The short version
- Side and back yards: up to 2.2 m (about 7 ft 2 in).
- Front yards: up to 1.2 m (about 3 ft 11 in), and that includes hedges.
- Along a public walkway or alley: up to 2.5 m (about 8 ft 2 in).
- Corner lots: 0.9 m (about 2 ft 11 in) inside the visibility triangle at the corner.
- Pool fences follow a separate by-law with their own rules.
This is a plain-language summary of Fence By-law 170-2012, as amended, for homes. It isn't legal advice. Rules can change, so confirm with the City of Windsor before you build.
How height is measured
Height is measured from what the by-law calls effective grade level: the highest ground within 0.5 m (about 20 in) on either side of the fence. So if the ground is higher on your neighbour's side, you measure from there. Decorative post caps and similar features don't count.
Fence height by yard
Back and side yards
Up to 2.2 m. The limit doesn't apply to hedges in a side or back yard, with an exception on part of Riverside Drive East.
Front yards
Up to 1.2 m, and hedges count. What counts as your front yard comes from the City's zoning by-law.
Along a public walkway or alley
Up to 2.5 m on a property line next to a publicly owned walkway or alley shown on a registered plan of subdivision, as long as it isn't beside a road.
On a raised deck
Up to 2.2 m above the walking surface of the deck, or the height of the eave, whichever is lower.
Corner lots
On a corner lot, or where the road bends sharply, nothing over 0.9 m can sit inside the visibility triangle. Measure 7.5 m (about 24 ft 7 in) along each curb from where they meet, then join those two points with a straight line. Where there's no curb, measure from the edge of the pavement. Hedges in the triangle count as fences.
The exception is unobstructed chain link, or metal pickets spaced at least 90 mm apart, which can be taller as long as they meet the regular height limits.
Riverside Drive East
Waterfront lots have their own rule. On the north side of Riverside Drive East between Drouillard Road and Lakeview Avenue, fences and hedges are limited to 1.2 m in the rear (water side) yard and 2.2 m in side yards. In the front (road side) yard, fences are limited to 1.2 m and hedges to 2.4 m.
Pool fences
Fences around a pool fall under a separate by-law, 160-2010, and the pool itself needs a permit from the City. A chain link enclosure has to be at least 1.2 m high with mesh up to 38 mm, or at least 1.5 m high with mesh up to 50 mm, and the gap under an enclosure can't be more than 50 mm. Panel fences have their own rules for posts and thickness.
A temporary enclosure has to be up before pool work starts, unless the City has confirmed an existing enclosure already complies.
Read the City's swimming pool by-law (PDF) →
Does a fence need a permit in Windsor?
The Fence By-law sets heights and upkeep rules, and it doesn't lay out a permit process for a regular home fence. Pools are different, as above. If you're not sure about your yard, call 311 and ask for the Building Department.
Keeping a fence in good repair
The by-law also says every fence has to be stable, vertical, built of good-quality materials, safe, and protected with paint, preservative or a similar finish.
Who pays for a fence between neighbours in Windsor?
In September 2026, Windsor council voted to exempt the city from Ontario's Line Fences Act. The City used to appoint fence viewers to settle these disputes. That has been replaced with a non-binding guideline for sharing the cost of repairing or replacing a fence. Neighbours can trade quotes and use the guideline to settle it, and the Ontario courts are still an option if they can't.
The guideline isn't a legal ruling, so the easiest route is still to talk to your neighbour first and put what you agree to in writing. Ask the City for the current guideline before you spend money.
AM800: Windsor's new framework for fence disputes →
Outside Windsor
Every town in Essex County has its own fence rules, and they don't match Windsor's. We've put them side by side.
Fence by-laws across Essex County →
Read the City of Windsor Fence By-law (PDF) →
Planning a new fence?
We build wood and vinyl fences across Windsor-Essex. We'll walk the fence line with you at the free estimate, and you'll get a written quote the same day.
What a fence costs in Windsor →
Planning a new fence?
Free on-site estimate anywhere in Windsor-Essex, with a written quote the same day. Call or text 519-567-4724.
