Fence Guides
Practical guides for measuring, planning, and permitting a fence project.
Fence Height Rules and Permits: What to Check Before You Build
Most cities cap front-yard fences at 3–4 ft and back-yard fences at 6 ft, with taller fences allowed only after a permit review. This guide covers the typical limits, HOA rules, pool barrier requirements, and the permit and utility steps to take before you dig a single post hole — while local ordinances always take precedence.
Fence Materials Compared: Wood, Vinyl, Chain Link, Aluminum, Composite, Split Rail
Six materials cover almost every residential fence: wood, vinyl, chain link, aluminum, composite, and split rail. Each trades off differently on lifespan, maintenance, privacy, wind resistance, HOA acceptance, and how hard it is to install yourself.
Fence Post Depth and Frost Line by State
A fence post needs to go deeper than the frost line, or the ground can heave it out of true every winter. This guide gives you the rule, the arithmetic behind it, and a 50-state chart of typical frost depths and recommended post depths for a 6-ft fence.
How to Measure for a Fence (Step-by-Step Guide)
Measuring for a fence comes down to five numbers: the length of every straight run, the width of every gate, the number of corners, the slope of the ground, and where your property line actually sits. Get those five right and the rest of the project — posts, rails, pickets — is just arithmetic.