Get Quotes from Top Fencing Contractors in Austin, TX

Are You Licensed to Practice as a Fence Contractor in Austin?

Fence contractors in Austin are typically not required to obtain any local or state-issued licenses before operating in the city. However, these contractors must register with the Austin Development Services Department (DSD) before performing jobs requiring permits, like installing fences higher than eight feet. Failure to register with this department and then pulling required permits for fencing jobs in the city can lead to fines of up to $2,000 and other administrative sanctions and penalties.

Contractor registration with the DSD can be done online via the department's Service Center Request Form. Registrants will be required to select the "Register or Update Registration" option and follow all subsequent prompts and instructions. These typically include providing certain information and documentation, such as:

• An Austin Build + Connect (AB+C) ID Number. This can be achieved by creating a user account on the city's Austin Build + Connect platform
• A Letter of Authorization form
• All stipulated registration fees

Additional information on the DSD's contractor registration process can be gotten by contacting the department online, via phone numbers 311 or (512) 974-2000 for callers outside Austin, or in person at:

You can also verify if your intended fence contractor has completed this registration process by contacting the DSD via the aforementioned channels. You should always do this, especially if your fence project will require city-issued permits.

Considering that fence contractors do not typically need city or state-issued licenses to operate in Austin, it is always a good idea to look out for other qualifications when searching for the right fence contractor for your project. A common qualification that many professional fence contractors in the city possess is membership or certification with a reputable trade association like the Texas Fence Association and the Home Builders Association of Greater Austin. Fence contractors that belong to these associations are typically held to high professional standards, have access to better resources, and are usually more skilled and experienced than their counterparts. As such, there is a higher level of assurance that your fence project will be executed professionally and satisfactorily when you hire these contractors.

Note that you should confirm claims made by your intended fence contractor that they either belong to or have been certified by a trade association by requesting proof of this and authenticating this proof with the relevant association.

How Much Do You Charge Compared to Other Fencing Companies in the City?

Austin home and property owners generally install fences for a variety of reasons, some of which include:

• Enhanced safety and security
• Increased privacy
• Property and boundary line marking
• Child and pet containment
• Landscape enhancement

While the cost of installing a new fence in the city typically ranges from $1,050 - $3,000, the actual cost of your fencing project will depend on factors like:

• The fence material used
• The length of the fence
• Fence hardware costs
• Site conditions
• Labor costs

The type of fence material used plays a crucial role in the satisfactory outcome of your planning project, and you should always pay extra attention to this. Common fence materials used in Austin, as well as their pros and cons, include;

• Chain Link: this is one of the most common types of fencings found in Austin. Chain link fences are affordable, long-lasting, and low-maintenance, but they are not very aesthetically pleasing and do not have much resale value. Chain link fences typically cost an average of $10 - $15 per linear foot.
• Wood: wood fences are relatively affordable, offer great privacy, are aesthetically pleasing, and are easily customizable. However, they require regular maintenance and are susceptible to rot and pests. Wood fences typically cost $12 - $20 per linear foot.
• Composite: composite fences offer all the advantages of wood fences without the need for regular maintenance or the susceptibility to rot and pests. However, these fences are also more expensive than wood fencing, and typically cost an average of $18 - $32 per linear foot.
• Wrought Iron: wrought iron fences are durable, long-lasting, resistant to shock and bad weather, and also have a high aesthetic value. However, these fences are also relatively expensive to install, and they typically cost an average of $25 - $60 per linear foot.
• Steel: steel fences are great for security purposes, aesthetically pleasing, and long-lasting. While this type of fencing is generally considered a cheaper alternative to wrought iron fences, it is also less durable. Steel fences typically cost an average of $18 - $45 per linear foot.
• Aluminum: aluminum fences are durable, low-maintenance, and versatile. However, they are also prone to dents and can be relatively expensive to install. Aluminum fences typically cost an average of $20 - $35 per linear foot.
• Vinyl: vinyl fences are affordable, low-maintenance, durable, and versatile. However, this type of fencing can be relatively expensive to install and susceptible to extreme weather damage. Vinyl fences typically cost an average of $15 - $30 per linear foot.

