informational purposes only and are not a professional assessment.
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