Things To Take Care Of Before Installing A New Fence
There are several steps to getting a new fence installed, such as getting a permit, checking underground utilities, and surveying your property. The fencing company you choose should guide you through this process, and they may even take care of all these details for an additional charge. Here's a little more information about the tasks that need to be completed before construction begins on your new fence.
Check Regulations And Get Permit
The first thing you want to do is check on any regulations that apply to residential fences in your area. City codes as well as HOA regulations could apply. These codes could affect the type of fence you install as well as the height and location. Next, you should check with your local codes office to find out if you need a permit to install a fence. This varies by city, so you may or may not need one. Your fencing contractor should be able to submit the proper paperwork, pay the fee, pull the permit for you, and add the cost to the final cost of the project.
Survey Your Property
The fencing company may not have a land surveyor on staff, but they can hire one to mark your property lines, so they know where to place the fence. You may be able to skip this step if you have markers buried on your land that mark the corners of your property. However, if there is any question about where your property line is located, you should have the land surveyed. This could save you from problems when you put your home on the market and have a fence outside your property boundary. The fencing company will probably install the fence several inches inside your property line to be on the safe side. They also need to consider any required easements for utility company access on your property. You may need to place the fence several feet inside your property boundary at the back or front of your home.
Check For Underground Utilities
Before a fencing contractor can start digging on your land, they need to arrange for public utility lines to be located and marked. Your utility companies come to your property and do this by placing flags in the dirt or painting lines on the curb. This lets the contractor know what area of your yard to avoid digging. If you have underground lines of your own, such as electrical lines running to outdoor lighting, bug lights, or a swimming pool, you may want to hire a private utility line locator. He or she will mark the location of all underground lines, pipes, and drains, so you can feel confident nothing will be destroyed by digging. If you're placing the new fence in the same area as an old fence, you probably won't have to worry about locating lines you've added yourself, but the fencing contractor will still need to call the utility companies before digging.
These steps are necessary before you put in a new fence, and they may seem intimidating for you to undertake on your own. If so, be sure to ask the various fencing companies you call for quotes if they can take care of these tasks for you. Then you can be sure your fence will be installed legally and you won't have to worry about code violations or fines.
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