Fence By-law

Over the past 15+ years, the Township has adopted five (5) separate by-laws that relate to fences within its jurisdiction. This fact, coupled with a number of desired changes to the current in-effect by-laws, have encouraged staff to prepare a new comprehensive by-law which regulates the construction of all types of fences within the Township.

As part of the Township’s ongoing review of its by-laws, Staff have reviewed the current, in-effect by-laws and are recommending the repeal of by-law Nos. 2005-060, 2006-069, 2006-100, 2012-038 and 2019-051 and replacement with one new consolidated fence by-law.

The purpose of this exercise is to consolidate existing by-laws related to fencing into one, easy to follow, comprehensive Fence By-law for property owners and the development community to reference.

A general overview of some of the proposed amendments to the Fence By-Law is highlighted for your convenience below:

• The term “Effective Grade Level” has been introduced into the By-law to help clarify how the height of fences is measured;
• Pool enclosure and non-pool enclosure fence requirements are contained within one by-law, as opposed to two separate by-laws;
• The areas (Rural and Urban Settlement Areas) which the Line Fences Act, R.S.O. 1990, c. L.17 does not apply have been added to the new By-law;
• The Township’s Fire Chief has been made the administrator of the new By-law, with the Municipal Law Enforcement Officer(s) maintained as the staff members tasked with enforcing it;
• The maximum height requirements for fences have been simplified so as to eliminate the differences between “open-type” and “closed-type” fences.
• The maximum height requirement for a fence located in the rear or side yard not abutting a street has been increased to 1.83m (6’), regardless of construction;
• Swimming pool enclosure permitting requirements have been revised to be made clearer; and
• Council delegation to the Committee of Adjustment for minor variances to the provisions of the By-law has been maintained.