The Ranking
Our top 5 fence companies in Calgary
A Calgary fence has to survive the Chinook. Warm winter winds can lift the temperature by 20 degrees in an afternoon and drop it again overnight, and that freeze and thaw cycle works posts loose, pops fasteners and makes gates sag. Local builders on this list set posts 3.5 to 4 feet deep in concrete to get below the frost line, and much of the city sits on clay that holds a post well only when it goes deep enough. Hail and wind matter too, especially on the western edge of the city in communities such as Aspen Woods and Springbank Hill.
Most backyard fences here are pressure treated pine or western red cedar, which need stain every few years. Vinyl, composite, galvanized steel and aluminum cost more up front and need little upkeep, chain link remains the budget choice for side yards and dog runs, and ornamental iron is common for front yards and gates. Ask any builder how deep the posts go, whether concrete is poured or dry packed, and whether boards are screwed or nailed.
The City of Calgary sets fence heights in its Land Use Bylaw. In general a fence can be up to 2 metres tall in back and side yards and 1.2 metres in a front yard, and on a corner lot it has to stay under 0.75 metres inside the visibility triangle near the intersection. A fence within those limits usually needs no permit, while a taller fence needs a development permit, so check the current rules for your lot with the City before you sign. Many newer communities also have architectural guidelines or restrictive covenants that set fence style and colour, so check with your community or homeowners association. A pool or hot tub needs a barrier under the Alberta Building Code and a building permit from the City, so tell your contractor at the quote stage.
Before any posts go in, find your property line and the buried lines under it. Your Real Property Report, prepared by an Alberta land surveyor, shows the lot boundaries, and a surveyor can stake the line if it is unclear. For buried gas, power and telecom lines, request a free locate through Utility Safety Partners with Click Before You Dig, at least three full working days before digging. A fence built over a utility right of way can be removed by the utility if it needs access.
Alberta has no provincial licence for fence builders. What it does have is the prepaid contractor licence under the Consumer Protection Act: a contractor that takes a deposit or any payment before the work is finished must hold one, issued through Service Alberta. Ask for the licence number and check it with the province before you pay a deposit, and ask for a Workers' Compensation Board clearance letter so you are not on the hook if a worker is hurt on your property. This list covers companies with offices inside Calgary city limits. Builders based in Airdrie, Chestermere, Cochrane, Okotoks and Rocky View County were left out even when they serve the city.
