Fence installation is one of the residential trades where the 'get it wrong' mode is not bad aesthetics but legal liability. Fences installed on the wrong side of property lines become permanent sources of neighbor dispute, forced removal by survey, or both. Fences without proper setback from property lines violate local zoning. Fences without proper HOA approval trigger fines and removal orders. The installation itself is the easy part — the pre-installation research is where bad outcomes are avoided.
This guide is part of the Know Before You Hire series. At Home Services Co, our fence installation service includes property line verification and permit pulling as standard practice.
Before you schedule installation: property survey. The single most important step is knowing exactly where your property line is. 'The fence from the previous owner' is not an authoritative line. 'My neighbor thinks it's here' is not either. A current property survey ($400-$800 depending on lot complexity) is the authoritative reference. Some homeowners have an existing survey from their purchase — check the closing papers. Others need a new survey. Either way, know the line before any post hole is dug.
Setbacks and local zoning. Most jurisdictions require fences be set back from the property line by a specific distance — commonly 6 inches to several feet. Front-yard fences often have height restrictions (typically 3-4 feet) while side and back yards allow taller (6-8 feet). Corner lots have sight-line restrictions to preserve intersection visibility. Each jurisdiction is different. Before installing, verify the specific rules for your address. A legitimate fence installer knows local zoning as standard practice; an unfamiliar one guesses and sometimes guesses wrong.
HOA approval. If you have an HOA, nearly every HOA regulates fencing — allowed styles, heights, materials, and colors. Installing a fence without HOA approval, even if technically legal in the municipality, creates HOA fines and potential forced removal. Submit the design plan to your HOA in writing, wait for written approval, then schedule. This process typically takes 2-6 weeks depending on HOA meeting schedules.
Permits. Most jurisdictions require permits for fences over a certain height (commonly 6 feet) or for fences on specific lot configurations. Some require permits for all fences regardless of height. Permit costs are modest ($50-$250 typically). The permit includes municipal inspection that verifies setback, height, and other compliance. Skipping the permit creates a future disclosure issue at resale and potential forced removal. Pull the permit. See does this job need a permit.
811 before digging. Federal law requires calling 811 (Dig Safe) before any digging to mark underground utility lines. Gas lines, electric, water, sewer, cable, fiber. Hitting a utility line during post-hole digging produces outcomes ranging from expensive (cable repair) to lethal (gas explosion). Legitimate fence installers call 811 as standard practice. If they do not, walk.
Fence material options. Wood (cedar, pressure-treated pine): traditional, moderate cost, 10-20 year life with maintenance. Vinyl: higher upfront cost, essentially zero maintenance, 20-30+ year life. Aluminum: modern appearance, zero maintenance, 25+ year life, often used for pool enclosures. Chain link: utility, low cost, 15-20 year life. Composite: wood appearance with low maintenance, moderate to high cost. Steel: strongest, highest cost, specialty applications. Each material has specific installation requirements. Choose based on lifestyle and aesthetic, not just price.
Post installation. The posts are the foundation of the fence. Proper installation: dig below the frost line (varies by climate — typically 30-48 inches in northern climates), set posts in concrete, allow concrete to cure before attaching rails and panels. Shortcuts: posts set too shallow, posts set in dirt without concrete, posts set without frost-line consideration in freezing climates. Shortcut posts fail within 2-5 years as they shift, lean, and pull out of the ground.
Red flag #1: 'we'll just install along the existing line.' The existing fence line is not an authoritative property line. Use a survey, not the previous installation. Many 'property line' fences are inches to feet off the actual legal line — often in favor of the previous owner, sometimes against you. Installing a new fence on the same wrong line perpetuates the problem.
Red flag #2: no permits or 811 locates. As above. Skipping these is operating outside the regulatory framework. Walk.
Red flag #3: shallow post depth. Ask specifically how deep posts will be set. The answer should reference frost line in freezing climates, or minimum 24-30 inches even in non-freezing climates. 'We go 18 inches' is shortcut installation.
Red flag #4: unusually low pricing. Fence installation has real material and labor costs. Wood privacy fence runs $25-$55 per linear foot installed. Vinyl $35-$65. Aluminum $40-$80. Chain link $15-$35. Anything dramatically below these ranges is cutting corners — on post depth, on materials quality, on labor, or on legitimate business costs like insurance. See low-ball bid warnings.
Red flag #5: no written design or materials spec. The contract should specify fence height, material, color/finish, post dimensions, hardware type, gate specifications. 'Standard 6-foot privacy fence' without specifics leaves everything to the contractor's discretion (meaning the cheapest option they can justify).
Red flag #6: same-day installation without survey. No legitimate fence installer proceeds without knowing the property line. A same-day installation offer after a morning quote is a contractor operating without survey verification — a guaranteed route to eventual neighbor dispute.
Pricing reality. Wood privacy fence, 6 feet tall: $25-$55 per linear foot installed. Chain link, 4-6 feet: $15-$35 per linear foot. Vinyl privacy fence: $35-$65 per linear foot. Aluminum ornamental: $40-$80 per linear foot. Gates: $300-$1,500 each depending on size and material. Removal of existing fence: $5-$15 per linear foot additional. These are market ranges; complex lots (slopes, rocks, heavy tree roots) cost more.
Neighbor coordination. Fence installation affects your neighbors. Some jurisdictions require you notify neighbors before installation. Even where not required, the professional courtesy of informing adjacent neighbors about timing, design, and the specific property line location reduces disputes. Many disputes become amicable when both sides have the survey information. Some become contentious regardless. Either way, proactive communication is the better path.
Fence orientation. The 'good side' of a wood privacy fence — the side where rails are hidden — traditionally faces the neighbor. Some jurisdictions require this. Installing with good-side facing your yard ('bad-side out') is legal in many places but considered poor neighbor etiquette. Consider the social dimension, not just the legal.
Gates. Gates fail more often than the fence they are attached to — hinges loosen, posts shift, gates drag or don't close properly. Specify heavy-duty hinges, substantial gate posts (typically set deeper and larger than regular fence posts), proper latches, and consider gate width carefully. Wider gates (wider than 4 feet for a single gate) often sag over time and warrant double gates instead.
Maintenance. Wood fences need re-staining every 2-4 years. Vinyl and aluminum need periodic washing but no structural maintenance. All fences need periodic inspection for loose hardware, shifted posts, and damage. Proactive maintenance extends life significantly.
The summary. Survey first. Verify zoning and setback. Get HOA approval. Pull permits. Call 811. Specify materials and post depth in writing. Budget market-rate pricing. Coordinate with neighbors.
At Home Services Co, our fence installation follows the full protocol — survey verification, permit pulling, 811 locates, frost-line post installation, written material spec. Related: hiring a landscaper, hiring a concrete contractor, hiring a deck builder, essential contract clauses, pricing, book, or the full series.