Electric Fences - Land Use Bylaw Amendments

Historically, electric fencing has been used for grazing or pasture management by containing animals within a selected area of crop or pasture (i.e., keeping animals “in”). However, as urban farming and urban food production in general have been gaining popularity among urban dwellers, so has the interest for electric fences in towns and cities to protect crops from urban wildlife (i.e., keeping animals “out”). That is likely the main reason why some municipalities across North America elected to introduce regulations to restrict their use in urban areas.

Over the past several months the Town has received approximately three enquiries about electric fences and received one complaint about the use of an electric fence within the Town limits. The Town of Yarmouth Land Use Bylaw (LUB) is currently silent on the matter of electrified or electric fences, and as such the bylaw does not prohibit their use and installation at this time. In response, if approved by Council, the proposed amendments would prohibit the use of electrified fencing in the Town of Yarmouth.

The most common approach observed among other jurisdictions that have elected to restrict the use of electrified fences through their respective land use bylaws or specific fence bylaws, includes a blanket prohibition except for areas with approved livestock operations. As the Town of Yarmouth LUB currently does not allow for livestock operations/farms, it eliminates the possibility of lawful agricultural operations involving livestock (chickens, pigs, cattle, sheep, etc.) that typically benefit from the services that electric fences provide. Therefore, the logical approach would be to exclude electrified fences from permitted structures in the Town of Yarmouth through amending the Land Use Bylaw.

The recommendation favors public safety and common sense over reliance on technological advances that have significantly reduced, but not completely eliminated, potential safety hazards, health risks and injuries to humans and animals from coming into contact with an energized fence.