Metal fencing guide
Metal fence types for Metro Vancouver properties
The type of metal fence that makes sense for a property is driven by three things: what the fence is supposed to do (privacy, containment, security, aesthetics), what the local permit rules allow, and what the site conditions look like. A sloped East Vancouver lot in front of a 1940s character house needs a different solution than a flat industrial lot in South Burnaby.
Comparison at a glance
| Type | Construction | Height range | Design character | Cost tier | Sloped lots | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Horizontal slat | Flat bar or tube in horizontal rows | 3 to 8 ft | Contemporary / modern | Medium | Good if slope is handled with steps or raking | Most popular Metro Vancouver spec |
| Square picket (vertical) | Vertical square tube pickets, welded top and bottom rail | 4 to 5 ft | Traditional / heritage | Low-medium | Can be raked easily | Suits older Burnaby and New Westminster housing stock |
| Solid privacy panel | Continuous plate or tight flat-bar infill | 5 to 8 ft | Modern / privacy-first | High | Stepped sections only, can't rake solid panels | Requires attention to permit height limits |
| Perforated / mesh | Punched or woven mesh infill in welded frame | 4 to 6 ft | Commercial / contemporary | Medium | Steps or rack | Good wind permeability; reduces load on posts |
| Corrugated Corten | Weathering steel corrugated panel in a frame | 4 to 6 ft | Industrial / accent | Medium-high | Steps only | Intentional rust patina; no painting required |
| Commercial security | Heavy rectangular tube, close picket spacing, post reinforcement | 6 to 10 ft | Industrial / high-security | High | Flat sites preferred | Anti-climb detail; commercial permit required |
Horizontal slat fencing
The horizontal slat fence is the default residential metal fence across most of Metro Vancouver's newer builds, and for good reason. The horizontal line reads as contemporary and architectural, works with both wood-frame and concrete construction, and sits neatly against modern cladding without visual competition. Posts at 1.5 to 2.4 m spacing, flat bar or rectangular tube infill running between them, powder-coated black or dark grey.
Detail choices that change the look: infill spacing (tighter for more privacy, wider for a lighter appearance), infill profile (flat bar versus rectangular tube has a different shadow line), top rail detail (capped versus open), and post spacing. None of these are expensive changes, but they make the difference between a fence that looks considered and one that looks generic.
On sloped lots, the standard approach is stepped sections, each section is level and the overall fence profile steps with the grade. Raked sections (where the entire panel slopes with the grade) are possible but require more fabrication setup.
Vertical picket fencing
Square tube or flat bar pickets in a vertical orientation, welded to horizontal top and bottom rails. This is the heritage-appropriate option for older residential properties, the character home stock in New Westminster, Burnaby Heights, East Van, and South Granville reads better with vertical pickets than horizontal slats. The fabrication is straightforward and the design scales well to match existing ironwork on the property.
Post spacing typically runs 1.5 to 2 m. Picket spacing must keep any opening below 100 mm (the sphere test that also applies to guardrails) if children or pets are a containment concern.
Solid privacy fencing
Solid privacy fences, continuous welded plate infill, or flat bar spaced so tight that sightlines are blocked, are structurally more demanding than open-infill fences. They are essentially a solid wind sail. At 1.8 m height with 600 mm post spacing, the wind loading on a solid panel in an exposed Metro Vancouver site is substantial. Post sizing has to go up, and the footings have to accommodate that load transfer.
Height limits are also tighter. Burnaby generally requires a permit for rear yard fences over 1.8 m. Most other cities follow similar rules. If the goal is privacy, get the permit confirmed before designing the fence height.
Perforated and mesh infill
Punched plate panels or woven wire mesh in a welded frame. The partial opacity and wind permeability make these a useful option for commercial properties, parking structures, mechanical enclosures, and design-forward residential applications where full opacity is not needed. Corten perforated panels have become a common architectural accent detail.
