Cost · permit · scope
Fence planning guide
Plan a fence with a post and concrete calculator, fence erector wages, permit checkpoints, material comparisons and a contractor-ready scope.
Permit complexity
Low
Compare quotes per
linear foot
| Percentile | U.S. | California | Texas |
|---|---|---|---|
| 25th percentile | $19.43 | $22.47 | $16.41 |
| Median | $23.07 | $26.95 | $17.92 |
| 75th percentile | $28.18 | $33.50 | $22.01 |
Fence buying path
Price the boundary—not just the footage.
A comparable fence quote fixes the run, finished height, material system, post assumptions and gate count before contractors price the work.
01 · Locate
Confirm the line
Separate measured fence length from property-line certainty. Record easements, corners, slopes and access before treating footage as final.
02 · Specify
Name one system
Set finished height, material, post spacing, gate count and removal scope so every bid starts from the same physical job.
03 · Compare
Expose the exceptions
Ask contractors to itemize gates, demolition, disposal, rock or root excavation, finish and permit responsibilities.
Decision matrix
Compare one specification at a time
Cedar
A natural wood appearance
Specify species, grade, post dimensions, fasteners and finish system.
Vinyl
A consistent finished surface
Specify profile, rail system, post reinforcement, hardware and product warranty.
Chain link
A visible, functional boundary
Specify fabric gauge, coating, terminal posts, top rail and gate frame.
Quote controls
Keep every bid comparable
- Same measured run, finished height and gate count
- Same material grade and post/fastener assumptions
- Demolition, disposal and difficult access shown separately
- Survey, utility locate, HOA and permit responsibility assigned
Next best action
Calculate, then lock the scope.
Count posts, rails and concrete bags for your run in the fence calculator, then carry the same length, height and gate count into a brief so every bid prices one fence.
Start with two separate questions
Height, material and where the fence stands decide it; the fence permit brief gives Austin's and Los Angeles's lines.
Height, not a setback, is the usual fence rule: each city caps a fence by where it stands on the lot.
What usually decides the scope
- Height at the property line
- Front-yard vs. rear/side
- Corner-lot sight triangles
- Pool barrier rules
- HOA material and style rules
Height
Zoning, not the permit list, sets how tall a fence may stand. Austin allows a solid fence on a property line up to 6 ft above natural grade, 7 ft where the grade changes at least 1 ft, and up to 8 ft in some cases with the neighbors' written consent. Los Angeles's limits are in the fence permit guide.
Location on the lot
A property line, a corner lot and the street each bring their own rule: Austin wants a corner lot's solid fence approved for drivers' sight lines, and a fence more than 6 ft high along its right-of-way needs a permit. For a fence in a utility easement, ask the utility.
Material
Austin does not regulate a fence's material on private property outside the wildland-urban interface, but its safe fencing rules bar spiked tops and barbed wire on fences built since July 31, 2023.
From research to quotes
Give every bidder the same scope.
Set the run length, height, material and gate count. The brief adds the post, span and concrete takeoff, and asks every bidder for an installed total and its price per linear foot over that same run. No contact details needed; sending it on is optional.
Create fence briefUse the dimensions, not a guess
Related field notes
- Do You Need a Permit for a Fence?
- Pool Fence Requirements: Height, Gates and Latches
- Easements on Your Property: What You Can Build in One
- Right-of-Way Permits: Curb Cuts, Sidewalk Repair and Encroachments
- Good Neighbor Fence Law: Who Pays for a Shared Fence
- A Neighbor's Tree Over the Line: Who Owns It, Who May Trim It
- Building Permit Cost and Time: Fees in Austin and Los Angeles