Replaced our failing 20-year-old chain link fence with a 6-foot cedar privacy fence on three sides in Oshawa. The neighbour conversation and permit process were the most interesting parts.
The neighbour situation:
Our east neighbour wanted a new fence too — theirs was the same deteriorated chain link. We agreed verbally, then I drafted a simple email confirming we’d split the cost of the shared boundary fence 50/50. They replied confirming. That email chain was our cost-sharing agreement.
West side: neighbour said no to cost-sharing, they were happy with chain link. Fine — we paid 100% of that side ourselves.
Permit:
Durham Region (Oshawa): fence under 2 metres doesn’t require a permit. Our 6-foot (1.83m) fence was right at the limit — technically no permit needed. Confirmed with the building department before starting.
Survey:
We had the property line surveyed 8 years ago for a different project — still had the pins. Used those as our reference. Contractor set all posts 2 inches inside the property line to avoid any encroachment issues.
Quotes (180 linear feet total, 6-foot cedar dog-ear privacy, posts at 8-foot centres):
- Quote A: $13,200 (cedar, pressure-treated posts, concrete footings, cap rail)
- Quote B: $11,600 (same spec)
- Quote C: $14,800 (premium cedar, arbour gate included)
We went with Quote B at $11,600. East neighbour’s share: $2,900 (their portion of the boundary fence).
Net cost to us: $8,700
Two years later:
Cedar has silvered naturally — we applied no stain. One post heaved slightly on the frost side — contractor came back and reset it under warranty.