Fence rules in Toronto.
A backyard fence in Toronto can be up to 2.0 m (6 ft 6 in). A pool needs an enclosure at least 1.2 m high, approved by the city before the water goes in.
How tall a fence can be in Toronto.
The rules below come from Toronto Municipal Code, Chapter 447, Fences, and cover Etobicoke, North York, Scarborough, East York, York and the old city.
| Where the fence is | Height limit |
|---|---|
| Back and side yards, between houses | 2.0 m (6 ft 6 in) |
| Front yard, within 2.4 m of the street | 1.2 m (3 ft 11 in) |
| Front yard, more than 2.4 m back from the street | 2.0 m (6 ft 6 in) |
| Not in the front yard, along a street, a public walkway, an apartment building or a business | 2.5 m (8 ft 2 in) |
| On an open deck, away from the street | 2.0 m above the deck |
How it’s measured. At any point along the fence, from the average ground level 1 m out on each side of it. Where two rules apply to one fence, each part is measured against its own rule.
Posts and caps. The limit applies at every point along the fence, so the posts count. Cut them no higher than the limit.
Corners and driveways.
Within 2.4 m of any driveway, the fence has to be chain link or another see-through build for the first 2.4 m in from where the driveway meets the street, so a driver backing out can see the sidewalk.
Pool enclosures in Toronto.
You need a pool enclosure permit before you dig for or set up a pool, and the pool can’t be filled until an officer has inspected the finished enclosure.
- At least 1.2 m (4 ft) high around a house pool, measured from the highest ground within 1 m outside the enclosure.
- Gates close and latch by themselves, with the latch on the inside near the top, or on the outside at least 1.5 m up.
- Wood: boards at least 19 × 89 mm with gaps no wider than 38 mm where the rails are less than 1.2 m apart (100 mm where they are 1.2 m or more apart); rails at least 38 × 89 mm; posts at least 89 × 89 mm, no more than 2.4 m apart.
What needs a permit, and how to ask for more.
Permits. Chapter 447 has no permit for an ordinary fence. A pool enclosure needs one.
Exemptions. Ask Municipal Licensing and Standards in writing for a site-specific exemption. Your community council decides, and your neighbours are told when it will be heard.
Check with the city before you build.
311 Toronto: 311.
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 city’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 city’s by-law office has the final word, so check with them before you build.