Get Quotes from Top Fencing Contractors in San Diego, CA

Are You Licensed to Practice as a Fence Contractor in San Diego?

Fencing contractors in San Diego are licensed at the state level by the California Contractors State License Board (CSLB). These individuals must first obtain a C-13-Fencing contractor license or any other appropriate CSLB-issued license before offering or performing fencing services of $500 or more, including the cost of labor and materials in San Diego. If any individual carries out fencing work worth $500 or more without being licensed by the CSLB, they will be guilty of committing a misdemeanor. These violators can face up to six months in jail and up to $5,000 in fines. In addition, the offenders can also receive up to $15,000 in separate administrative penalties.

To be eligible for a CSLB-issued license, interested individuals must:

• Be 18 years or older
• Have a valid individual taxpayer identification number or Social Security Number
• Have at least four years of fence-related work experience

Individuals who meet these requirements can apply to the CSLB by filling out and submitting an Application for Original Contractor License Form through the channels provided in the form. In addition to submitting an application form, applicants must also follow certain requirements to be approved, which include the following:

• Paying a non-refundable application fee
• Providing acceptable proof to verify their work experience
• Passing a licensing examination
• Submitting proof of adequate insurance and bonding,
• Providing any other documentation that the CSLB may request

To learn more about the licensing requirements of fencing contractors in San Diego and the applicable procedures, you can call the CSLB by calling its toll-free number at (800) 321-2752. It is vital for you to confirm the licensing status of your intended fencing contractor before completing the hiring process. You can use the board's Check a License platform to verify the licensing status of your intended fence installer.

How Much Do You Charge Compared to Other Fencing Companies in the City?

​​In San Diego, homeowners usually install new fences for security and safety purposes and to maintain their property value. Other reasons include the following:

• To increase their privacy and keep out prying eyes
• To beautify their property
• To keep kids and pets from going out and
• To keep pests and rodents from coming in
• To enhance the look of their gardens or provide cover for their pool areas

The type of fencing that you choose will have a considerable impact on how much you will pay. Building a fence in San Diego can range from around $1,500 to $3,300. Homeowners in San Diego use different types of fencing materials, including:

• Metal and Chain Link: Chain and metal fences are known for their security, costing around $14 - $19 per linear foot. Unfortunately, these fences are prone to rust and are not as attractive as other fencing materials.
• Wood: One of the most common types of fencing materials that you can find in San Diego is wood fencing, which costs around $18 - $21 per linear foot. While it's attractive and can be used for various reasons, it's also more expensive than other types of fencing.
• Composite: This type of fence can be easily maintained. However, its price is a significant disadvantage at around $22 - $40 per linear foot.
• Vinyl: This fence type costs around $21 - $29 per linear foot. These are eco-friendly and can be easily installed. However, they might not be the best choice for your security needs.
• Aluminum: This is a low-maintenance type of fencing that's long-lasting and corrosion-resistant. However, it's also expensive to install and can range from $28 - $75 per linear foot. These types of fences can add a modern aesthetic to your property.
• Wrought iron: This type of fencing is long-lasting and attractive. This type of fencing is prone to rust and can easily be damaged. This type of fencing can be costly to install at around $28 - $55 per linear foot.
• Steel: This type of fence is easy to install and can be easily maintained. These types of fencing are also more affordable than other types of fencing. With a price range of $14 to $70 per linear foot, these types of fencing are popular among homeowners. Unfortunately, steel fencing is prone to getting damaged.

Other factors that affect the cost of fence installations in San Diego include:

• Fence hardware like fence posts, screws, hinges, latches, and locks
• The length of the fence
• Labor costs

When choosing a fence builder for your project, it is crucial to get and compare the charges from different fencing contractors in the city to ensure that you have a fair idea of their rates. Doing so will allow you to avoid getting ripped off by an unscrupulous fencing contractor. If there are differences in the fees submitted by these fencing builders, you can ask that they explain the price difference. It is a red flag if these professionals cannot provide a valid explanation, and you should avoid hiring them.

