Who owns the fence between two properties?

It depends on where the fence sits and on local law. A fence entirely on your side of the line is normally yours, while a shared line fence may carry shared obligations.

Which fence material lasts longest?

Aluminum and vinyl need the least upkeep, wood needs regular sealing or staining, and chain link is the most economical. Local climate and soil affect all of them.

Fencing

A fence is one of the few home projects that touches your neighbor's property as much as your own. Before materials or style, the two questions that matter are where the property line actually runs and what local rules allow.

Once those are settled, the choice is mostly about material and how much maintenance you are willing to take on. Wood, vinyl, aluminum, chain link and composite all behave differently over ten years.

A roofer on a ladder working on a suburban home while another tradesperson carries tools across the lawn

Availability

Hire Best Pros is not connecting people with fencing professionals yet. This page is here as background reading while we work on it. Everything we do cover today is listed in our service directory.

What people usually need

New privacy and boundary fence installation
Fence replacement and section repair
Gates, including wide and automated gates
Pool fencing that meets local safety codes
Pet containment fencing
Post resetting after storm or frost damage

What to weigh before hiring

Property lines and permits

A survey or a recorded plat prevents the most expensive fencing mistake. Many places also cap fence height, restrict materials on street-facing sides and set specific rules for pool fencing.

Posts and depth

Most fence failures are post failures. Ask about post material, hole depth relative to your frost line, and whether posts are set in concrete with proper drainage.

Utility locating

Digging without locating buried utilities is dangerous and often illegal. Confirm the contractor arranges a utility locate before any post holes are dug.

Common questions

Who owns the fence between two properties?: It depends on where the fence sits and on local law. A fence entirely on your side of the line is normally yours, while a shared line fence may carry shared obligations.
Which fence material lasts longest?: Aluminum and vinyl need the least upkeep, wood needs regular sealing or staining, and chain link is the most economical. Local climate and soil affect all of them.