How tall can your fence be in Peterborough?
How tall a fence can be depends on your town, your yard and whether you're on a corner. Cobourg allows 0.75 m out front and 1.8 m near rear and side lot lines, and Selwyn and Asphodel-Norwood allow about 1 m out front and 1.8 to 2 m out back. We check the current by-law for your address at the free estimate.
The Durable Fence Team. Updated . 5 min read.
The usual pattern
Residential by-laws across the region follow the same idea. Fences can be taller where you need privacy (rear and side yards) and have to be lower where drivers and neighbours need to see (front yards, corners and driveways). Pool enclosures follow their own rules. The actual numbers change from town to town.
Fence heights by town
These come from each municipality's own by-law or published fence guide. By-laws get updated, so follow the link for your town, and we confirm the current rules for your address before we quote.
| Town | Front yard | Rear and side yard | Pool enclosure | Permit needed? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| City of Peterborough | Check with the city. Fences in driveway sight triangles are limited to 0.9 m (chain link exempt). | Check with the city | At least 1.22 m (4 ft) for a house | Fence: no. Pool or hot tub enclosure: yes. |
| Cobourg | Up to 0.75 m (about 2.5 ft). 0.75 m in corner and driveway sight triangles. | Up to 1.8 m (about 6 ft) within 2 m of a rear or side lot line | At least 1.83 m (6 ft) | Fence: check with the town. Pool or hot tub deeper than 24 in: yes. |
| Kawartha Lakes (Lindsay, Omemee) | Check with the city | Up to 2 m in most residential areas | At least 1.2 m (4 ft) | Fence: no, unless it protects a pool. In-ground pool, or water deeper than 1.2 m: yes. |
| Selwyn Township (Lakefield) | Up to 1 m, including exterior side yards. Up to 1.2 m in a yard facing a lake or river. | Up to 1.8 m | At least 1.2 m (4 ft) | Check with the township |
| Asphodel-Norwood (Norwood) | Up to 1.0 m if solid, 1.2 m if open (chain link, or picket with gaps) | Up to 2.0 m | At least 1.2 m (4 ft) | Fence: no. Pool: check with the township. |
| Trent Hills (Campbellford) | Check with the town | Check with the town | Check with the town | Check with the town |
| Havelock-Belmont-Methuen (Havelock) | Check with the township | Check with the township | Required for every pool and hot tub, with a self-closing gate. Height: check with the township. | Fence: check. Pool: yes. |
A few other rules worth knowing. Cobourg doesn't allow snow fencing, barbed wire or electrified fences on residential lots. Kawartha Lakes requires chain link to be vinyl- or powder-coated. Asphodel-Norwood allows minor variances if you need something the by-law doesn't. For more on pools, see our guide to pool fence rules.
Corner lots need a plan, not just panels
Corner lots lose the most privacy to sight triangles, the clear zone drivers need near an intersection or a driveway. Cobourg limits fences inside them to 0.75 m, and Peterborough limits fences in driveway sight triangles to 0.9 m (By-law 94-64, chain link exempt). A stepped design usually wins most of the privacy back: lower near the street, full height where it's allowed.
We measure the triangle on site and draw the fence line before we quote. That way you never build a fence and then have to cut it down.
Fences on the line between neighbours
A fence that sits on the boundary between two properties is a line fence. In Ontario, the Line Fences Act gives a process for settling disputes about shared boundary fences in municipalities that use it. Kawartha Lakes has its own fence cost-sharing by-law (2019-059) for line fences.
The practical advice is simpler. Talk to your neighbour before anything goes in, and know exactly where the property line is. A survey is the surest way to know. If you can't agree, your town office can tell you which process applies.
Before you build
Know where your property line is. Check the current by-law for your address. Get the utilities located before anyone digs.
We check the by-law for your address as part of every free estimate and written quote. If you're planning a wood privacy fence or vinyl fence, ask us to check your lot first.
Common questions
Can I put up a 6-foot fence in my Peterborough backyard?
We check the City of Peterborough's current by-law for your address at the free estimate instead of quoting a number from memory. Corner lots, driveways and pool rules can change the answer too.
Does a residential fence need a permit?
Not in the City of Peterborough, unless it encloses a pool or hot tub. Kawartha Lakes only needs one when the fence protects a pool, and Asphodel-Norwood doesn't need one for a fence. Height and sight-line rules still apply everywhere, so we check your address.
Keep reading
Pool fence rules: what inspectors actually check
Pool enclosure rules are set town by town. Around here the minimum height is 1.2 m (4 ft) in Peterborough, Kawartha Lakes, Selwyn and Asphodel-Norwood, and 1.83 m (6 ft) in Cobourg, with self-closing, self-latching gates. Here is what each town asks for and what inspectors check, so opening day stays on schedule.
How much does a fence cost in Peterborough?
Every fence we build is priced per foot installed. Here's how chain link, wood, vinyl and iron rank from lowest to highest cost, what pushes a quote up or down, and how to get an accurate written number fast.
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