One- to four-unit buildings Frontyard: maximum height of 1.2 metres

Sideyardadjoiningastreet: maximum height of 1.5 metres

Sideyardnotadjoiningastreet: maximum height of 2 metres

Backyard: maximum height of 2 metres

Permittedlocations,clearenceandheightsforfences,wallsandretainingwallsinone-tofour-unitdwellingsandtownhouses

Buildings with more than four units and group housing Frontyard: maximum height of 1.2 metres

Sideyardadjoiningastreet: maximum height of 1.5 metres

Sideyardnotadjoiningastreet: maximum height of 2.5 metres

Backyard: maximum height of 2.5 metre

By-lawVille de Gatineau has a by-law governing fences, walls, retaining walls and hedges to foster visual harmony in residential areas. Residents may therefore enclose their property or retain a slope, subject to the applicable by-law and safety provisions.

This by-law primarily concerns the permitted location, materials and heights for this type of structure on residential property.

Hedges and plantings are also covered by the by-law for corner lots to ensure a clear field of vision to motorists.

For information on the by-law related to fencing required around pools or hot tubs, please read the brochure entitled Pools.

Standards• Location Fences and walls are permitted in all yards and on side and rear lot lines, except on side or rear lot lines adjoining a street.

They may not be located in a public easement and must comply with the prescribed distances.

• Cornerlots For properties located at an intersection, an additional standard must be obeyed to keep a clear field of vision for motorists at intersections.

A triangle of visibility must be kept clear of any object, structure, construction, planting or part thereof that exceeds 0.75 metres in height, measured from the crown of the street. This triangle of visibility consists of a triangular-shaped area with two sides measuring six metres along each street line and the third side forming the straight line joining the two other sides.

• Distances Fromastreetline: A fence or a wall must be located entirely on a private property and no less than or: • 1 m from a sidewalk • 1,5 m from a curb when there is no sidewalk. In addition, the fence or wall must be at least 1,5 m from a fire hydrant. (Updated July 2009.)

Fromalotline: A fence or wall may be installed on a side or rear lot line, except for side or rear lot lines adjacent to a street.Fromafirehydrant: A fence, wall or retaining wall must be installed no less than 1.5 metres away from a fire hydrant.Fromtrafficsigns: Fences, walls, retaining walls and hedges must not obstruct a post or sign used for traffic purposes. If necessary for safety reasons, they will have to be moved or removed.

• HeightThe permissible height of a fence or a wall that is not a retaining wall varies according to the type of dwelling and yard where the structure is to be installed.

Permittedlocations,clearencesandheightsforfences,wallsandretainingwallsindwellingswithmorethanfourunitsandtownhouses

Materials

Thefollowingmaterialsarepermitted:

Forfencing • Assembled ornamental metal, such as forged iron or welded aluminium and assembled cast metal. • Steel or aluminium chain-link*. • Wood lattice or polyvinyl chloride (PVC) lattice. • Wood boards, plywood sheets and wood shingles. • Unmilled wooden posts. • Concrete, wood or metal for fence posts. • Polyvinyl chloride resin (PVC).

The metal components of a fence must be coated with rust protector paint or another anti-rust treatment.

The wooden components of a fence, except for the components of a rail fence, must be painted, stained or varnished.

Fences must be kept in good condition at all times

* Note: A steel or aluminium chain-link fence located in a front yard must be concealed along at least 60% of its length by a dense evergreen hedge at least the same height as the fence, or by climbing plants of sufficient density to completely cover the fence over the prescribed length. This requirement does not apply if the chain-link is covered with a factory-coated plastic.

Forwallsotherthanretainingwalls • Assembled ornamental metal such as forged iron, welded aluminium, or assembled cast metal. • Masonry of fieldstone, cut stone, bricks or architectural concrete pavers with a textured or grooved surface. • Masonry of non-architectural cinder blocks or concrete blocks, provided that the entire surface is coated with cement parging or acrylic parging.

Concrete may be used for foundations or the crown of a wall or post. Decorative, cast-concrete elements may be included.

No part of the foundation of a wall may be visible to a height of more than 0.6 metres above the finished ground level.

Forretainingwalls • Stone • Pavers • Cast-in-place concrete • Ties, but not railway ties • Metal gabion

The beams used to build a retaining wall must be factory treated to prevent rot.

A retaining wall must be topped by a fence no less than one metre high where the height of the retaining wall exceeds 1.8 metres; this height is measured from the side of the wall where the ground level is the lowest.

