Before installing a fence or planting a hedge, are you sure where your property boundaries are? A boundary that seems obvious on the ground does not always match the legal property line. Even a difference of a few centimetres can lead to a disagreement with a neighbour or require you to move an existing feature.
In Gatineau, it’s best to clarify your property lines before snow covers visible markers and makes outdoor work more difficult. ASDAG offers property staking services to mark the boundaries of your lot and help you plan your landscaping based on reliable markers.
Why check your property boundaries before the first snowfall?
As winter approaches, it becomes increasingly difficult to carry out work on your property quickly and easily. Once snow accumulates, existing survey markers may be covered, features of the terrain become less visible, and frozen ground makes installing new markers more difficult.
For a fence or hedge project, these conditions can delay the boundary identification needed before work begins. Having a land surveyor assess your property in the fall allows the necessary measurements to be taken while the ground is still accessible.
Staking by a land surveyor: an important step in planning your landscaping and preventing neighbour disputes
Property staking involves marking property boundaries with physical markers. It is based on a land surveyor’s analysis of property records, rather than simply relying on existing fences or other features. The process includes reviewing property titles, taking measurements on the ground, and comparing the findings with cadastral records. A staking certificate is then issued.
For a fence, these markers help confirm whether the proposed location respects the property boundaries. For a hedge, they help ensure that the plants are positioned without encroaching on a neighbouring property.
This verification can also help prevent disagreements between neighbours. However, when a property boundary is disputed, staking does not resolve the dispute: a formal boundary determination procedure may be required.
Fences and hedges in Gatineau: what rules apply?
Once your property boundaries have been identified, you also need to consider municipal regulations before starting work.
According to the City of Gatineau, a fence can generally be installed directly along a side or rear property line, unless that line borders a street. Near a public roadway, a fence must also be set back at least 1 metre from a sidewalk or 1.5 metres from the curb where there is no sidewalk.
Different rules apply to hedges. On corner lots, for example, hedges must respect the required visibility triangle at intersections.
There are therefore two separate things to verify: the actual boundaries of your property and the municipal requirements that apply to your planned installation.
Confirm your property boundaries with ASDAG before winter
For fence or hedge projects in Gatineau, ASDAG provides property staking based on property titles, cadastral plans, and on-site measurements. After reviewing this information, our land surveyors mark the determined boundaries with physical markers, where conditions allow. You then receive a staking certificate in the form of a plan, accompanied by a report when necessary.
If a boundary remains uncertain or is disputed by a neighbour, ASDAG can also advise you on the appropriate next steps, including whether a formal boundary determination procedure may be required.
Want to complete your outdoor project before the first snowfall? Schedule property staking with ASDAG to confirm exactly where your fence or hedge should go before starting work.
FAQ’s
Is a certificate of location enough to install a fence?
Not necessarily. A certificate of location documents the situation of a property, but it does not replace staking, which physically marks property boundaries on the ground.
Can you install a fence directly on the property line?
Yes. Gatineau’s regulations generally allow fences along side and rear property lines that do not border a street. All other applicable installation requirements must also be respected.
What should you do if a neighbour disputes the location of a fence?
Avoid moving the fence until the situation has been clarified. A land surveyor can review the property boundaries and determine whether a formal boundary determination procedure is necessary.
Can you move a property stake yourself?
No. Property stakes should not be moved to accommodate a landscaping project. If you have questions about their placement, ask a land surveyor to verify their location.
Can property staking be done in winter?
Yes, depending on site conditions. However, heavy snow accumulation or frozen ground can make taking measurements and installing markers more difficult.