Fences · Ottawa, ON
Fence installation in central Ottawa
Wood privacy fences, gates and full replacements for central Ottawa lots, from the Glebe and Sandy Hill to Old Ottawa South and Alta Vista. Posts are set for Leda clay and frost, and the line is agreed with you before digging.
- Wood posts
- Wood boards
- Board-on-board panels
- Lattice top
The local picture
Fences in central Ottawa
Leda clay underlies most of Ottawa and holds water, which makes frost lift worse around a fence post. Post holes are augered so each post sits in firm, undisturbed ground, and every post is checked for plumb and height so the top reads as one line.
Central lots sit close together, and a fence often runs on a shared line. We mark the line with you before digging, and a survey plan settles it where the boundary is unclear. The City fence by-law generally allows up to 2.13 m in side and rear yards and 1 m in a front yard, lower near corners and driveways.
A fence contractor for central Ottawa’s older streets
Privacy fences, gates and replacements on tight urban lots
Korvex Construction is a fence contractor for central Ottawa. We install wood privacy fences and gates, and replace worn-out fences, on lots in the Glebe, Sandy Hill, Old Ottawa South, Alta Vista and the streets around them. It starts with a free on-site estimate where we walk the line with you, and the written quote follows. Call or text 613-880-7679 with the address to book it.
On a tight central lot, one short fence run can touch the house next door, the street and a big City tree. Each of those has its own City rule, so the layout is settled before any lumber is ordered.
Heritage streets in the Glebe
What the Clemow-Monkland Driveway and Linden Terrace plan says about fences
Part of the Glebe lies in the Clemow-Monkland Driveway and Linden Terrace Heritage Conservation District. Its plan records that front yards there historically had no fencing or hedges, and says fencing should typically be limited to the rear yard. On a corner lot, the plan says the fence should stop at the front elevation of the house.
For a rear fence the plan encourages traditional materials such as wood, with landscaped screening, and any new fence must meet the City fence by-law. Rear-yard fencing that follows the plan’s policies and guidelines is on its list of alterations that need no heritage permit. Most other exterior work in the district needs one, and the plan asks owners to talk to City heritage staff first. If your house is in a heritage district, we read its plan with you before the layout is set.
Gates, arches and City trees
The by-law details that shape a front-to-back fence
In side and rear yards, the fence by-law lets a gate rise up to 30 cm above the height limit, an archway forming part of an entrance reach 250 cm, and decorative caps on posts add up to 15 cm. The finished side of the fence has to face the street and the neighbouring properties. A fence is also barred from City property, including the public highway, so the street end of the line is taken from the lot line itself.
Ottawa’s tree by-law treats a tree that straddles City and private property as a municipal tree. Work within its critical root zone that may injure it needs the City’s written approval. Post holes near a street tree are placed with that zone in mind, and we flag any tree close to the line at the estimate.
At the site visit
What we check on a lot in central Ottawa
- 01
Where the lot line runs at the street end of the fence
- 02
Whether the house sits in a heritage conservation district
- 03
City trees close to the line, and their root zones
- 04
Gate, arch and post-cap heights you have in mind
- 05
Which face of the fence the neighbours will see
- 06
How lumber and the auger reach a backyard with no side access
What we plan around
Local conditions in central Ottawa
Each point links to the public source it was checked against. At the site visit we check how it applies to your lot.
- Clay under most of the city
Leda clay underlies most of Ottawa and is sensitive to water and disturbance. Excavation, compaction and a granular base are sized for that soil.
How we build it
How we build a fence that stays straight
A fence is only as straight as the posts holding it, so most of the work happens below the ground.
- Layout
We mark the line with you before digging. A survey plan settles it where the boundary is unclear.
- Locates
Buried utility lines are located before any post hole is dug.
- Post holes
Augered, so each post sits in firm, undisturbed ground.
- Line and level
Every post checked for plumb and height, so the top reads as one line.
- Boards and lattice topFastened to the rails once every post is plumb and in line.Fastened to the framing
- Rails and postsRails tie the posts together and carry the weight of the boards.Checked level
- Post footingType and depth chosen for your soil and frost conditions.Bearing on firm ground
- Native soilOttawa clay holds water, which makes frost lift worse. We check it as we dig.To firm ground
Projects
Fences we have built
Recent jobs from across Ottawa.
Reviews
What homeowners say about our fence work
Quoted as written on HomeStars and Facebook. All reviews
“Vlad and his partner did a terrific job repairing our sagging wood fence, giving it a new life, for a very reasonable price. They communicated clearly and professionally at every stage of the process, they completed the job in a timely manner, and their work was top notch. Highly recommended!”
Geoffrey Robinson · Wood fence repair · Ottawa
“Did awesome work! had them repair a leany fence and they were on time, cheap and super professional”
Josh Cohen-Collier · Leaning fence repaired
“They installed new fence posts and were creative in reinstalling the panels that were old and past their prime. Vladyslav and his partner are efficient, reliable and their work is reasonably priced. They are pleasant to deal with and good at communicating the details of the job. I highly recommend them.”
HomeStars user · Fence posts replaced · Nepean
FAQ
Fences in central Ottawa: common questions
Can I put a fence in my front yard in the Glebe?
The City fence by-law allows up to 1 m in a front yard, and less near street corners and driveways. Inside the Clemow-Monkland Driveway and Linden Terrace Heritage Conservation District, the plan says fencing should typically be limited to the rear yard, so a front fence there is a question for City heritage staff first. We check which rules cover your street at the estimate.
How tall can a gate or an arbour entrance be on an Ottawa fence?
In side and rear yards, the Ottawa fence by-law lets a gate exceed the fence height limit by up to 30 cm. An archway that forms part of an entrance can reach 250 cm, and decorative caps on structural posts can add up to 15 cm. These allowances are written for side and rear yards only.
Our fence is on a shared line. What do we need?
Talk to your neighbour early. We mark the line with you before any post hole is dug, and where the boundary is unclear a survey plan settles it. In Ottawa, a fence that does not enclose a pool needs no building permit, and the by-law sets its height.
How tall can a backyard fence be in Ottawa?
Generally up to 2.13 m in side and rear yards and up to 1 m in a front yard, under the City of Ottawa fence by-law. Lower limits apply near corners and driveways, for visibility. We check what applies to your property before we build.
Why is my fence leaning?
Almost always because the posts have moved. In Ottawa clay, wet soil around a post freezes, lifts it and settles back unevenly each spring, and wood at ground level rots faster in soil that stays damp. Korvex checks the posts first: sound posts can be straightened, and posts that are rotted or loose along the run need replacing.
Book a free fence estimate in central Ottawa
Tell us what you want built and send a few photos. We come out, look at what sits under the job, and give you the scope and the price in writing.