What Should a Fence Contract Include? (2026 Checklist)

A fence contract should include the full scope of work, the exact materials, an itemized price, the deposit and payment schedule, a start window and expected duration, the warranty terms, who pulls any permit, and how the site gets cleaned up. If any of those live only in a text thread or a handshake, they are not part of the job. The rule is simple: the contract is the fence you are buying, so every detail that would change the price or the result belongs on paper before you sign. Below is the checklist Ergeon uses when it builds a quote, the red flags that show up in vague contracts, and what to do about permits and property lines.

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This image depicts a wooden fence gate constructed from horizontal wooden planks with a smooth finish. The gate includes visible black metal hardware such as robust hinges on the left and right edges and a central locking latch secured with a padlock. The gate is installed between a dense foliage area on the left and an exterior wall of a house on the right, providing a secure and natural-looking barrier. This image is suitable for use in documentation or guides related to fence construction, gate security, or outdoor home improvement projects.

What goes in the scope of work?

Scope is where most fence disputes start, because "a 6 ft privacy fence" can mean five different things. A complete scope section covers:

Linear footage. The total length, ideally broken out by run (rear line, left side, right side, return to the house). Ergeon measures this from satellite imagery and confirms it on a live video call, and the quote lists it as its own line.
Height. Nominal height and how it is handled on slopes. A stepped fence and a racked fence that follows the grade are different builds.
Style. The exact package name or a description precise enough to reproduce: board on board, nail up with cap and trim, shadow box, horizontal, picket. A photo attached to the contract is worth a paragraph.
Gates. Count, width, swing direction, and hardware. A 4 ft walk gate and a 10 ft double drive gate are separate line items with separate prices.
Demolition and haul-away. Whether the old fence, posts, and concrete footings come out and who pays to dispose of them.
Shared lines. If a neighbor is splitting a side, the contract should say who is paying for what. Ergeon's good neighbor fence guide covers how to set that up before you sign.

What should the materials section specify?

Materials are where a low bid hides its savings. The contract should name the species or product, the grade, and the sizes of the parts that carry the load:

Wood: species (pressure-treated pine, western red cedar, redwood), picket thickness, post size (4x4 versus 6x6), rail count, and whether posts are set in concrete. Ergeon's wood fence costs guide explains how each of those moves the price. Nationally, wood runs roughly $44 to $67 per foot; Ergeon's own last-12-month data puts most projects at $22 to $56.
Vinyl: manufacturer, profile, color, and whether posts have aluminum or steel inserts. See vinyl fence costs for the national $44 to $70 per foot range and what drives it; most Ergeon vinyl projects land at $36 to $68.
Metal: aluminum or steel, powder coat finish, picket spacing, and rail count for pool code if that applies.
Hardware and fasteners: galvanized or stainless, gate hinges and latches by type, and any post caps.

If the contractor will not commit a brand or grade to writing, the price is not really fixed.

How should the price and payment terms read?

Ask for an itemized total, not a lump sum. Ergeon quotes break out material, style, and linear feet, with add-ons such as gates, removal, or additional labor on their own lines, so you can see what changes if you drop a gate or add 20 feet. Beyond the total, the contract should state:

Deposit amount and when it is due. Many states limit deposits on home improvement work. California, for example, caps a home improvement down payment at 10 percent of the contract or $1,000, whichever is less. Check your state before you pay anything. Ergeon's own practice follows local convention: no deposit in California, a $150 deposit in some other states, and the balance after your walk-through and sign-off.
Progress and final payment triggers. Final payment should be tied to completion and your walk-through, not to a calendar date.
Accepted payment methods. Ergeon accepts digital payment and offers monthly financing on qualifying projects. A contractor who insists on cash only is a red flag.
Change orders. What happens to the price if the crew hits rock, finds a buried footing, or you add a gate on install day. The contract should require written approval before extra work is billed.
What is not included. Permit fees, survey costs, and utility relocation are common exclusions. Better to see them listed than to discover them.

What timeline details belong in a fence contract?

A contract does not need a guaranteed install date, but it should include a start window, an expected duration, and what happens if weather or material delays push it. Ergeon crews install about 60 linear feet per day in clear site conditions, so a typical 100 ft run takes one to two days on site once materials arrive, and larger or pool-code projects may take longer. Posts are set and the fence is built in the same visit on most projects; on some, posts go in on day one and panels on day two. Ergeon's how it works flow assigns a project manager after you approve the quote, and that person is your single point of contact for scheduling changes.

What should the warranty section say?

