Get Quotes from Top Fencing Contractors in Jacksonville, FL

Are You Licensed to Practice as a Fence Contractor in Jacksonville?

All construction-related professionals operating in Jacksonville must obtain a contractor license from the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR). Fence contractors who fail to obtain this license before performing jobs in the city face penalties that include fines of up to $10,000 and jail time of up to one year. Note that knowingly hiring an unlicensed fence contractor also carries a penalty of up to $5,000 in fines.

The DBPR issues two main types of contractor licenses, namely:

• Certified Contractor Licenses: this authorizes the licensee to work in any jurisdiction across Florida
• Registered Contractor Licenses: this authorizes the licensee to work in specified jurisdictions within Florida. Note that these contractors may be required to comply with additional eligibility requirements for these jurisdictions

Fence contractors who wish to be licensed as either certified or registered contractors can subsequently do so under any of the following categories:

• General Contractor: contractors in this category can perform any type of construction work
• Building Contractor: contractors in this category can provide construction-related services for new commercial buildings and single or multiple-dwelling buildings that are not more than three stories high and also perform non-structural repairs and renovations on buildings of any size
• Residential Contractor: contractors in this category can only perform work on one, two, or three-family residences that are not more than two stories
• Specialty Contractor: contractors in this category can only perform the construction service or scope of services specified on their license

Applications for contractor licenses can be made to the DBPR online. Note that these licenses are typically only issued to applicants who meet certain eligibility criteria, which include:

• Being no less than 18 years old
• Passing the Florida State Construction Examination
• Passing a background check
• Having acceptable work or education experience
• Providing proof of adequate insurance coverage
• Submitting a credit report with a credit score of no less than 660 as proof of financial stability and responsibility
• Paying all stipulated fees

Also, fence contractors who wish to be licensed as registered contractors will have to submit a locally issued certificate of competency to the DBPR before being eligible to operate in Jacksonville. This certificate is issued by the Jacksonville Construction Trades Qualifying Board, and parties that wish to obtain it must meet specific requirements, which include:

• Passing a local examination
• Providing acceptable proof of relevant work experience
• Providing proof of financial stability and responsibility and proof of adequate insurance coverage
• Providing proof of compliance with local tax requirements
• Submitting a sworn statement attesting that they have not been charged with or convicted of a felony in the five years before the time of application or a sworn statement disclosing the facts and circumstances of any felony charges or convictions received within this timeframe

You can get more information on the contractor licensing requirements for fence contractors in Jacksonville by contacting the DBPR's Customer Contact Center at (850) 487-1395 or online. Inquiries concerning locally-issued certificates of competency can also be directed to the Jacksonville Construction Trades Qualifying Board at (904) 255-7970.

Likewise, you can verify your intended fence contractor's licensing status via the DBPR's Verify a Licensee portal.

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

Homeowners in Jacksonville typically erect fences on their properties for one or more of the following reasons:

• For security and safety
• For privacy
• To keep in children and pets
• To keep out pests
• To provide cover for pools
• For decorative reasons

While fence installations in the city generally cost an average of $1,100 - $3,650, the actual cost of these projects will depend on the following:

• The length of the fence
• The fence material used
• The types of fence hardware used
• Labor costs

Fence materials play a large role in the overall cost of fence projects, and each of them has features and characteristics that affect their suitability for specific projects. Some commonly used fence materials in Jacksonville include:

• Wood: Wood fences cost an average of $10 - $30 per linear foot. They are aesthetically pleasing, sturdy, and affordable. However, they are high-maintenance and susceptible to warping, rot, and insect infestation.
• Composite: composite fences cost an average of $20 - $40 per linear foot. These fences are similar to wood, with the added advantage of being rot, weather, and insect-resistant. However, they are also relatively more expensive than wood fence materials.
• Vinyl: Vinyl fences cost an average of $10 - $25 per linear foot. These fences are low-maintenance, durable, insect-proof, and versatile. However, they are not eco-friendly, difficult to recycle, and susceptible to excessive heat or cold damage.
• Aluminum: aluminum fences cost an average of $20 - $50 per linear foot. These fences are low-maintenance, malleable, and easy to work with. However, they are relatively expensive and susceptible to denting.
• Steel: steel fences cost an average of $15 - $40 per linear foot. These fences are highly durable and aesthetically pleasing. However, they require regular maintenance and can be relatively expensive.
• Chain Link: chain link fences cost an average of $5 - $20 per linear foot. These fences are inexpensive, easy to install, and secure. However, they are not aesthetically pleasing and do not offer much privacy.
• Wrought Iron: wrought iron fences cost an average of $25 - $60 per linear foot. These fences are strong, highly durable, and very aesthetically pleasing. However, they are also high-maintenance, prone to rust, and relatively expensive.

