Fence rules in King Township.
A backyard fence in King Township can be up to 2.44 m (8 ft), and 1.83 m (6 ft) in the side yard beside the house. A pool needs an enclosure at least 1.22 m high, approved by the township before the water goes in.
How tall a fence can be in King Township.
The rules below come from Fence By-law 2012-132, as amended by 2021-005, 2021-041, 2022-012 and 2022-015, and cover King City, Nobleton, Schomberg and the rural township.
| Where the fence is | Height limit |
|---|---|
| Back yard | 2.44 m (8 ft) |
| Side yard beside the house | 1.83 m (6 ft) |
| Front yard or side yard along a street, open fence | 1.22 m (4 ft) |
| Front yard or side yard along a street, solid fence | 0.92 m (3 ft) |
| Corner lot, back yard next to a neighbour’s front yard | 1.83 m (6 ft) |
How it’s measured. From the ground on the line the fence is centred on, to its highest point. On a retaining wall or a deck, from the top of it.
Posts and caps. No allowance for posts or caps: the highest point counts.
Corners and driveways.
No fence may block traffic sightlines at a corner or a driveway. Open means at least a third of the fence face is open space.
Pool enclosures in King Township.
A pool enclosure permit from the Township comes before the pool, and no water goes in until a proper enclosure is up.
- At least 1.22 m (4 ft) high, measured from the ground within 0.92 m outside the enclosure.
- Boards or pickets no more than 3.8 cm apart where the rails are closer than 1.22 m (10 cm where they are 1.22 m or more apart); boards at least 1 × 4; posts at least 4 in., no more than 2.44 m apart and 0.61 m into the ground.
- The bottom no more than 10 cm off the ground, and at least 1.22 m from anything climbable next door, tree branches included.
- Gates close and latch by themselves on the inside, at least 1.22 m up. Keep them closed and locked.
What needs a permit, and how to ask for more.
Permits. No permit for an ordinary fence. A pool needs a pool enclosure permit before it goes in.
Exemptions. The by-law has no exemption process. Call By-law Enforcement before you build anything outside these limits.
- Replace or substantially change an old fence and the new one has to meet today’s by-law.
- The Division Fence By-law 2012-66 covers sharing the cost of a fence on the line with a neighbour.
Check with the township before you build.
By-law Enforcement Services, Township of King: 905-833-4002, [email protected].
This page covers heights, corners and driveways, pools and permits; the full by-law, linked below, covers everything else. We read each figure here from the township’s own documents and last checked them on September 26, 2026. By-laws change, and zoning, a subdivision agreement or a heritage designation can set a lower limit on your street. The township’s by-law office has the final word, so check with them before you build.