Fence Installation & Repair in British Columbia

Boundary responsibility depends on your deeds/title, not a universal rule — often each owner maintains one side, or costs are shared for a jointly-owned fence. Talk to your neighbour and check your title before building on a boundary; disputes over line and cost-sharing are the most common fencing headache.

Height limits and permit rules vary by locality, and front-boundary fences are often more restricted than rear ones. Corner lots, heritage areas and pool fences have their own rules. Check local height limits and whether a permit is needed before you commit — retrofitting a too-tall fence is expensive.

A standard residential run takes one to three days: posts set in concrete need to cure, so many installers do posts one day and panels the next. Rocky or sloped ground, many gates, or removing an old fence all add time. Wet weather that stops concrete curing is the usual delay.

An itemized quote lists: fence type and height, total length, number and type of gates, post material and setting method (concrete vs driven), removal and disposal of the old fence, and whether the price is per linear unit or a lump sum. A one-number quote with no length or material is impossible to compare.

Setting posts without concrete on a solid fence, no written quote with length and material, vague answers on boundary lines and permits, a large cash deposit before materials arrive, and no photos of past work. Installers who won't discuss the neighbour/boundary question before building are inviting a dispute you'll inherit.

Fencing is priced by length (per linear foot or metre) times the material you choose, plus gates, gradient and ground conditions. Material is the biggest swing: chain-link and basic timber sit at the bottom, composite, brick and wrought iron at the top. Always price the full run installed, not just the panels.

Installed cost runs roughly CAD 20-55 per linear foot depending on material, with a typical backyard (about 150 ft) commonly CAD 3,500-8,000. Deeper frost-line footings add labour versus warmer-climate installs.