Burlington fence permits & approvals · Reformity Inc.Fence Permit Drawings in Burlington
Usually no. Burlington lists fences among projects that don't need a building permit, but zoning caps the height (2.5 m under By-law 09-2026, 2.0 m under Zoning By-law 2020), a fence enclosing a pool or hot tub may need a pool enclosure permit, and a taller fence needs a minor variance.
We prepare your fence drawings, and when a permit, variance or heritage approval is needed, we submit the application to the City of Burlington for you.
Do you need a permit?
Fence permit rules in Burlington.
Most Burlington fences need no permit, but the height you can build depends on which of the city's two zoning by-laws covers your lot. Residential Zoning By-law 09-2026, in force since March 2, 2026, allows 2.5 m; lots still under Zoning By-law 2020 allow 2.0 m. Both hold front-yard fences to 1.2 m near the street and keep solid fencing to 1 m in corner visibility triangles. On a shared lot line, a neighbour pays at most half the basic cost unless you agree otherwise. The City doesn't locate property lines, so we lay the fence out from your survey and draw a layout for your approval.
Checked against the City of Burlington's own by-laws and pages in November 2026. Rules change, so we confirm them for your address before we draw.
No permit for most fences
Fences are on the City's list of projects that don't need a building permit. A fence enclosing a swimming pool, swim spa or hot tub may need a pool enclosure permit, and zoning still limits height and location.
City of Burlington: building permitsHeights under By-law 09-2026
Maximum 2.5 m. In a front yard, 1.2 m within 3 m of the front lot line, except 2.5 m along a shared line with a corner lot's rear yard. Townhouses: 1.2 m within 3 m of a street. Varying grade: +0.3 m if the 3 m section's lowest height stays within the limit.
Residential Zoning By-law 09-2026, s.5.5 (Oct 2026 consolidation, PDF)Heights under By-law 2020
Maximum 2.0 m. In a front yard, 1.2 m within 3 m of the street line, except 2.0 m along the shared boundary with a corner lot's rear yard. Varying grade: up to 2.3 m if the section's lowest height stays within 2.0 m.
Zoning By-law 2020, Part 1, s.2.4.1 (May 2026, PDF)Corner and driveway sight lines
Under By-law 09-2026, keep a 6 m x 6 m visibility triangle at street corners and a 3 m x 3 m triangle where a driveway meets the street. Inside them, solid fencing can't exceed 1 m above the street pavement.
Residential Zoning By-law 09-2026, s.5.8 (Oct 2026 consolidation, PDF)Taller fence: minor variance
A fence over the zoning limit needs a minor variance from the Committee of Adjustment, judged on the Planning Act's four tests. Residents within 60 m are notified, a sign goes up at least 10 days before the hearing, and a 20-day appeal period follows.
City of Burlington: Minor Variance Application 2026 (PDF)
What the city asks for
The Burlington application.
Issued by: No City permit for an ordinary fence. Over the zoning height: City of Burlington Committee of Adjustment (minor variance). Designated heritage property: Community Planning, heritage permit. Pool enclosure: the combined residential pool approval.. We put the package together, submit it and keep you posted.
Documents
- Variance: Minor Variance Application form (2026), all fields completed, in PDF
- Variance: legal survey signed by an Ontario Land Surveyor, or a stamped detailed site plan
- Variance: to-scale metric site plan and elevation drawings
- Variance: setbacks taken from the deemed street width on the City's map
- Variance: written answers on how the request meets the four Planning Act tests
- Heritage permit (Part IV designated property): online form with the designation by-law number if known, plus materials the Heritage Planner confirms
How it goes
- 1We confirm which zoning by-law covers your lot, its height limits and any visibility triangle, checking with zoning staff (905-335-7642) when needed.
- 2We lay the fence out from your survey, since the City doesn't determine property lines.
- 3We draw a layout for your approval: fence line, section heights, gates and post spacing.
- 4If you want more height than zoning allows, we prepare the variance site plan and elevations after pre-consultation with Zoning and Planning staff, and submit to the Committee of Adjustment.
- 5On a designated heritage property, we prepare drawings for the heritage permit and build only after approval.
- Processing time
- None for an ordinary fence. Minor variance: hearings roughly every two weeks in 2026; notice goes to residents within 60 m, the sign is posted at least 10 days before the hearing, and a 20-day appeal period follows. Heritage permit: up to 90 days.
- Inspections
- None listed for an ordinary fence. A pool enclosure fence is inspected by a City by-law enforcement officer under the pool approval.
Pool enclosure fence — sheet 1 — Elevation, board-on-board section and post-footing detail. From a real Reformity permit drawing set, client details removed. Click to enlarge.
Pool enclosure fence — sheet 3
Fence permit drawing
Permit drawings included
We prepare and submit your permit drawings.
Fence layout, elevation and post-footing details drawn to the City of Burlington's rules, and submitted with the pool enclosure, variance or heritage application when one is needed.
- Dimensions to your lot lines
- Materials, sizes and spacing
- Footing and base sections
- Code notes for the inspector
Fencing · real projects
Recent fencing jobs in and around Burlington.
Real Reformity jobs from our project files. Customer addresses are never published.
Burlington fence permit FAQ
Quick answers.
Not a building permit: the City lists fences among projects that don't need one. A fence that encloses a pool, swim spa or hot tub may need a pool enclosure permit, and zoning still limits height: 2.5 m under By-law 09-2026 or 2.0 m under Zoning By-law 2020, with 1.2 m in a front yard within 3 m of the front lot line (09-2026) or street line (2020). Zoning staff at 905-335-7642 can confirm which by-law covers your lot.
Under Burlington's Division Fence By-law 024-2003, adjoining owners share a division fence's cost equally, but a neighbour doesn't pay more than half the basic cost (a 1.22 m steel chain-link fence) unless you agree otherwise. Without an agreement, send a notice of intent by registered mail with three written quotes and a copy of the by-law, then wait 14 days before building. If the boundary fence is the only pool fence, the pool owner is fully responsible for building and maintaining it. The City doesn't determine property lines; your survey does.
A listed (non-designated) property needs no heritage permit, though removing or demolishing a structure on one requires 60 days' written notice to the City. A designated property needs a heritage permit for changes that could affect its protected heritage qualities, and to remove or demolish a building or structure on it. Planning staff review permit applications with the Heritage Burlington Advisory Committee; processing can take up to 90 days, and the City suggests talking to the Heritage Planner first.
Send the form on this page or call 437-241-6287. We reply within one business day, visit to measure, prepare the drawings for the City of Burlington, submit the application and give you a fixed written price for the work.
Let us handle the Burlington permit.
We measure, draw it to the City of Burlington's rules, submit the application and build to the approved plan. One business-day reply.
More in Burlington
Guide: Do You Need a Fence Permit in the GTA? City-by-City Guide (2026)