Fence contractors, Greater Seattle Area
How to Choose a Fence Contractor and Plan Your Fence: 5 Tips
Choosing a fencing contractor is a matter of five checks: an active Washington registration with a bond and insurance, at least three written bids that list the same items, finished fences you can see, a price that accounts for your lot, and reviews you can read. Then plan the line, height, gates and utility locate together.
This guide covers each check and the planning that follows, with Seattle's fence rules and where to ask in Bellevue. To have us walk your fence line, Book a Consultation.
How do you check a fencing contractor's license in Washington?
Start with the registration. Washington law, RCW 18.27.020 as published by the Legislature (read in 2026), says "Every contractor shall register with the department", meaning Labor and Industries. The L&I Hiring a Contractor page (2026) points you to its verification tool to confirm an active license, a bond and insurance, and the license history for lawsuits or violations.
The builder does not have to be a company that builds only fences. A general contractor, a landscape company or a small crew can all build a good fence, as long as they are registered and have built fences like yours. Our own registration is VOLCABI792C6, and you can look it up the same way.
How many fence bids should you get, and how do you compare them?
Get at least three. The L&I Hiring a Contractor page (2026) says to "Get at least 3 written bids and compare them carefully." Fence bids are only comparable when they price the same things, so ask each contractor to list the items below on separate lines. A low bid often leaves out the removal, the gate hardware or the work under the fence. For a larger remodel, the general hiring steps are in How to Find and Hire a Good Remodeling Contractor.
| Item | What to ask |
|---|---|
| Old fence | Is removal and haul away included? |
| Posts | What are they made of, and are they set in concrete? |
| Boards and rails | Which wood or material, what grade, what height? |
| Gates | How many, how wide, and what hinges and latch? |
| Finish | Left natural, clear sealed or stained? |
| Not included | Survey, permit, roots, rock or old footings, a retaining wall, a driveway gate opener. |
| Warranty | How long is the workmanship covered, and in writing? |
Items from the scope and exclusions on Fence Installation Across the Greater Seattle Area pricing section, 2026.
What should a fence contractor's past work show you?
Ask to see fences the contractor has finished, ideally on lots like yours. If your yard slopes, look for runs that step with the grade and still have a straight top line. If you need a gate that stays square, look at how their gates are braced. Ask past clients whether the price and the schedule held.
On our Seattle fence remodel in October 2021, the yard rises in terraces held by stacked stone walls. The cedar runs step up in height along the walls and the narrow path, so the yard is screened on both sides without blocking the walk.
What on your lot changes the price of a fence?
Length and height set most of the price, because they set the number of posts and boards. After that, the site decides it: an old fence to tear out, a slope, trees and roots on the line, a retaining wall, and how far crews carry material from the street. Walk the line before the estimate and point these out, so every bid prices them.
Our fence prices across the Greater Seattle Area start at $8,000+ for a side yard fence and gate, $15,000+ for a backyard privacy fence and $25,000+ for a full perimeter. As one real job, our Seattle backyard remodel in 2021 replaced the fences on the back and both sides as part of a yard with a slab patio and turf, for about $35,000 in all. Scope, tiers and exclusions are on Fence Installation Across the Greater Seattle Area.
| Fence | Typical length | Starting at | Time on site |
|---|---|---|---|
| Side yard and gate | Up to 50 ft | $8,000+ | 2 to 4 days |
| Backyard privacy fence | 50 to 150 ft | $15,000+ | 1 to 2 weeks |
| Full perimeter or sloped lot | 150+ ft | $25,000+ | 2 to 3 weeks |
Basic tier starting prices and times after permits, from the pricing section of Fence Installation Across the Greater Seattle Area, 2026. Not a quote.
How do you read a fence company's reviews?
Read the bad reviews first, and then the company's replies. One unhappy client is normal; the same complaint three times is a pattern. Check whether reviews mention fences or yard work. Then check whether they mention the schedule and the cleanup. Then ask for two or three recent clients you can call. We are rated 4.9 on Google.
What do you need to decide before building a fence?
Know why you want the fence. Privacy from a street or a neighbor's window, a yard that holds a dog, and a fence that frames the house each lead to a different height and layout. Then count the gates. A walk gate for people is standard, and a second, wider gate saves trouble later if a mower, a wheelbarrow or the bins have to pass.
Look at what stands on the line. Trees, shrubs and roots slow the work and can move a post. If you want to keep a tree, say so at the first visit so the layout bends around it. Have any planting plans ready, so the fence and the beds along it are planned once.
How tall can a fence be in Seattle?
In Seattle neighborhood residential zones, 6 feet in a required setback and 4 feet in a front or street side setback, under Seattle Municipal Code 23.44.090.H.4.a (Ordinance 127376, 2025). Outside those front and street side setbacks, up to 2 more feet of predominately open features such as a trellis is allowed (H.4.b). On a sloping lot, height may be averaged along each 6 foot segment, with no part over 8 feet where the limit is 6 feet, or over 6 feet where the limit is 4 feet (H.4.c). A fence on top of a retaining wall is limited to 4 feet, and on a new retaining wall that raises your grade, the wall and fence together stop at 9.5 feet (H.4.a). No permit is needed for a fence 8 feet or lower with no masonry or concrete over 6 feet, unless it sits in a flood prone area.
Eastside cities set their own limits; in Bellevue the questions go to Development Services. Homeowners' association rules can be stricter than the city, so read them before the design is drawn. We check the rules for each address, from Home Remodeling Contractors in Seattle, WA to Home Remodeling Contractors in Bellevue, WA.
Who finds the property line, and should you talk to the neighbors?
You do, before anyone digs. A contractor builds to the line you show them, so if nobody is sure where it runs, order a survey; we price it separately when a job needs one. Do not assume the lot is square. Then tell the neighbors what you plan and where. A short talk before the stakes go in heads off disputes over the line. On a shared line, it is also the time to agree on one new fence.
Who calls 811 before the post holes are dug?
Whoever digs, and you should confirm it in the contract. Washington law, RCW 19.122.030 (read in 2026), requires the excavator to mark the dig area and notify utilities through the one number locator service, 811, at least two and no more than 10 full business days before work starts. A general contractor may file that notice. The excavator stays responsible for it. Build those days into the start date.
Frequently Asked Questions
What warranty should a new fence come with?
Ask for the workmanship warranty in writing. Ours covers installation and labor for 2 years from substantial completion and can be extended to 5 years for an added charge. The boards, posts and hardware carry their maker's warranty.
Should I repair my fence or replace it?
The posts usually decide it. If they are sound, new boards or a new gate can be enough. If they lean or have rotted at the ground, new boards on old posts do not last, and a new fence on the same line is the better spend. Ask the contractor to check the posts at the first visit.
Who files the fence permit when one is needed?
The contractor should. In Seattle a fence 8 feet or lower with no masonry or concrete over 6 feet needs no permit unless it sits in a flood prone area. When a fence needs one, we draw and file it and price it in writing.
Can I pay for a fence over time?
Yes. Financing is available for fence projects. Ask about it at the consultation, before you sign, so the payment plan is set with the contract.
