Fencing Your Yard

By: Jason Petrina



Don’t Fence Me In may be the mantra or even the mating call of those who love and adore the wide open spaces, but now and again you just need to build fences instead of bridges. If you’re planning to build a fence for your front or back yard, there are a few important things about the overall process that you should be aware of. In addition to the actual physical specifics regarding building a fence on your property (physical specifics meaning everything that goes into actually building the fence – the materials, the labor, the measurements and design, etc) there are legal specifications that must be adhered to. These specifics will vary according to the state and local laws and codes in your area, so we can give only generalities here. To make sure you are in compliance with the laws and regulations in your area, consult a contractor or a representative from your local government.

How High?

Fences and walls are limited to certain heights in most places. Common guidelines may depend on the type of structure being erected as well as whether it is in the front or rear of the home. Generally a fence in the rear of most homes must be at least four feet high. This height is common for picket fences and chain link fences which are commonly seen fencing backyards on the east coast. Fences are often limited to a height of seven feet, a height that is common for wooden fences surrounding back yards all over the country. Again, regulations in your area may vary so you will want to check with the proper authorities before building.

What is it Made of?

Fences are generally made of either metal or wood, without much variation away from either of those materials. Walls, on the other hand, will be commonly made of brick, stone, drywall, masonry, or any number of materials. Local laws may govern what materials you are permitted to build with as well as what the specifications for them are (number of bricks in a brick wall or how much steel rebar must be used in a cinderblock wall, for example). There is not a lot of leeway when it comes to building walls and fences, of course, but there may be a bit more variety than you’d expect there to be when it comes to construction your wall or fence.

Where May I Put it?

This is the sixty four thousand dollar question when it comes time to build your fence. It is vital that you understand exactly where the property lines are for your property as well as any which is adjacent to yours when you plan to build a wall or fence around your yard. You must also know the location of any easement(s) that are on the property and which allow access to the all important lines for public utilities such as electricity, cable television, natural gas, water, sewer, and telephone. These are especially important and very often the most misunderstood aspects of property ownership. An easement can seem like it sits on one neighbor’s property or the others’ but it is truly a community link shared by all adjacent properties.

Of all the information you will need to understand when looking into building a wall or fence the easement and property line information is the most important and the most complicated by legal information. Some property line cases are very simple while others need the advice of a professional attorney to sort out exactly where a structure may be placed. Understand that cases like these are rare, but they do exist nonetheless.



Jason Petrina is the Editor and Publisher of Article Click. For more FREE articles for your ezine and websites visit - www.articleclick.com