Burlington fence calls come in three flavours: lakeshore fences in Aldershot and Shoreacres where the fasteners have rusted out, downtown infill fences sitting inches off the property pin, and north Burlington builder fences from the 1990s and 2000s that have started to lean. The repairs differ, and so do the conversations with the neighbour. Here is what the work costs and how the City says a shared fence should be handled.
What fence repairs cost in Burlington
| Repair | Typical 2026 price |
|---|---|
| Brace a leaning post that is still solid | $150 - $300 per post |
| Replace a rotted or snapped post | $250 - $450 per post |
| Dig out a heaved post and reset it below frost | $300 - $500 per post |
| Replace broken boards or pickets | $15 - $30 per linear foot |
| Replace 3 or 4 cedar panels | $400 - $900 |
| Rebuild a sagging gate | $200 - $600 |
| Swap a vinyl panel | $150 - $400 per panel |
| Chain link: re-stretch, splice, new top rail or post | $150 - $500 |
The figures are for the finished repair: materials, concrete, removal of old wood and a clean yard. One small job usually carries a service minimum of $250 to $400. Narrow side yards in Millcroft, Orchard and Alton slow down post work, since everything goes through a gate, so a tight lot lands toward the top of each range.
Burlington fences and what breaks them
Near the lake, it is corrosion. Cheap plated nails and screws rust through in salt air, and boards pop loose long before the wood fails. We refasten with stainless or hot-dip galvanized screws. Below the escarpment in Headon Forest, Millcroft and Alton, it is clay and frost. Frost reaches about 1.2 m here, and builder posts were often set shallower, so they heave and lean after a hard winter. Those posts need to be dug out and reset below frost. Up on the ridge in Tyandaga and Brant Hills, wind takes long, solid runs down at the weakest post.
Repair or replace
Probe each post just below the soil with a screwdriver. If one to four posts are soft and the rest are hard, repair. Five or more soft posts, or a fence past about 15 years with posts starting to go, is a replacement: about $35 to $60 per linear foot for pressure-treated and $50 to $90 for cedar, plus $5 to $12 per foot to remove the old fence. Our Burlington fence installation page has full build pricing.
Sharing the cost: Burlington's Division Fence By-law
According to the City's fence page, a fence on the property line belongs to both neighbours, and Division Fence By-law 024-2003 says repair and upkeep should be shared equally. The cap is what matters: an adjoining owner does not have to pay more than 50% of the basic cost unless you agree otherwise. Basic cost means a 1.22 m steel chain link fence with 2.54 to 3.81 cm links, whatever fence you actually have. If you cannot agree:
- Mail your neighbour a notice of intent with three written quotes for the basic cost and a copy of the by-law.
- Your neighbour may send three quotes of their own within 10 days.
- Wait out the 14 day notice period, then do the work.
- If they have not paid within 90 days of completion, mail a notice giving them 30 days. After that you can seek an order under the Provincial Offences Act.
Working from your neighbour's side
Many repairs need a ladder or a crew on the other side of the fence. Burlington's Adjoining Property Entry By-law lets you go onto the neighbouring property to maintain, repair or alter a division fence. You must give 10 days' written notice describing the work, the date you will enter and how long you will be there, and you pay for any damage to their yard. We help clients draft that notice and keep the work tidy so the relationship survives the job.
Trees, pools and other questions
- Fallen trees: under the provincial Line Fences Act, the owner of the land where the tree stood removes the tree and repairs the fence.
- Pools: if the boundary fence is the only fence enclosing a pool, the pool owner pays the full cost to build and maintain it under Pool Fencing By-law 074-2005.
- Painting, staining and the good side: the City treats these as civil matters between neighbours.
- Permits: the City says you can build a fence without a permit, though zoning height and location rules still apply. A fence that looks dangerous can be reported to the Building Department.
Before we set a new post, we book a free locate through Ontario Dig Authority.
Where we repair fences in Burlington
Aldershot, the lakeshore, Roseland, Shoreacres, downtown, Tyandaga, Brant Hills, Headon Forest, Millcroft, Orchard, Alton, Kilbride and Mt Nemo.
Frequently asked questions
How much does fence repair cost in Burlington?
Most repairs are $150 to $1,500 in 2026. A replaced post costs $250 to $450, a brace $150 to $300 and a gate rebuild $200 to $600.
Does my neighbour have to pay for half the fence in Burlington?
The by-law says to share equally, but a neighbour never has to pay more than 50% of the basic cost of a 1.22 m chain link fence unless you both agree to more.
How much notice do I need to give to repair a shared fence?
A 14 day notice of intent with three written quotes when you cannot agree, and 10 days' written notice if you need to enter your neighbour's property to do the work.
Can I go on my neighbour's property to fix the fence?
Yes. Burlington's Adjoining Property Entry By-law allows it with 10 days' written notice, and you pay for any damage you cause.
Do I need a permit to repair a fence in Burlington?
No. The City says fences do not need a permit, though zoning height and location rules and the pool fencing by-law still apply.
Who pays when a tree falls on a Burlington fence?
The owner of the land where the tree stood removes the tree and repairs the fence, under the Line Fences Act.