Sideyard

Sideyard

Sideyard

Backyard Backyard

Front yard Front yard

Triangle of visibility:no obstructions(fences, walls or hedges) over 0.75 m high

Side yardadjacentto street

Side yardadjacentto street

Sideyard

Sideyard

Sideyard

Backyard Backyard

Front yard Front yard

Triangle of visibility:no obstructions(fences, walls or hedges)over 0.75 m high

Side yardadjacentto street

Side yardadjacentto street

1.2 m 1.5 m 2.5 m

Inside lot Corner lot

Lot line

Street easement

Curb

6m

6m

A Bor A Bor

A

Bor

Note : Does not apply to retaining walls

0.5 m (with sidewalk)

Minimumclearence:1.5 m (without sidewalk)A B

Maximunheight:(seenote)

1.2 m 1.5 m 2.5 m

Sideyard

Sideyard

Sideyard

Backyard Backyard

Front yard Front yard

Triangle of visibility:no obstructions(fences, walls or hedges) over 0.75 m high

Side yardadjacentto street

Side yardadjacentto street

Sideyard

Sideyard

Sideyard

Backyard Backyard

Front yard Front yard

Triangle of visibility:no obstructions(fences, walls or hedges)over 0.75 m high

Side yardadjacentto street

Side yardadjacentto street

Inside lot Corner lot

Lotline

Sidewalk

Curb

6m6m

A Bor A Bor

A

Bor

0.5 m (with sidewalk)A 1.5 m (without sidewalk)BMinimumclearence:

Maximunheight:(seenote)

Street easement

Note : Does not apply to retaining walls

Sidewalk

TofindoutmorePlease call 3-1-1

Fences,Walls,RetainingWallsandHedges

Aylmer Service CentreDivision d’urbanisme115, rue Principale, 2nd floor Gatineau, Québec, J9H 3M2 Telephone : 819 685-5027Fax: 819 685-5043

Buckingham Service CentreDivision d’urbanisme515, rue Charles Gatineau, Québec J8L 2K4 Telephone: 819 986-4242Fax: 819 986-8336

Gatineau Service CentreDivision d’urbanisme144, boulevard de l’Hôpital Gatineau, Québec J8T 7S7 Telephone: 819 243-2460Fax: 819 243-2479

Hull Service CentreDivision d’urbanisme775, boulevard de la Carrière Gatineau, Québec J8Y 6V1 Telephone: 819 595-7350Fax: 819 595-7326

Masson-Angers Service CentreDivision d’urbanisme57, chemin de Montréal Est Gatineau, Québec J8M 1K3 Telephone: 819 243-2345, extension 3113 Fax 819 986-9539

E-mail: 311@gatineau.caWeb site: www.gatineau.ca

Aneasementonyourproperty?

You should not install a fence, wall, retaining wall or hedge on a public utility easement. To determine whether your property is subject to one or more private or public easements, check your property survey (localization certificate).

Afewtips

It is always best to discuss your plans with your neighbours. They will appreciate the courtesy and may also have some constructive suggestions.

If you plan to install a pool within a few years, try to comply with the standards governing pool fencing right away.

Disputes over structures or hedges located on property lines are governed by the Civil Code of Québec (see Section VIII – Common Fences and Works).

For more information about legal issues, disputes over structures or hedges that encroach on shared lot lines, please consult a lawyer or Government of Quebec publications. Ville de Gatineau has no jurisdiction in this area (http://www.justice.gouv.qc.ca/english/publications/generale/voisin-a.htm).

Isapermitrequired?

You are not required to obtain a building permit to install a fence in a residential area.

However, an authorization certificate is required to build a retaining wall that is 1.8 metres or more in height; this height is measured on the side of the wall where the ground level is the lowest.

To obtain an authorization certificate from Ville de Gatineau, bring the necessary documents to the Division d’urbanisme service desk at your sector’s municipal service centre (see contact information at the back of this brochure).

The main documents or information required include: your property survey (localization certificate) and, for retaining walls that exceed 1.8 metres in height, a report approving the structure and strength of the wall, completed by an engineer belonging to the Ordre des ingénieurs du Québec .

Note: Additional documents may be required.

i

i

Avoidaccidents!Hydro-Québec provides safety advice: feel free to contact them!

www.hydroquebec.com/securite

Info-Excavation is a free service for locating underground conduits, and can help you avoid nasty surprises. Before digging, planting trees or installing a fence, check with Info-Excavation, 72 hours ahead of time.

1 800 663-9228 - www.info-ex.com

ImportantThe information in this brochure is based on Ville de Gatineau zoning by-law number 502-2005 and is intended for information only. It does not replace the provisions of the by-law.

The contents of this brochure were updated on May 1, 2006. Amendments to the by-law may have come into force since then.

Additional rules may apply specifically to certain properties (waterfront lots, corner lots, etc.) or to certain areas (flood zones, mass movement areas, heritage areas etc.). Please contact the Division d’urbanisme at your sector’s municipal service centre for more information in this regard (see contact information at the back of this brochure).