It is always a good idea to get and compare cost estimates for your fencing project from several fence contractors in the city before selecting one best suited for the job. This helps you avoid scams from dishonest contractors that overcharge for their services and those that lure in clients by offering deceptively low initial rates, only to increase their charges once the work commences. Note that a fence contractor's rates should not be your sole reason for hiring them, and you should always ensure that the contractor has a good local reputation and is experienced enough to install your desired fence type and design. Some fence designs favored by Austin home and property owners include:

• Dog-Ear Fence: this fence style is typically built with wood or composite materials, and it involves angling the corners of the fence's vertical boards on the side
• Picket Fence: this type of fence is typically built with wood, composite, or vinyl materials, and it involves separating the vertical planks or posts of the fence at regular intervals to create gaps between them. Picket fences are usually short and typically installed for decorative reasons. Nonetheless, taller variants of these fences can be installed for protective and containment reasons.
• Scallop Fence: this is a variation of the picket fence style that involves introducing curves that rise from one post to the other at various points of the fence instead of the typical straight fence top
• Flat-top Fence: this style involves leaving a flat top on the fence
• Lattice-top Fence: this style involves adding a lattice top to regular fences to give them a more decorative look
• Gothic Fence: this style is mainly used on fences built with metal materials, and it involves adding a series of points to the top of the fence
• Garden Fence: this generally refers to short fences that are installed around gardens for protective or aesthetic reasons
• Shadow-box Fence: this style is typically built with wood, vinyl, and composite materials, and it involves alternately attaching the fencing material on each side of the fence's frame
• Split-rail Fence: this fencing style involves installing the fence in a horizontal manner instead of the more usual vertical style. Split-rail fences typically use fewer fence materials than other types of fences, and they are usually installed on farms and other similar large properties
• Electric Fence: electric fences are typically built with wire mesh and metal fence materials, and they are usually installed on the property to create barriers that prevent animals and people from accessing the enclosed area through the use of electric shocks conducted through the fence
• Custom Fence: custom fences refer to any type of fence that is built to fit a specific landscape. In addition to being tailored to fit the landscape in question, these fences also consider the client's specific requirements, preferences, and tastes. Note that the cost of building and installing a custom fence is usually higher than that of installing other standard fence styles.

Fence contractors in Austin make an average of $38,640 annually. The following list compares the average hourly pay of these contractors with that of fence contractors in other locations across Texas and the rest of the United States:

What Kind of Fencing Services Do You Offer?

Finding out the kind of services that a fence company is equipped to provide and making sure that the scopes of these services match the requirements of your fence project are crucial steps to take when searching for suitable fence contractors in Austin. Professional fence companies in the city generally provide a variety of fencing services, such as:

• Fence building
• New fence installation
• Fence replacements
• Fence repairs and maintenance
• Fence gate installation, repairs, and hardware replacement
• Custom fence design and installation
• Property boundary and utility line marking
• Design and installation consultations

Always ensure that the fence contractor you intend to hire for the job is capable of providing the specific types and scopes of services you require before entering into any contracts with them. Additionally, it is a good idea to make sure that your service contract reflects any promises and guarantees made by the fence company. Taking these actions goes a long way in ensuring that your fence project turns out satisfactorily and helps reduce the occurrence of misunderstandings with the contractor down the line.

When Am I Required to Have a Fence in Austin?

Finding out if the nature and scope of your fence project will be impacted by any local regulations or state laws is another crucial step to take when making preparations to install a fence on your property. Note that, in some instances, these laws may require the mandatory installation of a fence in relation to other home improvement and remodeling projects.

Fence projects in Austin are generally impacted by the following local and state regulations and laws:

• Section 25-2-899 of the Austin Code of Ordinances
• The Austin Building Technical Codes
• Chapter 757 of the Texas Health and Safety Code

Some major provisions of these regulations and laws include:

• The installation of solid fences that are over eight feet high is not allowed. However, ornamental fences that exceed this height limit may be installed. Note that these ornamental fences must have an open design with a ratio of solid material to open space that does not exceed one to four.
• Swimming pools in residential areas must be enclosed by a fence that is at least 48 inches high when measured from the ground on the side of the fence that faces away from the pool. Any space between the bottom of the fence and the ground must not be big enough to allow spheres with a diameter of four inches to pass through.
• The use of chain link material is prohibited for pool fencing
• Pool fence gates must have self-closing and self-latching devices, be equipped to accommodate a locking device, and open away from the pool. The gate latch must also be installed at least 60 inches above the ground. Note that exemptions for this minimum gate latch height requirement may be made

Also, even though there are no explicit local or state regulations and laws regarding shared fences in Austin, disaster guidance provided by the State Bar of Texas states that neighbors are not obligated to share the cost of fence repairs, maintenance, and replacements unless an enforceable agreement concerning these actions was reached beforehand.

