Walk through the entrance before choosing a gate
Look at the whole approach, rather than measuring only the gap between two posts. Check where someone will stand to reach the latch, step back as the gate opens and close it behind them. Include the following in your project brief:
- Usable passage width: allow for the opening left when the gate is open, including the frame and hardware. Tell us about mobility aids, strollers, bins or equipment that need to pass through.
- Swing space: identify steps, sloping paving, parked vehicles, planters and walls that could interrupt the gate’s movement. Plan the swing within your property without obstructing the public sidewalk.
- Ground clearance: show changes in level and areas where leaves or debris collect. A larger bottom gap may improve clearance but leave more space for a small pet to pass underneath.
- Daily use: explain whether the gate is a front entrance, a rarely used garden access or a busy shared entry. That affects the choice of latch, hinges and closing hardware.
When access needs more than a wider opening
If someone uses a wheelchair or walker, discuss the approach surface, space beside the latch, handle operation and effort needed to open the gate. A wide panel alone does not make the route accessible. Where the entrance forms part of a required accessible route, have the applicable dimensions and hardware requirements confirmed before fabrication. The BC Building Code’s accessibility provisions address clear passage, manoeuvring space and operating hardware; their application depends on the building and route.
Settle the boundary and shared access arrangements
A side gate often sits close to a neighbour’s fence, wall or access path. Confirm the property line and ownership of existing posts before deciding where to attach anything. If the boundary is uncertain, resolve it before fabrication. Do not treat an existing fence as proof of the surveyed boundary.
Discuss the proposed height, privacy, swing direction and latch position with affected neighbours before work starts. Agree on any access needed from their side, how a shared passage will remain usable and when noise or removal work is planned. For a strata property, obtain the necessary authorization for changes to common property and agree who will hold keys or manage entry permissions.
Our North Vancouver service area includes the City and District, which have separate local rules. For entrances in Lower or Central Lonsdale, identify any interface with the sidewalk or boulevard; the City’s boulevard guidance addresses obstructions and visibility. For District properties, including Lynn Valley, Edgemont and Deep Cove, check the District’s fence height guidance, particularly where a gate adjoins a retaining wall.
For West Vancouver projects in areas such as Ambleside or Dundarave, confirm the applicable zone and boundary location against the municipality’s residential zoning regulations. There is no single height or permit answer that covers every North Shore property.
Choose how much of the entrance you want to screen
Open bars can retain views through the entrance; closely spaced or solid infill can reduce views into a side yard. Consider sightlines from both sides, especially beside a driveway or shared path. A gate helps manage access, but its height and appearance do not guarantee security or child and pet containment. Openings, bottom clearance, the latch and the adjoining fence all matter.
Metalwork and finish
Aluminum is lighter than steel for comparable material volume and is naturally corrosion resistant, but it is not immune to corrosion. The Australian Aluminium Council’s material guidance explains these properties. The finished gate’s weight and performance also depend on its construction, size and hardware.
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Steel can be used for plain or decorative metal designs. Ask what base metal, protective treatment and finish are specified rather than relying on a style name such as “wrought iron.” Coated steel still needs inspection and care where the coating is damaged. For exposed waterfront properties, discuss salt exposure and maintenance expectations: the American Galvanizers Association’s coastal guidance explains why local exposure affects corrosion performance.
Infill that works with the surrounding fence
If you are considering glass or cable infill, ask how the proposed design will address your privacy, spacing and containment needs. Transparent or open infill provides little visual screening. Match the gate to the adjoining boundary so it does not leave an unintended gap or become the only private section of an otherwise open fence.
For a screened side yard, consider the gate alongside our privacy fencing options. If the main aim is a decorative entrance within your landscaping, explore custom garden gates. Our gate services cover other entrance types if the project includes more than one access point.
Decide how people will enter, close and leave
A manual latch or lock
For a household side entrance, a manual gate may meet your needs without a powered opener. Choose the latch around the people who use it: someone carrying shopping should be able to reach and operate it without an awkward movement. Decide whether visitors need to ring a bell, whether access is required from both sides and how keys will be shared.
