Ottawa fence by-law: when you need one and what to submit
The short answer
No permit for an ordinary fence that follows Fence By-law 2003-462.
Last verified 2026-10-07 · City of Ottawa Fence By-law 2003-462, City of Ottawa: Building permits FAQ- City fee
- No permit fee for an ordinary project
- Where to apply
- My ServiceOttawa building portal
- Review time
- About 5 business days for a first review of a deck, finished basement or pool enclosure (15 for adding an apartment).
Up to 1 m in the front yard and 2.13 m in other yards, but 75 cm inside the 3 m corner and 2 m driveway sight triangles. On a corner lot, only the shorter street side counts as the front yard.
What an application usually includes
Ottawa’s checklist has the exact list; apply through My ServiceOttawa building portal.
- Usually nothing: an ordinary fence that follows the by-law needs no permit
- For a variance: a site plan, the fence height and design, and notice to neighbours
- For a masonry fence or a pool enclosure: the City’s own permit
Local quirks
- Already have a fenced yard? A pool or hot tub still needs its own enclosure permit.
- The finished side of a fence faces the street and the neighbours, and chain-link on homes has to be vinyl- or powder-coated.
- Heritage-designated properties lose the usual permit exemptions, so check before even small jobs.
Design your Ottawa fence to the Building Code.
The design, drawings and code checks work in Ottawa today. Ottawa’s own forms aren’t built in yet, so you’ll fill those in on the City’s portal.