Price by material
| Material | Per linear foot, installed | 100 feet |
|---|---|---|
| Chain link | $20–$45 | $2,000–$4,500 |
| Pressure treated wood | $30–$65 | $3,000–$5,500 |
| Cedar privacy | $45–$90 | $4,500–$9,000 |
| Vinyl / PVC | $45–$120 | $4,500–$12,000 |
| Composite | $55–$110 | $5,500–$9,500 |
| Aluminum ornamental | $60–$150 | $6,000–$15,000 |
| Extras | Cost |
|---|---|
| Gate | $300–$800 each |
| Removing the old fence | $3–$5 per linear foot |
| Permit, where required | $100–$500 |
| Sloped ground | adds 15–50% to labour |
| Rocky soil | adds 20–30% |
Labour is $20 to $45 per linear foot and 40 to 60 percent of the total. Most of that labour is in the ground, which is why soil and slope move the price as much as the material.
How high can my fence be?
In Toronto, the limits are:
| Where | Maximum height |
|---|---|
| Rear yard | 2.0 m, about 6 ft 7 in |
| Side yard behind the front wall | 2.0 m |
| Front yard or street side | 1.0 m, about 3 ft 3 in |
Above those heights you need a permit, costing $175 to $500 or more. Every Ontario municipality has its own fence by-law and the numbers differ — look up yours before you buy six-foot boards for a front yard.
Pool fencing is a separate and stricter matter. Every municipality regulates pool enclosures specifically, including self-closing and self-latching gates, and those rules are enforced.
Why 42 inches matters
Ontario ground freezes and expands. A post set two feet down is inside the freeze zone: the soil grips it, lifts it as it freezes and drops it unevenly as it thaws. Do that three winters running and the fence line waves like a ribbon.
A post set below the frost line, at 42 inches or deeper in the Toronto area, stays put. This is the single biggest difference between a fence that looks fine in ten years and one that needs redoing in four — and it is entirely invisible on the day it is built.
Ask every installer how deep the posts go and what they are set in. If a quote is notably cheaper than the others, this is usually where.
Who pays for a fence on the property line?
A fence between two properties is a shared concern, not just yours. Ontario has a Line Fences Act that provides a process for resolving disputes between neighbours over boundary fences, and most municipalities have a fence viewer or a similar role to administer it.
In practice the sensible order is: talk to the neighbour first, agree the line, the height and the finished side, and put whatever you agree in writing even if it is only an email. Discovering the fence is eight inches onto someone else’s land after it is built is an expensive conversation.
If the boundary genuinely is not clear, a survey costs less than moving a fence.
Red flags in a fence quote
| What you see | Why it matters | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Post depth not stated | Below the frost line is the whole difference in lifespan | Ask for the depth in inches and what the posts are set in |
| Height chosen without checking the by-law | A non-compliant fence can be ordered down at your cost | Look up your municipality’s fence by-law before ordering material |
| Property line taken from the old fence | Old fences are often not on the line | Check your survey, or get one if the line is unclear |
| Locates not mentioned | Digging without utility locates can hit gas, hydro or telecom | Confirm who calls for locates — it is free and it is required |
| Removal of the old fence not included | $3 to $5 per foot appears later | Confirm in writing who removes and disposes of it |
| Gate hardware unspecified | Cheap hinges on a heavy gate sag within a season | Ask what hardware is used and whether the gate is braced |
Frequently asked questions
There is no province-wide rule, though the convention is that the finished side faces outward. On a shared line this is worth agreeing with the neighbour rather than deciding alone.
A boundary fence is a shared matter, and Ontario’s Line Fences Act provides a process when neighbours disagree. The practical move is to agree the line, height, material and finished side in writing before work starts.
Below the frost line, which is at least 42 inches in the Toronto area. Shallower posts heave as the ground freezes and thaws, which is why fences start leaning after a few winters.
Not for a fence within the by-law height limits in most municipalities. You do need one above those heights, and pool enclosures are regulated separately and more strictly everywhere.
Chain link runs $20 to $45 per linear foot installed, pressure treated wood $30 to $65, cedar privacy $45 to $90, and vinyl or aluminum higher. A hundred feet of wood privacy fence is roughly $4,500 to $9,000.
Two metres in the rear and side yards, and one metre in the front yard or along a street. Anything taller needs a permit costing $175 to $500 or more. Other Ontario municipalities set their own limits.
Sources
- Project Landscaping, Cost of fence installation in Ontario, 17 February 2026 — project-landscaping.ca
- Citywide Post Digging, Fence installation cost in Toronto, 20 June 2026 — citywidepostdigging.ca
- Government of Ontario, Your rights when starting home renovations or repairs — ontario.ca, checked 18 September 2026
Prices are published ranges collected on 18 September 2026, not quotes. Fence by-laws are municipal — confirm the limits for your own address.
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