Fence repairs on a King Township estate lot are mostly allowed as like-for-like work, but a replaced fence must meet the Township's Fence By-law 2012-132. Height limits, barbed and electric wire rules, and locates before digging are what trip people up.
Large rural lots in King City, Nobleton and Schomberg carry a lot of fence: post-and-rail along the road, board or wire paddock fencing, and gates that swing all day. The weather and the animals do the damage, a rail snaps, a post heaves in a frost cycle, a gate drops on its hinge post. Here's how to think about the repair, and the rules that apply to it.
Repair versus replace: the by-law line
King's Fence By-law 2012-132 says a fence that lawfully existed before the by-law can be maintained or repaired to the same location, height and dimensions as before. Where an existing fence is replaced or substantially altered, the new work has to be built to the by-law as it reads now. So swapping three broken rails is a repair. Pulling out a whole run and rebuilding it taller, or in a new spot, is not, and the current height rules apply.
The by-law also requires every fence to be kept in a structurally sound condition and in good repair, and not to present an unsightly appearance that is deleterious to the neighbouring environment. A leaning, half-collapsed run along a road is something an enforcement officer can act on.
Height limits that matter on an estate lot
For fences in residential and rural zones, the by-law sets these maximums:
- Rear yard: 2.44 m (8 ft.).
- Side yard: 1.83 m (6 ft.).
- Front or exterior side yard: 1.22 m (4 ft.) if the fence is open type (at least one third of its surface is open space), and 0.92 m (3 ft.) if it is solid.
- Agricultural fence in a front or exterior side yard: up to 1.83 m (6 ft.). The by-law defines this as a fence along the boundary of agriculturally zoned land that is actively used for agriculture, built as 8-strand page wire or of open construction.
Post-and-rail is open type by its nature, which is why it is the common choice at the road. A tall solid board fence in a front yard is the style the by-law restricts hardest. Height is measured from the finished grade at the fence line to its highest point.
Wire, electric fencing and what a hobby paddock can use
This is the rule horse owners most often miss. The by-law prohibits fences made with barbed wire or razor wire, and fences or attachments that can conduct electrical current. It makes exceptions: barbed wire only on agriculturally zoned land that necessarily needs it as part of active agricultural activity, and electrified fencing on properties that necessarily require a fence as part of active agricultural activity. A paddock behind a house on residential-zoned land is not automatically in that category. Before you add electric tape or a hot wire to a repaired run, confirm with the Township how your property is zoned and used.
The by-law also bans sheet or corrugated metal panels as a fence, and materials not normally made for permanent fencing, such as tires or corrugated plastic. Snow fencing is only allowed temporarily.
Gates: where the repair usually is
Most gate trouble is the hinge post, not the gate: the post has worked loose or rotted at grade, and the gate sags. Resetting a post means digging, so the locate rule below applies. Two by-law points are worth knowing. A gate can't be installed in a portion of fence that abuts Township-owned land, and no fence may stand on a road allowance or Township right-of-way, opened or unopened. If your old run sits out at the edge of the road, check where the property line really is before you rebuild it in place. A fence also can't block traffic sightlines at a driveway or corner.
A swimming pool fence is a separate category. Any pool enclosure needs a pool enclosure permit from the Township before construction, with its own gate and latch requirements. Don't treat a pool gate as an ordinary farm gate repair.
Call before you dig
Setting or resetting fence posts is digging, and buried gas, hydro, telecom and water lines run along rural roads and into long driveways. Ontario One Call handles locate requests. A standard single-address request is normally allowed five business days, so request it before you book the work. Not every utility is a member, and the municipality or other providers may need to be contacted separately. If the work is a contractor's, ask who requests the locate, and have it done before the first post hole.
Shared boundary fences and the neighbour
Many estate-lot fences sit on the line with a neighbour. Ontario's Line Fences Act sets a procedure for when owners can't agree on building or repairing a shared boundary fence: either owner can ask the municipality to appoint fence-viewers, who can decide who does the work and describe the fence, and who allocate the costs of the proceeding. An owner who disagrees with the award has 15 days from receiving it to appeal. Two limits to know: the Act doesn't decide where the boundary is, and it doesn't help an owner who repairs or rebuilds the whole fence alone and then asks the neighbour to pay. Talk to the neighbour first, in writing, before work starts. A municipality can also pass its own by-law that changes this process, so confirm with the Township.
What it costs
Pricing for rural fencing varies widely by material, height, terrain and how many gates are involved. As a general estimate only, HomeStars puts average fence installation across Canada at roughly $25 to $100 per linear foot depending on material, height and site conditions, and there is no reliable published Ontario figure for installed post-and-rail to quote here. On a long rural frontage the run length is what drives the total, which is why spot repairs of rails, posts and gates are so much cheaper than a rebuild. Get written quotes that say the rail count, post spacing, height and whether posts are set in concrete or gravel, and add 13% HST.
Quick answers
Do I need a permit to repair a fence in King Township?
Repairing a fence to its existing height and location doesn't need a new approval. A replaced or substantially altered fence must meet the current Fence By-law 2012-132. Pool enclosures are different and need a pool enclosure permit.
How tall can a fence be on a rural lot in King Township?
In a rear yard the limit is 2.44 m (8 ft.). In a side yard it is 1.83 m (6 ft.). In a front yard, open-type fences are limited to 1.22 m (4 ft.) and solid fences to 0.92 m (3 ft.).
Can I use barbed wire or electric fencing in King Township?
Only on agriculturally zoned land that actually needs it for active farming. Elsewhere the by-law prohibits barbed wire and any fence that conducts electrical current, so a hobby paddock on residential land should check first.
Who pays for a shared boundary fence in Ontario?
Under the Line Fences Act, neighbours who share a boundary fence can ask the municipality for fence-viewers when they can't agree. The viewers' award can set who does the work and how the costs are allocated.
Do I need to call before digging fence post holes?
Yes, request locates from Ontario One Call before digging. A standard single-address request is normally allowed five business days, so book the locate before you book the crew.
A short checklist before you start
- Decide whether it's a like-for-like repair or a replacement; replacements follow the current by-law.
- Check the height against the yard type: front, side or rear.
- Leave out barbed wire and electric wire unless the land is farmed and the Township agrees.
- Confirm the property line before you rebuild near the road or a neighbour.
- Request locates and wait for them before anyone digs.
Sources
- Township of King, Fence By-law 2012-132 (consolidation, for reference only; the Clerk holds the official version)
- Ontario.ca, Line Fences Act
- Ontario One Call
- HomeStars, fence installation cost guide
Related reading
- Barn, Stable or Outbuilding Repair in King Township: What Needs a Permit and What Doesn't
- Well Pump and Pressure System Repairs in King Township: Fix It or Replace It?
- Deck and Fence Repair on a Larger Northeast Aurora Lot
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