Why a checklist helps
Most fence problems trace back to something that could have been checked beforehand: a post on the wrong side of the line, a missing approval, a hidden pipe, or a materials order that came up short. The items below are in a sensible order, because some depend on earlier ones. Each can take days or weeks to resolve, so start the slow ones first.
Nothing here replaces local advice. Rules, soil, and customs differ a great deal, and the people who administer them in your area are the authority.
1. Boundary
- Locate your property survey or deed description and read the dimensions.
- Find the boundary markers, or arrange for a surveyor to re-mark them if they are missing.
- Decide whether the fence will sit on the line or set back from it.
- Note any easements, since you may not be allowed to build in them.
Do not guess a boundary from existing landscaping. A fence built on a neighbor’s land can be ordered removed, and settling that is far harder than checking first.
2. Rules and approvals
- Look up the limits on height, distance from the boundary and sidewalk, and any restrictions near corners and driveways. Fence height choices often differ between front and back yards.
- Ask whether a permit is required and how long it takes. The details in our piece on fence permits explain what offices commonly ask for.
- If you have an association, apply for HOA approval and wait for it in writing.
- If the fence will enclose a pool, special barrier rules usually apply. Read up on pool barrier laws before choosing a design.
Keep copies of approvals together with your plans.
3. Utilities and ground conditions
- Request utility locating well ahead of the planned start, and leave the marks undisturbed.
- Locate sprinkler lines, drainage pipes, septic components, and outbuilding power or water lines that the public service may not mark.
- Note trees, roots, rocks, slopes and low spots. Tree roots can make digging difficult and can be damaged by it.
If water collects along the line, consider how fence drainage will be handled. Standing water shortens the life of wood in the ground.
4. Neighbors
- Tell neighbors along the line about the plan and timing.
- Agree which side the finished face and the framing will be on, if it matters locally.
- If cost sharing is possible, discuss it before ordering, and put any agreement in writing.
- Ask whether access to their side is needed for work or later upkeep.
Starting that conversation early tends to head off the disagreements that otherwise appear halfway through a build.
5. Design decisions
- Confirm the purpose: privacy, pets, boundary, appearance or a combination.
- Choose the height, style and material, and think about upkeep as you do.
- Decide where each gate goes, how wide it is and which way it swings.
- Plan the transitions at corners, ends and where the fence meets existing structures.
6. Measurements and materials
- Measure each run, corner and gate opening, and count posts from that. The walkthrough on how to measure for a new fence installation covers the method.
- Convert the sketch to a materials list: posts, rails, boards or panels, concrete or gravel, fasteners, hardware, and finish.
- Check the details that cause trouble: whether fasteners suit the material, whether hardware suits the gate weight, and whether lumber lengths suit your post spacing.
- Add a modest allowance for waste and errors.
- Confirm delivery dates and a dry place to store materials.
7. Tools, helpers and schedule
- List the tools needed and decide what to buy, borrow or rent.
- Line up at least one helper, since long runs and heavy gates are awkward alone.
- Choose a start date that allows for the curing time of footings and for weather. Wet ground, frozen ground and very hot days can all complicate the job.
- Plan where waste will go.
8. Contractors, if any
- Request more than one bid and compare scope, not just price. Our article on contractor bids explains what to look for.
- Ask who obtains permits, who arranges marking, and what is included in cleanup.
- Check licensing and insurance requirements for your area, and ask for them in writing.
- Make sure the contract names the materials, the dimensions and the timeline.
9. Final check before the first hole
- The boundary is confirmed and marked.
- Approvals are in hand.
- Utility marks are present and recent.
- Neighbors know the plan.
- Materials are on site or scheduled, and counted.
- Tools and help are lined up.
If any line is not ticked, hold off. A delay of a few days to resolve it is usually minor compared with fixing it after concrete has set.