Homeowners can keep 11-foot fence, committee rules

A well-known Winnipeg couple will get to keep their extra-tall fence, despite the city’s previous directive to replace it with a shorter one.

Lynne Skromeda and Jason Smith built a fence in 2023 that reaches as high as 11.13 feet (3.39 metres) along one portion of their home’s west side yard and 8.09 feet (2.47 metres) along the rear side.

City standards limit fence heights to six-feet, six inches (1.98 metres) for rear and side yards, and four feet (1.22 metres) in front yards in their part of the McMillan neighbourhood.

On Monday during an appeal hearing, the couple said the taller fence addresses privacy concerns that are unique to their property.

“Our home is located in a dense, older neighbourhood, where properties are built very close together. In our case, the neighbouring home to the west was built in the late 1800s and is set significantly farther back than the typical homes on the street … Multiple windows, including their living room, kitchen and dining room windows look directly into our rear yard and vice-versa. We (also) look into their private living space,” said Smith.

Smith owns Smith Events, an event management and consulting company, while Skromeda is the chief executive officer of Manitoba Film & Music.

City bylaw inspectors ruled the fence was too high after a complaint was lodged.

While the city later approved a variance application that would have allowed a fence height of up to seven feet, six-inches (2.29 metres), the height was not reduced, a city report notes.

In addition to privacy issues, a taller fence is needed to keep the property secure, Smith said.

“The (tallest part of the) fence, which covers only about 20 per cent of our entire yard, was designed specifically to restore … privacy, as well as address several safety issues we’ve dealt with over the years … including multiple vehicle break-ins, garage break-ins and trespassing into our yard,” he said.

“To take it down to put up a lattice-like structure that’s 13 feet seems a bit pointless or punitive, so the height makes sense.”

In November 2025, the city denied a variance application to maintain the existing height of the fence.

A city staff report suggests the fence is a poor fit for the area.

“The increased height of the existing fencing is not compatible with the dwelling or existing fencing on the block and poses a substantial adverse impact upon adjoining properties and the adjacent area,” writes Donna Kane, a city planner.

The report notes the couple could add a “lattice-like structure” that supports plants to add privacy. The total height, in that case, could reach up to 13 feet (3.96 metres) without any special city permission.

Skromeda questioned why an even taller structure would be seen as an improvement.

“The portion of the fence that exceeds eight feet is very limited and is specifically designed to address a direct line of sight into our deck area from surrounding properties,” she said.

The couple says its contractor and an adjacent neighbour helped determine the minimum height the fence needed to reach to create a privacy barrier. Skromeda said both next-door neighbours support the existing fence height.

Coun. Brian Mayes moved a successful motion to reject staff advice and allow the fence to stay in place, noting immediate neighbours support it.

“To take it down to put up a lattice-like structure that’s 13 feet seems a bit pointless or punitive, so the height makes sense, I think,” said Mayes (St. Vital).

During the meeting, city staff confirmed the fence complaint was filed by someone who lives down the block but is not an adjacent neighbour.

The appeal committee decision is final.

joyanne.pursaga@freepress.mb.ca

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