It is advisable to get and compare quotes from at least three different fence contractors in Jacksonville when planning fence projects in the city. This way, you can get an idea of the going rates for your required services and also protect yourself from being duped by dishonest fence contractors who fraudulently overcharge for their services. You should also ensure that the fence contractor you select is skilled enough to build and install the specific type of fence you want. Some common fence styles and designs found in homes across Jacksonville include:

• Picket Fences: with this design, the vertical slabs or posts of the fence, which typically have pointed tops, are separated by gaps at regular intervals. Picket fences are usually short and installed for decorative purposes, but taller versions may also be installed to deter medium-sized animals
• Scallop Fences: this is a variation of the picket fence style that uses curves that rise from one end to the other rather than the standard straight top
• Dog-Ear Fences: this fence style is designed by angling the corners of the fence's vertical boards on the side
• Lattice-Top Fences: this fence style involves giving ordinary fences a decorative look by adding a lattice top to them
• Flat-Top Fences: this style entails leaving the fence with a flat-top, as the name indicates
• Garden Fences: these are low fences that are mostly placed around gardens for decorative reasons or to keep small animals out
• Gothic Fences: this style involves adding a series of points to the top of the fence, and it is mainly done on fences built with metal materials
• Split-Rail Fences: this style involves installing the fence horizontally rather than the more typical vertical installation style and is mainly used for fencing farms and large properties because it does not typically require a lot of fence material
• Shadow-Box Fences: this style involves attaching the fence materials to each side of the fence's frame in an alternate fashion
• Electric Fences: this style of fencing is mostly done with metal fence materials, and it involves the integration of wire mesh to these materials to construct a fence that deters animals and people from accessing a particular area by shocking them with electricity
• Custom Fences: these are fences that are built and installed for specific landscapes or terrains. Custom fences are usually more expensive than other fence styles and designs, and they can be tailored to a customer's particular preferences, needs, or peculiarities

Fence contractors in Jacksonville make an average of $36,720 annually. The following list compares the average hourly pay of these contractors with that of fence contractors in other locations across Florida and the rest of the United States:

What Kind of Fencing Services Do You Offer?

Professional fence companies in Jacksonville offer interested residents of the city several types of fencing services, such as:

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

However, to ensure that your fence project is executed satisfactorily, it is imperative that you find out the exact types and scopes of services that a fence company is equipped to provide before entering into any hiring agreements with them. Confirm that these services align with the specifics of your project and make sure that any promises or guarantees made by the fence company are put in writing.

When Am I Required to Have a Fence in Jacksonville?

Before commencing fence projects, it is always a good idea to find out whether any pertinent ordinances and laws affect the nature and scope of work you can do. Fence projects in Jacksonville are generally subject to two key regulations, namely:

• Section 656.402 of the Jacksonville Zoning Code
• The Florida Residential Swimming Pool Safety Act

Requirements of these regulations include:

• All fences in residential districts must not exceed a height of eight feet. However, front yard fences in the city's residential districts are typically limited to a height of four feet, although heights of up to six feet may be allowed under certain circumstances, such as situations where the front yard fence is on a corner lot that is along a street, road, or roadway.
• Residential swimming pools must be enclosed by a fence that is at least four feet high on the outside and has the following characteristics:
  • Must not have any gaps, protrusions, openings, indentations, or structural components that can allow a young child to squeeze through, crawl under, or climb over them
  • Must be placed around the perimeter of the pool and must be separate from any other enclosure surrounding the yard or property
  • Must be located in a way that permanent structures, equipment, or similar objects cannot be used to climb over it
  • Must have self-closing gates that open outward away from the pool and are equipped with self-latching locking devices. The release mechanism of these self-locking devices must also be located on the poolside of the gate and inaccessible to young children who are reaching over the top or through any gaps or openings in the fence.

Note that fence projects in Jacksonville also have to conform to the city's construction regulations and building codes, as well as other pertinent regulations.