Commercial security fencing
Commercial security fences are a different structural class. Heavy HSS posts at closer spacing, larger section infill, anti-climb profiles, and often driven or grouted post bases rather than standard surface-mounted posts. Commercial fence permits are required in virtually all Metro Vancouver jurisdictions and typically require engineering drawings for post sizing and footing design.
We build commercial security fencing as part of broader site metalwork scopes, parking lots, industrial yards, school perimeters, institutional properties.
Choosing a fence type: the short version
- Modern home, flat or stepped lot: horizontal slat steel, powder coat black
- Heritage or character home: vertical square picket, powder coat black or dark green
- Privacy required: solid panel or tight flat-bar infill, confirm permit height first
- Commercial perimeter: heavy sections, driven or grouted posts, engineering required
- Industrial accent: Corten weathering steel panels in a welded frame
Related guides
- Materials and finishes, what to use in this climate
- Permits and bylaws across Metro Vancouver
- What drives fence cost
- Pedestrian gates, often paired with fence projects
FAQs
What is the most popular metal fence style in Metro Vancouver right now?
Horizontal slat fencing, flat horizontal bars or rectangular tube sections welded to vertical posts, is by far the most common contemporary residential metal fence in Metro Vancouver. It is the default on new builds in Burnaby, Coquitlam, Richmond, and most of the newer residential areas in Vancouver. The clean horizontal lines work with modern architecture, and the fabrication is well understood by fabricators across the Lower Mainland.
Can a horizontal slat fence handle a sloped lot?
Yes, two ways. Stepped fencing breaks the fence into level sections that step down in increments as the grade drops, each section is perfectly level, creating a staircase profile from the side. Raked fencing has the entire panel set at the same angle as the slope, so the top rail runs parallel to the grade. Stepped sections look clean and architectural; raked sections look continuous but are harder to fabricate. We do both, the choice depends on the lot slope, the design preference, and how tight the grade change is.
What is the difference between a privacy fence and a regular fence?
A privacy fence uses tighter infill, solid plate, closely spaced flat bars, or flush panels, that blocks sightlines at standing eye height. A standard horizontal slat or picket fence has gaps that allow views through. Privacy fences tend to sit at the upper end of the permitted height range (typically 1.8 m in rear yards) and often need more attention to structural post sizing because solid infill creates significant wind load. Check your municipality's height limits, privacy-height fences often trigger permit requirements that a shorter fence would not.
What is Corten steel for fencing and should I use it?
Corten (or weathering steel, ASTM A588) is a steel alloy that forms a protective rust patina when exposed to weather. Instead of continuing to rust through like plain carbon steel, the patina stabilises and protects the underlying steel. For fencing, it gives a warm orange-brown industrial texture with no painting or galvanizing required. It works well in Metro Vancouver for feature accent sections, property boundary markers, and industrial or rural settings. It is a poor choice for fence sections that contact the ground (the patina needs air circulation to stabilise) and should not be used where the rust run-off will stain adjacent concrete or masonry.
How tall can a metal fence be without a permit in Vancouver?
In the City of Vancouver, fences in front yards are limited to 1.2 m; in rear and side yards the limit is 2.4 m under the standard fence bylaw. In Burnaby, rear yard fences up to 1.8 m generally do not require a permit; above 1.8 m a building permit is required. Rules vary across Metro Vancouver municipalities and are different again for commercial properties and corner lots. See the <a href="/metal-fencing/permits-bylaws/">permits and bylaws guide</a> for the full municipal breakdown before finalising a fence height.
What profile sections are typically used in residential metal fencing?
Horizontal slat fences most often use 25 × 6 mm or 38 × 6 mm flat bar, or 25 × 25 mm or 40 × 20 mm rectangular hollow structural steel (HSS) tube. Posts are typically 50 × 50 mm or 75 × 75 mm HSS square tube, or 60.3 mm round tube. The top rail and bottom rail are usually 25 × 25 mm or 38 × 38 mm. Heavier sections are used on commercial fences or privacy fences where wind loading requires more rigidity.
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