Before digging

Confirm property lines, approvals, and underground utilities

Satellite imagery can help visualize a fence, but it does not establish a legal boundary or replace permits, HOA approval, easement review, or utility marking.

Property boundaries and easements

Start with recorded plats, surveys, corner monuments, and title information. When the boundary is unclear or disputed, use a licensed surveyor rather than estimating from a map, hedge, driveway, or neighboring fence.

Permits and HOA requirements

Rules may address height, setbacks, corner visibility, street-facing materials, pool barriers, drainage, and finished-side orientation. Check the authority that governs the property before ordering materials.

Call 811 before excavation

Contact 811 according to local timing requirements before posts are dug. Utility marks identify participating facilities, but private lines such as irrigation, lighting, septic, or outbuilding power may require separate locating.

Planning limitation

Property Improvement Estimator does not replace a survey, utility locate, permit review, engineering advice, product instructions, site inspection, or contractor proposal.

Put the guidance into a property plan

Measure the route, compare materials, and prepare for fence quotes.

Use satellite imagery to create a visual fence plan and a planning cost range before sharing the project with participating contractors.