In Caledon, a backyard fence can be up to 2 metres tall, and a front yard fence up to 1.5 metres, or just 1 metre if your home is in a registered subdivision. Privacy screens, pool enclosures and corner lots each have their own rules, and Caledon handles fence disputes between neighbours differently from most of Ontario.
The rules come from the Town’s Fence By-law 2017-68, last amended in 2026, and its Division Fence By-law 2021-14. This guide explains both in plain language, with a checker for your own fence.
Check your fence before you build
Pick what you are building, where it goes and how tall it will be. The checker applies the Caledon Fence By-law and flags anything that needs a variance or a permit.
Summary of the Town of Caledon Fence By-law. Not legal advice. Have a surveyor confirm your lot lines before you build.
Maximum fence heights in Caledon
| Location | Residential lot | Commercial, industrial or institutional lot |
|---|---|---|
| Front yard, in a registered plan of subdivision | 1 m | 1 m |
| Front yard, other lots | 1.5 m | 1 m |
| Interior side yard | 2 m | 3 m |
| Exterior side yard (street side of a corner lot) | 1.5 m | 3 m |
| Rear yard | 2 m | 3 m |
| Where a residential lot backs onto a commercial, industrial or institutional lot | 3 m along that line | |
| Chain link around a tennis or basketball court | 3.5 m | 3.5 m |
Height is measured from finished grade to the highest point of the fence, including posts. Many homes in newer communities such as Mayfield West sit in registered plans of subdivision, so their front yard limit is 1 metre. Your survey or deed will show the plan number.
The fence by-law does not set heights for agricultural and rural zones. Zoning by-law 2006-50 still applies and overrides the fence by-law where they conflict, so check with the Town before building a tall fence on a rural property.
Corner lots and sight triangles
On a corner lot, a triangle at the corner must stay clear so drivers can see. It is measured 9 metres along each street line from where they meet, or 15 metres if one of the roads is a Regional Road. Inside that triangle, a fence or privacy screen can be no more than 1 metre above the level of the street. No fence anywhere may block the view of traffic, pedestrians or road signs. On a corner lot, the shorter lot line facing a street is treated as the front.
Older fences
A fence that existed before January 1, 2018 is treated as compliant. Once you replace or repair 50 per cent or more of it, the whole fence must meet the current rules. Fences built under a subdivision or site plan agreement, such as noise walls, are exempt except for maintenance.
Privacy screens
A privacy screen is a solid panel or wall used to block views, often around a patio or hot tub. On a residential lot it is allowed if:
- it is no taller than 3 metres, or 2 metres measured from the deck surface if it sits on a deck
- all screens on the lot add up to no more than 8 metres in length
- it is not in the front yard
- it is set back 4.5 metres from any lot line next to a street and 1.5 metres from all other lot lines
On a semi-detached house or townhouse, a screen can sit as close as 30 centimetres to the shared side lot line, which makes privacy between back patios possible. Screens are not allowed on commercial, industrial or institutional lots, cannot be electrified or topped with barbed wire, and cannot form part of a pool enclosure.
Pool fences and permits
A swimming pool needs a permitted, inspected enclosure before any water goes in. This is one area where no variance is available.
| Requirement | Rule |
|---|---|
| Height | At least 1.2 m above finished grade at every point |
| Distance from the water | At least 1.2 m from the pool’s edge |
| Location | Not in the front yard |
| Chain link | Mesh openings no larger than 38 mm |
| Wood boards | Spaced 12.7 mm to 89 mm apart |
| Metal bars or masonry openings | No more than 89 mm apart |
| Gate | At least 1.2 m high, on hinges, self-closing and self-latching, with the latch on the inside near the top; kept closed and locked |
| Climbing | No outside bracing, and nothing climbable within 1.2 m outside the fence, such as trees, air conditioners, meters or steps |
| Sharp materials | No barbed wire or sharp projections |
The pool permit
- Fee: $458. An older Town instruction sheet shows $357, so confirm the current fee when you apply.
- Security deposit: $2,000 for an in-ground or on-ground pool, $500 for an above-ground pool, by certified cheque or cash, returned after the final inspection passes.
- Documents: a site plan, a Letter of Undertaking and the pool security undertaking form. In settlement areas, a title search less than three months old is also required.
- Inspection: one final inspection once the pool and fence are complete. Book 48 hours ahead at 905-584-2272 ext. 4174. The owner must be present.
- Other approvals: if your property is regulated by the Toronto and Region or Credit Valley conservation authorities, or the Niagara Escarpment Commission, getting their approval is your responsibility.
Hot tubs and spas with a locked, substantial hard cover are exempt from the enclosure rules. So are above-ground pools with smooth walls more than 1.2 m high and removable or swing-up steps, and above-ground pools with a compliant deck, guard and gated steps.
Barbed wire, electric fences and Town land
- Barbed wire and similar sharp material are banned, except on agricultural or rural land that is actively farmed and does not border a residential zone.
- Electric fences are only allowed on actively farmed agricultural or rural land, to contain animals, at a maximum of 12 volts, with warning signs every 15 metres, and set 0.3 metres inside the lot line.
- Town land: no fence or privacy screen may be built on Town property, and no gate may open onto it from the part of your fence that borders it.
- Maintenance: fences and screens must be kept in good repair and free of graffiti.
Sharing a fence with your neighbour
Most Ontario municipalities use the provincial Line Fences Act, with fence-viewers who decide disputes. Caledon has opted out of it. Instead, its Division Fence By-law 2021-14 sets out a process neighbours follow themselves. The Town does not decide disputes and cannot determine where your property line is.
