The new rules call for any portion of a fence above 1.2 metres to be woven wire mesh, in part to retain a more open aesthetic.<\/p>\n
Residential-property fences in Esquimalt can now be up to 2.5 metres tall to keep deer out, as long as the top portion is made of wire mesh.<\/p>\n
Council unanimously approved the new deer-fencing regulations for the township this week. A public hearing on the issue attracted just one speaker, who supported the changes.<\/p>\n
The new rules call for any portion of a fence above 1.2 metres to be woven wire mesh, in part to retain a more open \u00adesthetic in the township, similar to the regulations in the District of Saanich.<\/p>\n
In that municipality, deer fences and deer-fence extensions can have a combined height of 2.5 metres, as long as they don\u2019t border a street or street corner, and the fencing must be made from \u201cwoven-wire mesh, horizontal wires or similar material\u201d that is see-through.<\/p>\n
\u201cExcessive fencing creates a fortress appearance that can damage the public\u2019s perception of an area and reduce the esthetic appeal of a streetscape,\u201d an Esquimalt staff report said.<\/p>\n
Plastic mesh and netting fences will not be allowed, as they can catch deer antlers and trap other creatures, including bats, reptiles and amphibians, the staff report said.<\/p>\n
Coun. Meagan Brame said she\u2019s happy that the regulations include protections for wildlife.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think we found a really nice balance, and I\u2019m excited to see this go forward,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
Township planner Jakub Lisowski told council that native Columbian black-tailed deer in the township have been known to jump over two metres high and squeeze through 20-centimetre-square holes, so the new rules were designed to prevent \u201ceven the most agile deer\u201d from jumping over fences.<\/p>\n
Lisowski said the new regulations also forbid fence protrusions that could potentially injure or impale deer, including the horizontal bars common in many deer fences.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf a deer hits the top of the bar, it could get injured as well.\u201d<\/p>\n
Barbed wire and electrification are also not allowed.<\/p>\n
Esquimalt has been considering changes to its deer fencing bylaws since 2021, but it only became a priority at the council table last June following a motion from Coun. Duncan Cavens.<\/p>\n
The regulations will only apply to residential properties that have six or fewer homes on a single lot.<\/p>\n