If you are considering a wooden privacy fence, you may have these concerns.
The purpose of a privacy fence is to keep your property separate and invisible from surrounding homes. When you plan your wooden privacy fence installation, you should consider three critical factors: local fencing laws, how high your fence should be, and how much “invisibility” you truly want. These three factors are crucial for a successful privacy fence installation. Read on to learn how these concerns impact the final installation of your fence.
How Will Local Fencing Laws Impact My Wooden Privacy Fence?
In some states, if you build a fence on your property boundary line, the fence becomes a “boundary line fence” and is now subject to legal restrictions and provisions. Because of this, you must know your exact property line. There may also be height restrictions, such as building your fence no higher than four feet in the front of your property, and six feet on the other sides. Occasionally, if you are building a wooden privacy fence for a specific reason, you can get a legal variance to build a higher fence.
It is important to note that if you do end up with a boundary line fence, the responsibility for maintaining the fence, unless both owners agree otherwise, is shared by both neighbors. To avoid unnecessary complications, we recommend building a fence that is not on the property line.
How High Should My Wooden Privacy Fence Be?
In many states, you must apply for a fence-building certificate. The rules will describe the restrictions you must follow for your fence, property lines, and allowable heights. If your fence violates local ordinances, you may have to take the fence down at your own expense.
If you are building a privacy fence to keep outsiders from seeing into your property, you must first find out the height required to keep you invisible. If your yard has significant elevations, a shorter privacy fence may work well. If you cannot build a fence high enough for absolute invisibility, you can consider adding more privacy provisions like bushes or trees. These are not subject to fencing law.
How Do I Prepare For a Wooden Privacy Fence?
For your privacy fence to be satisfactory, you must carefully plan its construction. You will want to plan every aspect of the fence, including the gates. Plan for two gated openings, so you can pass through the fence without going around or through your house. Three-foot wide gates are usually adequate, but if you plan on moving a lawnmower or other equipment through the fence, you will want a gate four or six-feet wide. If you wish to bring cars or trucks onto your lawn, you can also have your wooden privacy fence designed to have removable sections.
Your wooden privacy fence doesn’t have to have a monolithic design; you can get creative with your fence, and with the visibility it offers. By considering the above three factors, you can install a privacy fence on your property that will satisfy you for years to come.
Residential Fences for Your Home from Hercules Fence DC
Hercules Fence DC has been providing homeowners with quality fences for over 50 years. We are well equipped to meet your needs, whether they are residential or commercial. We have extensive experience working with families and pet owners to keep the most important members of their home safe, so call us today about installing a new pet fence for your family. Contact us by giving us a call at 301-441-1600 or visiting us online. To see examples of our work, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Pinterest, and Flickr.