Hiring a professional fence company to execute your fence project affords you the benefit of working with contractors familiar with all relevant fencing regulations and providing their services in accordance with them. Nonetheless, you can contact the Zoning Section of the Jacksonville Planning and Development Department at (904) 255-8300 to get more information on pertinent laws and ordinances that may affect your fence project. Queries on this subject can also be directed to the department's Current Planning Division at (904) 255-7800 or via email. Likewise, you can report suspected violations of these fence regulations to the Jacksonville Municipal Code Compliance Division by calling (904) 630-2489.

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

Locally issued building permits are required for any construction-related activity that physically changes or adds structures to properties in Jacksonville, including fence installations and replacements. These permits are issued by the city's Department of Planning and Development through its Building Inspection Division, and commencing fence projects without pulling these permits can result in a $1,000 fine for first offenders. Repeat offenders face even steeper penalties, while homeowners who pull permits on behalf of unlicensed fence contractors can also receive a separate statutory penalty of up to $5,000 in fines.

Applications for building permits can be submitted to the city's Building Inspection Division through its Online Permitting System, and the division offers access to a "How To" webpage that applicants can utilize to learn more about using its permitting system and submitting permits. Note that first-time applicants will be required to contact this division at (904) 255-8500 or via email to create a user profile to access this system. First-time applicants who are state-licensed contractors must also obtain a city-issued identification number from the division before submitting permit applications. This number can be obtained by providing the following documents:

• A properly completed registration form
• A copy of a valid DBPR-issued license
• A valid photo ID
• Proof of compliance with state-mandated workers' compensation insurance requirements and local tax requirements

This set of documents must be submitted to:

Bear in mind that permit applicants may be required to submit project drawings, site plans, and other relevant forms and documents for review before requested permits can be issued. Once all submitted documents have been reviewed and approved, applicants will have to pay stipulated permit fees, following which the requested permits will be issued, and work on the fence project can commence.

Obtaining all necessary permits for your project before any work commences helps prevent avoidable sanctions, protects your property value, ensures public safety and welfare are maintained, and limits exposure to construction-related liabilities.

You can get additional information on the Jacksonville permitting issuance process for fence projects by contacting the city's Building Inspection Division via email, by calling (904) 255-8500 and selecting option four, or in person at:

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

Fence installation projects are typically completed in six main stages:

• Fence length estimation
• Utility line location and marking
• Permit pulling
• Fence post hole digging and post bracket setting
• Fence construction and installation
• Worksite cleanup

Verifying the path of underground utility lines is a crucial step to take before any digging for your fence project commences. Failing to locate and clearly mark your property's water, electric, gas, and sewage lines before any digging can result in the loss of essential utility services, costly damages, and even serious and potentially fatal injuries.

As such, even though many professional fence companies in Jacksonville take on the responsibility of locating and marking utility lines when executing fence projects, always get confirmation on this before finalizing any hiring agreements with your preferred fence company. Note that you may be required to provide your fence contractors with a copy of your survey records to help them properly locate all utility lines on your property. You can also utilize the Sunshine 811 service to locate utility lines on your property by calling 811 or (800) 432-4770. However, this service must be contacted at least two full business days before the day the digging is expected to commence.

You can get additional information on utilities and utility lines in Jacksonville by contacting JEA online at (904) 665-6000 or (800) 683-5542 for residential customers and (904) 665-6250 for commercial customers, or in person at:

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

There is always a risk of on-the-job injuries occurring during construction-related projects, so always hiring adequately insured fence contractors is crucial. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, nearly 30 percent of all work-related deaths that were recorded across Florida in 2020 occurred among construction trade workers. As such, the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR) requires all fence contractors in Jacksonville to comply with specific insurance obligations before offering their services to residents of the city. These include:

• Fence contractors that hold a general contractor or building contractor license must carry liability insurance of at least $300,000 and property damage insurance of at least $50,000
• Fence contractors that hold any other type of DBPR-issued license must carry liability insurance and property damage insurance of at least $100,000 and $25,000, respectively, or in any other amount that the department may determine as adequate.
• All fence contractors must carry workers' compensation insurance or get an exemption for this, regardless of their license classification.

Failing to verify whether your fence contractor has complied with these requirements makes you financially and legally responsible for any accidents, injuries, property damage, or other similar events that can be directly tied to your fence project.

To this end, always request proof of insurance from any fence contractor that you plan to hire and authenticate this proof with the appropriate insurance provider before the contractor starts any work on your project. You can also reach out to the DBPR online or by calling (850) 487-1395 to get more information on its mandatory insurance requirements for Jacksonville fence contractors.