Elmira Fence & Deck Builder

Generally, no. Since the Line Fences Act stopped applying to Woolwich Township in 2008 (By-law 15-2008), a standard residential fence is treated as a civil matter between neighbours rather than something the Township permits or inspects — with one key exception: fences enclosing a pool are regulated under the Township’s Pool Fence By-law. Always confirm your specific situation with the Township before building, especially on a corner lot or near a shared property line.

Under Pool Fence By-law 52-2007, an enclosure must be at least 1.52 metres (5 feet) high with no more than 100 mm (4 inches) of clearance between the bottom of the fence and the ground, and gates must be self-latching and self-closing. Hot tubs with a locking, structurally sound cover are exempt from the enclosure requirement. Confirm your specific pool type and layout with the Township before installing a pool fence.

A building permit is required once a deck rises above 24 inches (about 600 mm) from grade. Below that height, a deck is generally exempt from a building permit but still needs to meet the Township’s Zoning By-law setback rules, which vary by deck type and height under Section 4.16. We can review your specific lot and deck plan and handle the permit application for you.

On a corner lot, the Township’s sight-triangle rule (Zoning By-law Section 4.15) restricts anything taller than 0.75 metres within 6.0 metres of the intersecting lot lines, to preserve sightlines for traffic safety. For rural and larger-acreage properties, Woolwich does not have a standalone agricultural or livestock fencing by-law — rural fencing generally falls under the same unregulated civil-matter status as residential fencing, aside from the pool-fence exception above. If you are unsure how your specific property is classified, we recommend checking with the Township directly.