How to Prepare Your Yard for Fence Installation

A new fence is a big change to your yard, and a little preparation goes a long way. When the fence line is clear, the property line is known and the paperwork is done, install day runs faster and you get a better result.

Here's the checklist we share with customers across Charlotte, Union County and Cabarrus County. Some of it we handle for you, and some of it only you can do.

Weeks before: paperwork and planning

Confirm your property line

Your fence should sit on your property. The best reference is a plat or survey drawn by a licensed surveyor, often included in your closing documents. Property pins or markers may be at your corners, and county property records for Mecklenburg, Union and Cabarrus are available online. If you're unsure where the line is, or you've had disagreements with a neighbor, a new survey is worth the cost.

Many homeowners also choose to set the fence slightly inside their line to leave room for maintenance. That's your decision, and we'll talk it through at the estimate.

Get HOA approval

If you're in an HOA, submit your application and wait for written approval before install day. We help prepare the paperwork, but approval is always the association's decision. See our HOA approval guide.

Check local rules

Your city or town may have height, setback or corner-lot rules, and pool fences have their own barrier requirements. Confirm with your local permit office. If a pool is involved, read our pool fence guide.

Talk to your neighbors

It's not required, but it's considerate. Letting neighbors know about the fence, the timeline and any shared-line work prevents surprises. If you're replacing a shared fence, settle who's paying for what before work starts.

Utilities: public and private lines

Before we dig, underground utilities are marked through a locate request, which we handle as part of scheduling. You'll see colored paint or flags in your yard. Please leave them in place until the fence is done.

The public locate service marks lines owned by utility companies. It usually does not mark private lines, including:

• Irrigation and sprinkler lines and heads
• Landscape and low-voltage lighting
• Invisible pet fence wires
• Pool, hot tub or pond plumbing and wiring
• Lines to a detached garage, shed or workshop
• Private gas lines to a grill or fire feature
• Septic lines and drain fields

The week before: clear the fence line

Our crew needs room to work on both sides of the fence line. Clearing a path a few feet wide makes a big difference.

• Move patio furniture, grills, planters, toys and play sets
• Relocate stored items like firewood, kayaks or lumber
• Trim back shrubs and low branches along the line
• Move or protect plants you want to keep
• Take down hanging items attached to an old fence
• Mow the yard so markings and stakes are easy to see

If there's an old fence to remove, we'll talk about removal at the estimate. Any vines growing into it should be cut back ahead of time if you can.

Gates and layout decisions

Before install day, confirm where you want gates and how wide they should be. Think about mowers, trash cans, wheelbarrows and whether you'll ever need to bring a vehicle or trailer into the yard. Our gate planning guide covers this. You can also map everything in Plan Your Fence to check footage and gate placement.

Install day

• Pets inside. Gates will be open, there will be holes and the crew will be moving in and out.
• Access. Unlock gates, move vehicles off the driveway if we need it and open any side-yard access.
• Parking. Leave room near the work area for our truck and materials if you can.
• Kids. Keep little ones away from the work zone.
• Be reachable. Have your phone handy in case we have a quick question about a gate or a tree.

Our in-house crew handles the build. Every installer is a Fences & Firepits employee, so there's no handoff to a subcontractor you've never met.

After the fence goes in

• Final walkthrough. We walk the fence with you and test every gate.
• Let concrete cure. Try not to hang anything heavy on the fence or let kids climb on it for the first few days.
• Pets. Walk the fence line with your dog the first few times so they learn the new boundary.
• Wood fences. New pressure-treated wood usually needs to dry before stain or sealer. Our maintenance guide explains timing.
• Save your paperwork. Keep your estimate, HOA approval and warranty details together.

Printable checklist