Before anything else: confirm the line
Have an Ontario Land Surveyor confirm or stake your property line. A fence built on the wrong side of the line is the most common cause of neighbour disputes, and it is expensive to move.
If you and your neighbour agree
Each owner does the work or pays the share you agree on. Put the agreement in writing.
If you do not agree
- The owner who wants the fence sends the neighbour, by registered mail, a letter describing the work, three written quotes, a copy of the by-law and a survey by an Ontario Land Surveyor.
- Work cannot start until 20 business days after mailing. The neighbour can get their own quotes in that time.
- For a new or replacement fence, the neighbour pays 50 per cent of the lowest quote, capped at half the cost of a basic fence. A basic fence is 122 cm chain link, or 122 cm nine-strand page wire on actively farmed land.
- To collect, send a letter within 90 days after the work is done. If it is unpaid 30 days later, you can apply to the Ontario Court of Justice.
Repairs are split 50/50. If one owner causes the damage, that owner pays all of it. Storm and natural disaster damage is shared equally, and damage from a falling tree is paid by the owner of the land the tree stood on.
In practice, the cap means that if you want a 2 metre cedar privacy fence, your neighbour only has to contribute half of what a basic chain link fence would cost. The upgrade is on you unless they agree otherwise.
Variances: keeping a fence that does not comply
If you want to build or keep a fence or privacy screen that does not meet the by-law, you can ask for a variance:
- Request the Fence By-law variance application form from the Town.
- Include your survey, a site plan and any supporting documents, such as photos or a letter of support from neighbours.
- Email the package, or deliver or mail it to the Regulatory Services Manager, Town Hall, 6311 Old Church Road, Caledon, ON L7C 1J6.
- Pay the non-refundable $565 application fee.
The Town circulates the application to adjoining property owners, who can comment. The Director’s decision is final and cannot be appealed. Variances are not available for pool enclosure rules.
Fines
A conviction under the fence by-law carries a fine of at least $500 and up to $100,000. A continuing offence can add $500 to $10,000 for each day it continues. Since June 23, 2026, fence violations can also be handled through the Town’s administrative monetary penalty system, which issues penalties without going to court.
What a fence costs in 2026
| Fence type | Installed, per linear foot | 150 ft backyard |
|---|---|---|
| Chain link | $15 to $25 | $2,250 to $3,750 |
| Pressure-treated wood | $27 to $45 | $4,050 to $6,750 |
| Vinyl | $35 to $65 | $5,250 to $9,750 |
| Cedar | $45 to $85 | $6,750 to $12,750 |
| Aluminum | $45 to $90 | $6,750 to $13,500 |
Canadian averages from HomeStars, August 2026. GTA prices often run higher. Pool-code fencing typically adds 10 to 20 per cent.
Call before you dig. A utility locate is free and legally required before digging fence post holes. Request it through Ontario One Call at least 5 business days ahead. Private lines, such as power to a shed or a pool heater gas line, are not covered and need a private locate.
How Caledon compares
| Front yard | Rear and side yard | Neighbour disputes | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Caledon | 1.5 m, or 1 m in subdivisions | 2 m (1.5 m street side) | Own Division Fence By-law |
| Brampton | 1 m | 2 m | Division fence by-law 172-2006 |
| Mississauga | 1 m, or 1.5 m if open construction | 2 m | Check City rules |
Buying a home in Caledon
Before you close, ask whether any fence, pool enclosure or privacy screen was built without a permit, and whether the fences sit on the property line shown on the survey. A pool without a passed final inspection can mean a held deposit or a new permit. Browse Caledon homes and communities, new homes in Caledon, or get a free home evaluation.
Planning a bigger backyard project next door in Peel? See our guides to Brampton garden suites and Mississauga garden suites.
Questions owners ask
How high can a fence be in Caledon?
2 m in the rear and interior side yards, 1.5 m in the exterior side yard, and 1.5 m in the front yard, or 1 m if the lot is in a registered plan of subdivision.
Do I need a permit for a fence in Caledon?
Not for an ordinary fence that meets the by-law. A pool enclosure needs a permit, and a fence that exceeds the rules needs a $565 variance.
How tall can a privacy screen be in Caledon?
3 m on the ground or 2 m on a deck, up to 8 m in total length, set back 4.5 m from street lot lines and 1.5 m from other lot lines.
How high does a pool fence need to be in Caledon?
At least 1.2 m everywhere, with a self-closing, self-latching gate, and at least 1.2 m from the water’s edge.
Who pays for a fence between neighbours in Caledon?
If you cannot agree, the neighbour pays half of the lowest of three quotes, capped at half the cost of a basic 122 cm chain link fence, under the Division Fence By-law.
Does Caledon use the Line Fences Act?
No. Caledon opted out and uses its own Division Fence By-law 2021-14.
Can I use barbed wire or an electric fence?
Only on actively farmed agricultural or rural land, with conditions. Barbed wire is also banned there if the land borders a residential zone.
Does a hot tub need a fence in Caledon?
Not if it has a locked, substantial hard cover.
Sources
- Town of Caledon: Fences page; Fence By-law 2017-68 (office consolidation, amended by By-law 2026-066); Division Fence By-law 2021-14; Property line fences page; Swimming pools page and enclosure instructions.
- City of Brampton and City of Mississauga fence pages (2026); HomeStars fence installation price guide (August 2026); Ontario One Call (Ontario Dig Authority) locate requirements.
This guide is general information, not legal advice. Fence rules can be affected by zoning and conservation authority rules. Confirm with the Town of Caledon before you build. HomeLife Landmark Realty Inc., Brokerage.