Southwest Washington
Fences
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Available in every city in Southwest Washington
Concierge service
Not sure who to hire? We handle the rest
Tell us about the task — we will help choose a suitable specialist, arrange the visit, and stay in touch through the job.
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KABLAY local guide
Fences in Southwest Washington — installation, repair and gates
A fence in Southwest Washington lives in standing damp. The ground barely dries between October and May, and a post does not rot evenly — it rots in a narrow band right at grade, where wet timber meets air. That is why fences here usually fail from the bottom up rather than from wind: the base is already gone, and the first winter storm just finishes it.
Cedar is the local standard for good reason. It grows here, it resists decay, and it survives a wet winter far better than pine. But material is only half of it — what decides the lifespan is whether posts are set in concrete or gravel, whether the boards clear the ground, and where water runs along the fence line.
Below: what actually drives the price, what to check before signing an estimate, and when a fence needs a permit in Southwest Washington.
What drives the price
Fencing is quoted per linear foot of finished fence, not per section. A 6 ft cedar privacy fence typically starts around $38 per foot installed; horizontal slat costs more because it eats material and demands tighter fitting; chain link runs well below both.
Posts, gates and demolition are counted separately. A post set in concrete means a hole, concrete and cure time, and a gate means a frame, hinges and adjustment — which is why one walk gate costs about as much as several feet of fence.
Terrain and soil move the number. A slope has to be stepped, and rocky or root-bound ground means hand-working every hole. If equipment cannot reach the line and material gets carried past the house, that lands in the estimate too.
Permits and property lines
Most residential fences up to 6 ft in a side or rear yard, and up to 42 inches in a front yard, do not need a permit — but the rule differs between the City of Vancouver and unincorporated Clark County, and an HOA may cap height or material regardless.
Build on your own side of the line. If the boundary was never staked, a later dispute with a neighbour is settled at your expense, and moving a finished fence costs far more than confirming the line beforehand.
Call 811 before anything is dug. The locate is free, and it is not a formality here: the gas service to a house often runs along exactly the line you want to fence.
What to check on the contractor
Registration, bond and insurance through Washington L&I. Fence installation is registered contractor work, and the check takes a minute on the L&I site using the company name or number.
What the estimate actually includes: removal and haul-away of the old fence, hole depth and diameter, post type, fastener grade (galvanized or stainless), and who clears the spoil from drilling.
The warranty comes from the contractor, not from the platform. Ask what it covers — post settlement, board separation, gate sag — and for how long.
Repair instead of replacement
If the fence itself is sound and two or three posts have gone, replace the posts rather than the run. A post replacement set in concrete typically starts around $185, and straightening a leaning run is priced by the foot.
Rot at grade can often be handled by replacing the bottom rail and trimming the boards, provided the upper fence is still solid. It is cheaper than full replacement and buys several more seasons.
A sagging gate is almost always repairable: an anti-sag cable, rehanging on proper hinges, or a welded steel frame in place of a wooden one that has twisted.
Cities covered
Open a city page for local housing patterns, neighborhood clusters and details worth adding to the request. Vancouver, Ridgefield, Camas, La Center, Woodland, Battle Ground.
FAQ
What does it cost to fence a yard?
Price it by the perimeter in feet. For a typical 150-foot run, a 6 ft cedar fence lands around $5,700–9,000 installed, plus a gate. The real figure comes after a site visit, because slope, soil and equipment access all move it.
Do I need a permit for a fence?
Usually not, at up to 6 ft in side and rear yards and 42 inches in the front. Confirm the rule for your exact address with the City of Vancouver or Clark County, and check your HOA if you have one.
Concrete or gravel-set posts?
Both work. Concrete holds more rigidly; gravel drains water away from the post base, which extends timber life in this climate. Many local builders set in concrete over a drainage layer to get both.
How long does a cedar fence last?
Fifteen to twenty years when it is built properly and re-sealed every two or three years. Without treatment, and with boards touching soil, that halves. Posts always fail before the panels do.
Can a fence be built in winter?
Yes, and scheduling is often easier. The one limit is saturated ground, which holds concrete poorly, so in a long stretch of rain a contractor may push the digging back a few days.
Who pays for a shared fence with a neighbour?
That is between you and them; the platform takes no part in it. Splitting the cost is common when the fence sits on the line. Put whatever you agree in writing before work starts.
Describe the job — length in feet, material, height, whether the ground slopes, and whether you need a gate — and add photos of the fence line. Specialists in Southwest Washington can review the request and quote it.