Who enforces fence height rules in Ottawa?

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). In those side and rear yards only, a gate may exceed the limit by up to 30 cm, an archway forming part of an entrance may reach 250 cm, and decorative caps on structural posts may exceed the limit by up to 15 cm.

Height is measured from the grade at the base of the fence. Where the ground is higher on one side, measurement starts from the higher grade. The by-law defines grade as the finished ground next to the fence, not counting artificial embankments or berms, so placing a berm at the base does not raise the permitted height. For a fence on top of a retaining wall or a deck, we found no rule in the by-law; confirm with the City.

We found no City page describing how fence complaints are handled, so for a specific fence, ask By-law Services. A fence lawfully built under an old municipality's by-law before January 1, 2004 may continue in use and be maintained, but because the by-law defines "erect" to include altering or rebuilding, ask By-law Services before making changes to an older fence that exceeds today's limits.

A residential fence that does not enclose a pool does not need a building permit. The Fence By-law, as published on ottawa.ca, is the main document to check, and By-law Services is the office to contact with questions about a specific fence.

Before signing a quote, ask the installer to confirm in writing the height they are building to in each yard.