Some of the popular styles and designs of fencing that homeowners in San Diego commonly use include:

• Picket Fence: This type of fencing is commonly used by homeowners in San Diego and involves leaving gaps between the vertical wood. This type of fence is usually used for decorative purposes and is only installed for short periods. However, taller variants can also be used to keep out rodents and pests.
• Garden Fence: This type of fencing is commonly used by homeowners in San Diego to keep small animals out. It is also commonly used for decorative purposes.
• Dog-Ear Fence: This fencing involves cutting the vertical boards at an angle on the side. This type of fencing is usually made of composite and wood.
• Flat top: This type of fencing usually has a flat top, just as the name indicates
• Gothic Fence: This style of fencing has a series of points spaced along the length of the fence. This type of fencing is commonly used with aluminum and wrought iron.
• Lattice-Top Fence: This fencing involves adding a lattice top to a regular fence.
• Split Rail Fence: Unlike the traditional vertical fencing style, split rail fences use a horizontal design. They are commonly used on large properties and farms. Compared to other fencing types, split rail fences are less expensive.
• Scallop Fence: A variation of the traditional picket fence, the scallop fence features slight curvatures that rise from one end to the other
• Shadow-Box Fence: This type of fencing involves attaching different types of wood fencing material to the side frames of the fence in an alternating fashion.
• Electric Fence: This type of fencing uses wire mesh and metal materials to create a barrier to keep people and animals away from certain areas.
• Custom Fence: Custom fences are made to fit your property's landscape precisely and are available in various materials. While metal and wood are the most common types of fencing, you can also use other types of materials for this type of fence project. The cost of installing a custom fence is typically higher than other fencing designs and styles.

Fence installers in San Diego make an average of $45,600 annually. The following list compares the average hourly pay of these contractors with that of fence contractors in other locations across California and the rest of the United States:

What Kind of Fencing Services Do You Offer?

When you start looking for a fence company in San Diego, it is important that you thoroughly research the scope of their services and if they match your specific fencing needs. There are a variety of fencing services that a professional fencing company in San Diego can provide, including:

• Fence repairs and maintenance
• Fence gate installations and hardware replacement
• Property boundary and utility line marking
• Design and installation consultations
• Custom fence design
• New fence installation and fence replacements
• Fence building

Before you sign a contract with a fence contractor, make sure that the scope of their services is clearly stated. This will help you determine if they will meet your expectations. Another important aspect of this process is to make sure that the promises made by the fence company are included in your service contract.

When Am I Required to Have a Fence in San Diego?

Before you start a fencing project in San Diego, it's vital that you thoroughly check the relevant local laws and ordinances in the city and state that may affect the scope and nature of your fencing project. Various laws apply to fencing projects in the city, and these include:

• Section 841 of the California Civil Code, also referred to as the California Good Neighbor Fence Law
• Division 3 of the San Diego Municipal Code
• The California Building Code
• The California Swimming Pool Safety Act

Some key requirements of these laws include the following:

• No portion of your fence must extend beyond the property line of your premises into the public right-of-way without a Public Right-of-Way Permit.
• Solid fences on your property line's front or street side must not exceed 3 feet in height, except for at least one horizontal or vertical offset for every 120 square feet of the fenced area.
• Standard and metal chain link fences located on your property line's front or street side shall not exceed 3 feet in height. Other open fences are permitted up to 6 feet in height.
• On the front or street side of your property line, an open fence is permitted on top of a solid fence, provided that the solid fence and any chain link fence do not each exceed 3 feet in height and the total height does not exceed 6 feet.
• If wire fence material is used for the open portion of your fence, a horizontal element must be provided along the top of the wire fence.
• Fences in required side yards and rear yards are permitted up to 9 feet in height. Any portion of your fence above 6 feet in height must be open.
• You are required to have a fence around pools that are deeper than 18 inches, and this fence must have the following features:
  • The vertical clearance from the ground to the bottom of the fence must not exceed two inches.
  • Any gaps or voids that it has must not allow the passage of spheres with a diameter of four inches or more.
  • It must be at least 60 inches high.
  • Any access gates through the fence must open away from the pool and be self-closing with a self-latching device placed no lower than 60 inches above the ground.
  • The outside surface of the fence must not have any cavities, protrusions, or other physical characteristics that can enable children below the age of five to climb over it.