A closer can help return a gate to the closed position, but the gate must also latch reliably. Discuss closing behaviour and opening effort together; a gate that is difficult to push or slams into its stop is inconvenient for everyday use.
Controlled entry and powered opening
A keypad or electrically released lock controls permission to enter; it does not necessarily open the gate for you. If you want powered movement, state that separately. North Shore Iron Works offers pedestrian gate automation options; ask which equipment is suitable for the proposed gate, how people will activate it and what happens during a power failure. Confirm the controls, protective features and maintenance responsibilities in the quote.
Where regulated electrical work is involved, confirm who will arrange the work and any required permit. Technical Safety BC’s installation permit guidance explains that some municipalities administer their own electrical permits.
An entrance that is also an exit route
Flag any gate on a required exit route at the start, especially for commercial premises or shared residential access. The locking arrangement must preserve the required exit function. Confirm the release method and any approval requirements with the local building or fire authority before ordering hardware. The Province’s access and egress guidance explains why controlled entry must be considered alongside safe exiting.
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If your property also has an automated vehicle entrance, plan a separate route for people. Industry guidance from DASMA on pedestrian access beside automated vehicular gates calls for a separate pedestrian gate outside the moving vehicle gate’s path. Discuss this when planning both driveway and pedestrian access.
Check whether an existing gate can be repaired
A dragging gate or unreliable latch does not always require a replacement. Ask for an assessment of the panel, hinges, posts and latch alignment. A hardware adjustment will not resolve every problem if a support has moved or the frame is damaged. Send a short video of the fault, taken without standing in the gate’s movement path, when requesting gate repair and maintenance.
For ongoing care, keep the opening clear of vegetation and debris, check that the gate closes and latches as intended, and inspect the finish and fixings. Use cleaning and lubrication products specified for the actual finish and hardware. Report new dragging, loose supports, corrosion or a latch that misses its catch. Have powered equipment or safety-related closing hardware serviced according to its manufacturer’s instructions.
What to confirm in your estimate and installation plan
Pedestrian gate prices depend on the entrance and specification. A replacement fitted to sound supports is a different scope from a new entrance requiring posts, foundations and electrical work. Ask for an estimate that identifies:
- The gate dimensions, material, infill, finish and decorative details.
- New posts or alterations to existing supports, including any masonry or ground work.
- Hinges, latch, lock, closer and any access controls or powered equipment.
- Removal and disposal of the old gate, and any affected fence or paving work.
- Permit responsibilities, electrical work, site access and items excluded from the price.
Before fabrication
The project moves from a discussion of your needs to site measurements, an agreed design, fabrication and installation. Confirm the opening direction, usable width, finished height, hardware and support details before approving the design. Ask for the expected schedule once the scope and any approvals are settled.
For new post excavation, arrange utility locating before ground is disturbed. BC 1 Call’s homeowner guidance explains the locate request process; clarify whether private or non-member services also need locating. Agree how residents, deliveries and neighbours will access the property while the entrance is being worked on.
At handover
Walk through the completed entrance from both sides. Check full travel, ground clearance and latch operation, and test the agreed closing and access functions. Receive the keys or control instructions, care guidance and any product-specific warranty terms in writing. For powered equipment, include a demonstration of the documented power-failure procedure.
Nearby landmarks and pedestrian entrance planning
| Landmark | Relevant area | Practical project planning check |
|---|---|---|
| The Shipyards | Lower Lonsdale waterfront, City of North Vancouver | For an entrance beside a public walking route, include photos of the sidewalk and the space where a visitor would wait. Plan the gate’s opening within the property. |
| Lynn Canyon Park | Lynn Valley, District of North Vancouver | For a Lynn Valley side path, show any steps, slope and planting beside the opening so the approach and gate movement can be assessed together. |
| Ambleside Park | Ambleside, West Vancouver | For a property in the waterfront area, describe the entrance’s exposure to salt and wind, and agree a temporary walking route during installation. |
Tell us how you use your entrance
North Shore Iron Works serves North Vancouver, West Vancouver, Vancouver, Burnaby, Coquitlam, Surrey and Langley. View our service areas and include your location when requesting a quote.