Fence installation in Durham, NC

Plain answers to what a new fence costs in Durham, which rules apply to your lot, how long the job takes and how to hire well. Quote requests open once we have signed the one insured local fence company we will send them to.

• $2,606 to $5,240 Angi's normal range for a fence project in Durham, with an average of $3,840 (Angi, Durham).
• No permit for an ordinary fence in the City or the County, unless the lot is in a flood plain or the fence is a pool barrier (City of Durham).
• 4 feet is the most a front-yard fence can be outside Durham's Rural Tier (Durham UDO 9.9).
• 3 working days is the notice a fence contractor must give NC 811 before digging post holes (G.S. 87, Art. 8A).

What a fence costs in Durham

Angi's Durham figures put most fence projects between $2,606 and $5,240 (Angi, Durham). The national average is $3,276, and the price per foot runs from about $8 for chain link to as much as $90 for aluminum (Angi). Height, gates, slopes and removing an old fence move the price most. See the full cost guide.

The rules that catch people out

• Between the house and the street, a fence is limited to 4 feet unless the lot is in the Rural Tier (Durham UDO 9.9). Taller needs a variance (City of Durham).
• The finished side of the fence has to face away from your lot (Durham UDO 9.9).
• Corners and driveways have sight triangles that must stay clear between 2.5 and 8 feet high (Durham UDO 12.3).
• In Durham's eight local historic districts, a fence needs a Certificate of Appropriateness first (Durham COA).
• Durham Water can remove a fence built in a City sewer easement (Durham Water).

Read Durham's fence rules and permits.

How long it takes

Most crews finish a fence in a standard yard in two to four days (Angi timelines). The one wait the law sets is the 811 notice, at least three full working days before digging (G.S. 87, Art. 8A). Historic district and pool permits add time. See the step-by-step timeline.

Choosing a material for Durham soil

Durham sits on Piedmont clay, and wood that touches soil is an easy way in for termites (NC State Extension, termites). Wood posts set in the ground should be rated Use Category 4A or higher (AWPA). Compare fence materials.

Hiring well

Get at least three written estimates, confirm insurance with the insurer, and do not pay large amounts up front (NC Attorney General). Read the hiring guide and the questions to ask.