One of the advantages of hiring a professional fence company is that they can help you comply with the laws regarding the installation and use of fencing. You can get more information on the various regulations applicable to your planned fencing project in San Diego by contacting the San Diego Development Services Department (DSD) at (619) 446-5000.

Also, you can contact the San Diego Code Enforcement Division (CED) at (619) 236-5500 to investigate if your fencing project complies with the code. You can also request an investigation online or by completing an investigation form and submitting it via mail to:

Will You Get the Necessary Permits as Required as per the City Code?

​​A building permit is required in San Diego if a fence is over seven feet. Meanwhile, seven or less in height fences are exempt from permits. The San Diego Development Services Department (DSD) is responsible for issuing building permits in the city.

Interested parties can obtain a fencing permit in the city through the department's OpenDSD platform. To use this platform, the applicants must first create a user account. To help users navigate the platform, the DSD has created a user guide that provides information on how to use the online permitting system. Alternatively, applicants can fill out and submit a General Application Form DS-3032 to the department at:

Note that the building permit process usually takes around 27 business days, depending on the complexity of your project and the department's workload. Before a permit can be issued, applicants must submit three copies of a site plan showing the following:

• Location of the fence on the property
• Dimensions of the fence, including length and height
• Distance of the fence footing to all adjacent structures, embankments, and property lines

These documents should be submitted in a DSD-approved PDF format and must be validated by the department's officials before a permit application can be submitted. Applicants will be required to pay initial plan check fees, while the permit fees will be paid upon issuance of the permit.

All fencing projects for which a permit is issued in San Diego are subject to inspections at different stages to ensure that they comply with the city's building regulations. Applicants can schedule an inspection online via the department's OpenDSD platform. Failure to schedule an inspection means the fence project will not be given final approval by the department.

For more information regarding the inspection and permitting process for fencing projects in San Diego, you can contact this city's department at either the above location or via its phone number at (619) 446-5000.

Will You Contact the City's Utility Companies to Verify the Path of Underground Lines?

Fence installations in San Diego are typically completed via the following steps:

• Estimating the fence length
• Marking all utility lines located on the property
• Obtaining required permits
• Digging fence post holes and setting post brackets
• Building and installing the fence
• Cleaning up the work area

One of the most important factors you should consider when hiring a fence contractor is choosing a contractor who can locate and mark utility lines on your property, primarily underground and unmarked gas, water, and power lines. This is because cutting through these lines can lead to fatal accidents or disrupt the supply of vital services to your home.

Although many fence companies in San Diego will be responsible for locating the utility lines, you should still get confirmation from the company you are working with before signing any contracts. Professional fence builders in the city will also ask you to provide them with a copy of your survey records so they can check the locations of these lines in your project.

You can also locate these utility lines by calling the Underground Service Alert of Southern California at 811 or (800) 422-4133. Doing so will prevent you from accidentally hitting these lines while digging on your property. In San Diego, you can also contact the local utility companies for:

• San Diego Gas and Electric - 1-800-611-7343
• San Diego Public Utilities Department - (619) 515-3500
• Southern California Edison Company - 1-800-655-4555

Do You Carry the Necessary Insurance Policy for Fence Contractors in San Diego?

According to the United States Bureau of Labour Statistics, over 460 fatal work-related injuries were reported in California in 2020. When you hire an unlicensed fence contractor, you will be held liable for any bodily injuries or property damage incurred by these contractors and their workers while working on your home.

In San Diego, it is mandated for fence contractors to abide by the insurance and bond requirements of the California Contractors State License Board (CSLB), as follows:

• Carrying workers' compensation insurance for their employees
• Maintaining a $15,000 surety bond
• Informing their residential customers on whether or not they carry general liability insurance before commencing any work.

As such, ensure that your fence installer has the necessary proof of insurance and bonding by requesting proof. Also, make sure you contact their insurance company to validate the proof of insurance and confirm that the general liability insurance policy will provide adequate cover to the fence contractor and any other third party involved.

You can also get the details about the bond and insurance requirements for fence contractors in San Diego by contacting the CSLB at (800) 321-2752.