One significant benefit of hiring a professional fence company to handle your fence installation projects in Austin is that they are typically knowledgeable about and also adhere to pertinent fence-related regulations. Nevertheless, you can get more information on relevant fence regulations and laws by contacting the city's Land Development Information Services at (512) 978-4000. You can also report suspected violations of these regulations and laws by calling 311 or by submitting a report online.

Will You Get the Necessary Permits as Required as per the City Code?

The Austin Building Technical Codes stipulate that a permit must be obtained before the commencement of construction-related activities within the city, and these include fence projects. However, the code makes exemptions for the construction of fences that are not more than eight feet high for residential projects and seven feet high for commercial projects, provided that this work is not being done in a flood hazard area.

The city's Development Services Department (DSD) issues permits for construction-related permits in Austin. Note that failing to obtain the necessary permits for your project from this department is considered a misdemeanor offense and is punishable by a fine of up to $2,000. On the other hand, pulling all required permits for your fence project not only helps you avoid city-imposed sanctions, but also ensures that the work conforms to relevant standards, protects public welfare, and helps protect your property value as well.

The DSD offers several permitting options to interested parties, and these include:

• Residential Plan Reviews: this option is available for projects that involve single-family, duplex, and two-family buildings
• Commercial Plan Review: this option is available for projects that involve commercial and multi-family buildings

Interested parties who wish to obtain permits from the DSD may do so via the following steps:

• Creating an Austin Build + Connect (AB+C) account online. The department provides a user manual that can be used to simplify this process.
• Requesting a Preliminary Plan Review Meeting (PPR) to discuss design or construction issues. Note that this step is optional.
• Determining and preparing all required documents for the projects. These usually include project plans and drawings. Applicants who are unsure about the needed documents for their applications are advised to schedule an appointment with the DSD's Permitting and Development Center to get assistance on this before initiating the next step.
• Applying for the permit via either a Residential Intake Request Form or a Commercial Intake Request Form, whichever is applicable

After these steps are completed, applicants are typically sent a link to upload all required documents that were outlined within the application and an invoice for necessary fees. Note that the permit review process will commence only after these fees have been paid. Once the review is completed and the permit request is approved, the applicants will be asked to activate the issued permits online through the department's Service Center Request Form, after which work on the project can begin. Bear in mind that all construction-related projects in Austin are subject to inspection from authorized DSD officials to ensure that they conform to relevant standards and regulations.

Queries related to the DSD's permitting process can be directed to the department online, via phone numbers 311 or (512) 974-2000 for callers outside the city, or in person at the city's Permitting and Development Center located at:

Will You Contact the City's Utility Companies to Verify the Path of Underground Lines?

Professional fence companies in Austin typically follow six key steps when installing fences:

• Estimating the fence's length
• Marking all utility lines on the property
• Obtaining necessary permits
• Setting post brackets and digging fence post holes
• Building and installing the fence
• Tidying the worksite

Special attention should be paid to locating and marking underground electric, gas, water, and wastewater lines, as hitting these lines can result in injury, property damage, service disruption, and environmental pollution. Therefore, always confirm that your intended fence company will take responsibility for locating utility lines and ensure that it is done before any digging occurs on your property. Bear in mind that you may have to provide the fence contractor with copies of your survey records to enable them to correctly locate utility lines on your property.

Alternatively, you can locate these utility lines by calling Texas 811 at 811 or (800) 344-8377 before commencing the dig. Per the Texas Underground Facility Damage Prevention and Safety Act, this service must be contacted at least two working days before any digging of 16 inches or deeper with mechanical equipment.

Additional information concerning Austin utility lines can be obtained by contacting the following companies:

• Austin Energy – (512) 494-9400 or (888) 340-6465 for callers outside Austin
• Austin Water – (512) 494-9400
• Texas Gas Service – (800) 700-2443
• Atmos Energy - (512) 472-6950

Do You Carry the Necessary Insurance Policy for Fence Contractors in Austin?

Your intended fence contractor's insurance status is important to consider when searching for suitable fence companies in Austin. The Texas Department of Insurance estimates that approximately 27 percent of all fatal work-related injuries that occurred across the state in 2020 were recorded among construction-related workers. In situations where you hire an uninsured fence contractor for your project, you will be held liable for any injuries or property damage that occurs during or as a direct result of this project.

To this end, even though fence contractors must meet no mandatory insurance requirements before operating in Austin, always ensure that your fence contractor carries general liability insurance that can adequately cover third-party injuries and property damage.

Ask your intended fence contractor to provide you with a copy of their insurance certificate and ensure that you validate this certificate with the appropriate issuing organization before they begin any work on the project.