Vaughan fence permits & approvals · Reformity Inc.Fence Permit Drawings in Vaughan
No permit for a standard fence: Vaughan's Fence By-law 189-2020 requires a permit only for pool enclosures, though it caps most rear and side yard fences at 2.0 m and front-yard fences within 2.4 m of the street at 1.2 m. Over-height fences need an exemption, and a new fence in a heritage district needs a Heritage Permit.
We prepare your fence drawings, and when a permit, variance or heritage approval is needed, we submit the application to the City of Vaughan for you.
Do you need a permit?
Fence permit rules in Vaughan.
A standard fence in Vaughan needs no permit, but Fence By-law 189-2020 sets its height by location: 2.0 m for most rear and side yards, and in a front yard 1.2 m within 2.4 m of the street and 2.0 m farther back. Driveways add a sightline rule: a fence within 2.4 m of one must be open, see-through construction for at least 2.4 m from the lot line where the driveway begins, and plants can't block the view through it. Pool enclosures, over-height fences and work in the four heritage districts need City approval, so we check for those before drawing your layout.
Checked against the City of Vaughan's own by-laws and pages in November 2026. Rules change, so we confirm them for your address before we draw.
Permit only for pools
Vaughan's Fence By-law 189-2020 regulates fence heights, materials and sightlines, but the only permit it requires is the Swimming Pool Enclosure Permit, needed before you dig for or install a pool, hot tub or swim spa, or build or change its enclosure.
Fence By-law 189-2020 (consolidated to April 28, 2025, PDF)Height by location
Most rear and side yard fences: 2.0 m. Front yard: 1.2 m within 2.4 m of the street, 2.0 m beyond. Outside the front yard, up to 2.5 m where the fence abuts a public road or walkway, or a multi-residential or non-residential lot.
Fence By-law 189-2020, s.6.0, Table 1 (consolidated to April 28, 2025, PDF)Driveways and corner lots
A fence within 2.4 m of any driveway must be open chain-link or equivalent see-through construction for at least 2.4 m from the lot line where the driveway begins, with no plants blocking the view. Corner-lot fences can't block the sight triangle.
Fence By-law 189-2020, s.6.0(3) (consolidated to April 28, 2025, PDF)Over-height exemption
To exceed a limit, the owner applies in writing to By-law and Compliance, Licensing and Permit Services. Owners within 60 m are notified, and the City must refuse if an abutting neighbour objects, unless public health and safety require it. Appeals: 14 days.
Fence By-law 189-2020, s.7.0 (consolidated to April 28, 2025, PDF)Heritage district fences
In the Kleinburg-Nashville, Maple, Thornhill and Woodbridge heritage districts, and on individually designated properties, the City lists installing or removing a fence or gate as work needing a Heritage Review, and any work that changes a property's appearance needs a Heritage Permit. District guidelines cover fencing.
City of Vaughan: heritage review, permits and clearances
What the city asks for
The Vaughan application.
Issued by: No permit for a standard fence. Exemptions: City of Vaughan By-law and Compliance, Licensing and Permit Services (Fence By-law 189-2020, s.7.0). Heritage properties: the City's Cultural Heritage staff, with Heritage Vaughan Committee and Council review depending on scope. Pool enclosures: Development Engineering (Swimming Pool Enclosure Permit).. We put the package together, submit it and keep you posted.
Documents
- Exemption: completed Fence By-law Exemption Application explaining the exemption you're requesting and why
- Exemption: sketch or photo of the proposed fence, showing neighbouring driveways, sidewalks and other structures
- Exemption: property survey showing all buildings and property lines
- Exemption: map showing the property in relation to municipal streets
- Exemption: proof of ownership (tax bill or assessment roll) and one piece of Canadian government photo ID
- Heritage: Heritage Permit application with a current survey, a site plan showing the work and elevation drawings, plus the description, photos or other items staff ask for
How it goes
- 1We check your lot: yard types, nearby driveways, any corner sight triangle, and whether it's in one of Vaughan's four heritage districts.
- 2We draw a layout for your approval: fence line, height in each yard, gates, open sections near driveways and how panels step with the grade.
- 3For a fence over the limits, we prepare the exemption application with your survey, a property map and a fence sketch for you to sign as owner.
- 4On a heritage property, we send the Heritage Permit application and drawings to Cultural Heritage staff and wait for the permit before work starts.
- 5We build to the approved layout.
- Processing time
- Not published. Before deciding an exemption, the City notifies owners within 60 m, and an appeal must be filed within 14 days after the decision notice is served. Heritage applications may go to the Heritage Vaughan Committee and Council, depending on scope, and a Heritage Permit is valid for three years from issue.
- Inspections
- No permit inspection for a standard fence, though By-law Enforcement Officers may inspect any fence for compliance with the by-law. A fence that encloses a pool is inspected by a By-law Enforcement Officer under the Swimming Pool Enclosure Permit before the pool is filled.
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 Vaughan'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 near Vaughan.
Real Reformity jobs from our project files. Customer addresses are never published.
Vaughan fence permit FAQ
Quick answers.
No. Vaughan's Fence By-law 189-2020 requires a permit only for swimming pool enclosures. A standard fence must still meet the by-law: 2.0 m for most rear and side yard fences, 1.2 m in a front yard within 2.4 m of the street, and open construction near driveways. In a heritage district, a new fence needs a Heritage Permit.
From the grade at the fence to its highest point. Where the ground is higher on one side, the lower side is used. And where a fence runs through areas with different limits, such as front and rear yards, each portion is treated as a separate fence with its own maximum.
Only with an exemption from the City. The owner applies with a survey, a property map and a sketch, and the City notifies owners within 60 m. If an abutting owner objects, the City must refuse unless the fence is needed for public health and safety; otherwise it weighs neighbouring fence heights, how long the fence has been in place and sightlines.
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 Vaughan, submit the application and give you a fixed written price for the work.
Let us handle the Vaughan permit.
We measure, draw it to the City of Vaughan's rules, submit the application and build to the approved plan. One business-day reply.
More in Vaughan
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