How tall can my fence be? Do I need a fence around my pool?
In the City of Sarnia, Ontario, max height rear side: 2.5 m (8 ft.); max height front: solid type ≤1 m (3.3 ft.); open type ≤1.2 m (4 ft.); sight triangle: Within daylight triangle (5 m legs from corner intersection): solid fence ≤75 cm (29.5 in.); or open type construction only; prohibited materials: barbed wire or sharp material on residential land; electrical fences (except agricultural DC use). Source: Fences By-law 44 of 1998 (consolidated, amended by By-laws 104 & 119 of 2003, 98 of 2015, 95 of 2017, 56 & 110 of 2018); Swimming Pool By-law (City of Sarnia, By-law of 1993 - by-law number illegible in scanned original), verified 2026-08-29.
Fences By-law 44 of 1998 (consolidated, amended by By-laws 104 & 119 of 2003, 98 of 2015, 95 of 2017, 56 & 110 of 2018)
adopted bylaw
max height rear side
2.5 m (8 ft.)
s. 10(a): "a fence that exceeds 2.5 metres (8 feet) in height"
max height front
solid type ≤1 m (3.3 ft.); open type ≤1.2 m (4 ft.)
s. 10(f) (solid); s. 10(g) (open) — By-Law #95 of 2017
sight triangle
Within daylight triangle (5 m legs from corner intersection): solid fence ≤75 cm (29.5 in.); or open type construction only
s. 7(a)(ii); s. 2(d): "5 metres (16.4 feet) measured along each street line"
prohibited materials
barbed wire or sharp material on residential land; electrical fences (except agricultural DC use)
s. 8(a): "barbed wire or other barbed or sharp material"; s. 9(a): "no person shall erect … an electrical fence"
scout note
Fences in residential zones may not exceed 2.5 m (8 ft) above effective ground level. In a required front yard a solid-construction fence is capped at 1 m (3.3 ft) and an open-construction fence at 1.2 m (4 ft); a lot at the intersection of two streets may reach 1.5 m (5 ft) where the dwelling's major architectural features are
Swimming Pool By-law (City of Sarnia, By-law of 1993 - by-law number illegible in scanned original)
adopted bylaw
permit required
True
s. 3(a): 'No person shall excavate for, construct or erect a pool … without first obtaining a Permit'
pool enclosure
Minimum 150 cm (5 ft) above Effective Ground Level; gap from grade no more than 5 cm; gates self-closing and self-latching with latch 1.2 m from grade on inside.
s. 4(d); s. 5(a)(iii)
prohibited materials
no barbed wire, electrical wiring, sharp projections or any other dangerous characteristics
s. 4(h)(i)
scout note
Requires privately-owned outdoor pools/ponds holding over 60cm of water to be enclosed by a fence and self-latching gate at least 1.5m (5ft) high, with latch hardware 1.2m (4ft) from grade; a permit is required before excavation or erection.