Privacy Fence Installation

Privacy fencing is the most requested fence type for residential properties across Metro Vancouver, where increasing density, smaller lot sizes, and the desire for outdoor living space drive homeowners to create screened yards, patios, and garden areas.

A properly built 6-foot privacy fence transforms a yard from an exposed space overlooked by neighbours into a private outdoor room — particularly valuable in Metro Vancouver's tightly packed neighbourhoods like East Vancouver, Marpole, Burnaby Heights, and suburban communities throughout Surrey and Coquitlam where homes are built close together on standard residential lots.

Privacy fence construction offers several board configurations, each providing a different balance of screening, airflow, and appearance. Solid board fencing — vertical boards installed edge-to-edge with no gaps — provides complete visual screening but acts as a solid wind sail and can be prone to warping as individual boards expand and contract with Vancouver's moisture cycles.

Board-on-board fencing overlaps adjacent boards by approximately one inch, eliminating sightlines while allowing air to pass through the overlapping gap — this design is more wind-resistant than solid board and accommodates wood movement better, making it the most popular privacy fence style in Metro Vancouver.

Shadowbox fencing (also called good-neighbour or alternating board) places boards on alternating sides of the horizontal rails, creating a fence that looks finished from both sides — an important consideration when the fence is on or near a property line and both neighbours will see it daily.

Municipal bylaws across Metro Vancouver regulate maximum fence height, and these limits are the primary constraint on privacy fence design. Most municipalities allow 6 feet (1.8 metres) in rear and side yards and 4 feet (1.2 metres) in front yards without a variance or development permit. Corner lots may have additional restrictions for sightline safety at intersections.

Some homeowners seek additional height through lattice top extensions — a 6-foot solid fence topped with 12 to 18 inches of lattice can approach 7.5 feet of total height while remaining within some municipalities' allowances, though this varies and must be confirmed with the local planning department.

Material choices for privacy fencing in Metro Vancouver include pressure-treated lumber, Western Red Cedar, vinyl/PVC panels, and composite materials — each with different cost, maintenance, and longevity profiles suited to Vancouver's wet climate. WorkSafeBC coverage should be confirmed for all contractors. Privacy fence installation in Metro Vancouver typically costs $35 to $75 per linear foot installed, depending on the material, board configuration, height, and site conditions.