Get two warranties, in writing, attached to the contract: a craftsmanship warranty from the installer and the manufacturer's material warranty. Ergeon's homepage FAQ describes what each covers. Craftsmanship covers defects from installation, meaning fit, finish, fastening, and alignment. Materials covers manufacturer defects in the components used. Exclusions are typical across the industry: misuse, acts of nature, and work done by outside contractors. Ergeon maintains a warranty reserve to back those commitments, and the specific terms and duration are attached to your quote.

Whatever contractor you use, look for the duration in years, how to file a claim, and whether the warranty transfers if you sell the house. A verbal "we stand behind our work" is not a warranty.

Who handles permits, and should that be in the contract?

Yes. Many cities require a permit for fences over a certain height, in a front setback, or around a pool, and some require one for every fence. The contract should say who is responsible for finding out, who files, and who pays the fee. Ergeon quotes are built with local fence height rules in mind, and the team will tell you if your fence design typically needs a permit in your city, but permit fees and filing are usually separate from the fence price. Ergeon is licensed, bonded, and insured in every market it serves, more than 20 states, and its state license numbers are published in the footer of every ergeon.com page. Ask any contractor for the same, plus a certificate of general liability and workers' compensation insurance, and confirm the license is active with your state board before you sign.

What are the red flags in a fence contract?

The pattern in a weak contract is vagueness that only benefits one side. "Wood privacy fence, 6 ft" with no species or footage. A single price with no line items. Full payment before work starts. No dates of any kind. A warranty that exists only in conversation. Any one of these is worth a question; two or more means you should get another bid. Ergeon holds a 4.81 out of 5 rating across more than 22,000 verified reviews, and most of the complaints homeowners post about other fence projects trace back to a scope or payment term that was never written down.

This image outlines the key components that a fence contract should include to ensure clarity and accountability. It emphasizes that only terms documented in writing are considered part of the job. The contract should clearly define the scope with details such as footage, height, style, gates, removal, and hauling responsibilities. The price and payment section should indicate a fixed total, including deposit, due dates, and conditions that may trigger change orders. The warranty must be documented in writing, covering both craftsmanship and materials, and be attached to the quote. This checklist helps protect both contractors and clients by establishing clear expectations.

How does an Ergeon quote cover these?

Ergeon's quote is built live on a video call, so the scope is settled with you watching: fence line drawn on satellite, height and style modeled on screen, gates placed and priced, removal and access confirmed on camera. The quote lists material, style, linear feet, and add-ons on separate lines, and you can ask for multiple versions in one session to compare heights or split a shared line. You approve online, pay digitally, and the warranty terms come attached. Requotes after the call typically come back within 24 hours. Start on the fence page or call 1-888-374-3661.

Should the contract include a site plan?

If there is any question about where the property line sits, or if your city requires a drawing for the permit, yes. A scaled site plan shows the parcel boundary, the house footprint, and the proposed fence line, which turns "along the back fence" into a measured location everyone has agreed to. It also settles neighbor questions before the posts go in; Ergeon's which side of the fence is mine guide covers that conversation. A certified site plan from a licensed surveyor often runs $1,000 or more and is only needed when a city specifically asks for one. For most fence contracts and permit applications, Ergeon can generate a permit-ready, GIS-based site plan in about 15 minutes for $29, the same GIS site plan Ergeon uses as the base for its own permit filings, with your fence layout and any other documents the city requires added on top.

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FAQ

What should a fence contract include?
Scope (footage, height, style, gates, removal), specific materials, an itemized price, deposit and payment schedule, start window and duration, written craftsmanship and material warranties, permit responsibility, cleanup, and a change-order process.

How much deposit is normal for a fence?
It varies by contractor and state. Some states cap home improvement deposits; California limits them to 10 percent or $1,000, whichever is less. Full payment before work starts is a red flag anywhere. Ergeon takes no deposit in California and $150 in some other states, with the balance due after sign-off.

Should a fence contract include a warranty?
Yes, two of them: the installer's craftsmanship warranty and the manufacturer's material warranty, with duration, exclusions, and claim process in writing. Ergeon attaches its warranty terms to the quote.

Who is responsible for the fence permit?
The contract should say. Permit fees and filing are usually separate from the fence price. Ergeon will tell you if your design typically needs a permit in your city, and its license numbers are published by state.

Can I change the fence after signing the contract?
Yes, through a written change order that states the new price and any schedule impact. The contract should require your approval before extra work is billed.

Get a free fence quote - Call 1-888-374-3661. Monthly-payment financing is available on qualifying projects.