Ottawa’s Fence By-law No. 2003-462 sets the baseline for an ordinary fence. Section 5 states a 1 m height in a front yard and a 2.13 m height in yards other than the front, subject to the bylaw’s detailed exceptions. A high privacy panel at the side of the house should be checked where it passes the front building line, and a corner or driveway can create additional visibility constraints. The City’s building-permit FAQ
The City has a separate Pool Enclosure By-law No. 2013-39. It calls for at least a 1.5 m enclosure and addresses gates and access. Do not reuse the 1 m front-yard rule as the whole answer for a pool project. First determine whether the proposed fence is a property boundary, pool barrier, or both. Then map the pool, house, doors, access gate and neighbouring grades. If the pool barrier is built in a front or corner area, both rule sets may need to be reconciled before installation.
For an Ottawa homeowner replacing a leaning rear fence, the routine building-permit exemption may make the job straightforward, but an increase to an unusual height or a change at a street-facing lot edge should be checked against the full Fence By-law text. The City's online consolidation says it is current only to May 9, 2018; ask the City about subsequent amendments before relying on a contested limit. The bylaw measures height from grade at the fence base; a change in grade along a long run deserves several measurement points. The printed height numbers are not a survey of the actual lot. Verify the front lot line and side yard from the property documents, and check any registered subdivision, heritage or pool conditions separately. When a neighbour disputes costs or exact location, resolve the boundary issue before post holes are dug; an ordinary-fence permit exemption does not settle ownership.
Last verified: September 28, 2026. This Ottawa guide summarizes the linked municipal sources for planning; the property’s zoning, survey and any required approval decide the actual design. How we research fence rules →
