Fences

The Municipality of Brighton regulates the construction, height, location, and maintenance of fences and privacy screens to promote safety, protect sightlines, and maintain neighbourhood appearance. Before constructing or replacing a fence, residents should review the Fence By-law to ensure their proposed fence complies with municipal requirements.

Residential Fence Requirements

Some of the key requirements for residential properties include:

• Maximum fence height is 2.0 metres (6.5 feet) in rear and side yards.
• Fences located in a front yard, exterior side yard, or within a corner visibility triangle or driveway visibility triangle cannot exceed 0.9 metres (3 feet) in height.
• Fences should generally be constructed along the shared property line.
• Sheet metal, corrugated metal, concrete panels, and similar materials are not permitted for residential fences.

Before You Build

Before installing a fence, property owners should:

• Confirm the location of their property lines.
• Ensure the fence will not obstruct visibility for vehicles or pedestrians.
• Avoid constructing fences over drainage easements, municipal infrastructure, or watercourses without the necessary approvals.
• Speak with neighbouring property owners if the fence will be located along a shared property line.

Division Fences

The Municipality of Brighton has opted out of the Line Fences Act. Property owners remain jointly responsible for the repair, replacement, and maintenance of shared division fences. Where neighbouring property owners cannot agree on the type of division fence to be constructed, the Fence By-law establishes the default fence type that qualifies for cost sharing.

More Information

Please review Fence By-law No. 076-2023 for complete regulations. If you have questions about fence requirements or whether your proposed fence complies with the by-law, please contact By-law Enforcement before beginning construction.