How to Choose a Fence Contractor in Charlotte

The Charlotte area has dozens of fence companies -- from one-truck operations run by a single installer to national franchises with dedicated local offices. The quality difference between the best and the worst is enormous, and it shows up in everything from how straight your posts are to whether the fence is still standing in five years.

Choosing the right contractor is just as important as choosing the right material. Below is a practical guide to finding a reliable fence company in Charlotte, based on what actually matters and what you can verify before signing anything.

Check Licensing and Insurance

This is the first and most non-negotiable step. In North Carolina, fence installation falls under the category of general contracting. A few things to look for:

General Contractor License: North Carolina requires a General Contractor license issued by the NC Licensing Board for General Contractors for any project costing $30,000 or more. Most residential fence projects fall below this threshold, which means a state license is not legally required for most fence jobs. However, a company that holds one demonstrates a higher level of professionalism and accountability. For larger projects -- commercial fencing, multi-lot subdivision work, or high-end residential installations -- a license is required.

Business license: Any company doing business in Mecklenburg County should have a valid business license. Towns like Huntersville, Matthews, and Concord have their own business license requirements as well. You can verify this with the local tax or revenue office.

Insurance: This is critical. At minimum, your fence contractor should carry general liability insurance (at least $1 million) and workers' compensation insurance. General liability covers damage to your property during installation -- a post hole that hits a water line, a backhoe that scrapes your driveway, a gate that damages your car. Workers' comp covers injuries to the crew on your property. Without workers' comp, you could be liable if a worker gets hurt on your job.

Ask for a certificate of insurance and verify it is current. A reputable company will produce this without hesitation. If a contractor pushes back on this request or says they do not need insurance, walk away.

Read Reviews -- But Read Them the Right Way

Online reviews are useful, but you need to read them critically. The places worth checking, and what to look for:

Google Reviews: This is the most reliable review source for local fence companies. Look for companies with at least 50+ reviews and a rating of 4.5 or higher. More important than the star rating, read the actual written reviews. Look for specifics: did the crew show up on time, did the fence match the quote, did they clean up, how does the fence look months later? Ignore reviews that are just "Great job!" with no details.

BBB (Better Business Bureau): Check if the company is BBB accredited and look at their complaint history. A few complaints over many years of business is normal. A pattern of complaints about the same issue (unfinished work, billing disputes, poor communication) is a red flag.

Nextdoor: Many Charlotte homeowners ask for fence company recommendations on Nextdoor. These recommendations tend to be genuine because they come from people in your actual neighborhood who have no incentive to leave a biased review. Search your neighborhood's Nextdoor group for "fence" or "fencing" to see who people are recommending.

Social media and photo galleries: Check the company's Facebook, Instagram, or website gallery for photos of completed projects. This gives you a sense of their work quality and the types of fences they build most often. A company that posts lots of wood fence photos but no aluminum projects probably does not install much aluminum.

Get Multiple Quotes (At Least Three)

This advice gets repeated constantly because it is genuinely important. Pricing on fence installation varies more than most homeowners expect. We have seen quotes for the same project -- same material, same linear footage, same property -- differ by $2,000 or more between companies.

Three quotes give you enough data to identify the market rate and spot outliers. If two companies quote $4,500 to $5,000 and the third quotes $2,800, the low quote should raise questions, not excitement. Conversely, if one company is significantly higher than the others, ask what they are including that the others are not.

When comparing quotes, make sure each one covers the same scope:

• Same material type and grade (not just "wood" -- which wood? what thickness?)
• Same fence height and style
• Same number and type of gates
• Old fence removal and disposal (included or extra?)
• Post caps, trim, and finishing details
• Concrete for post footings (some quote this separately)
• Cleanup and debris removal

For a detailed look at what Charlotte fence projects typically cost, read our fence cost guide.

Ask About Materials and Brands

Not all fence materials are equal, even within the same category. The difference between a cheap vinyl panel and a premium one, or between contractor-grade pressure-treated lumber and standard retail stock, directly affects how long your fence lasts.

Ask your contractor specifically:

• What brand and grade of material will they use? (For vinyl, names like Bufftech, ActiveYards, and Barrette indicate quality. For aluminum, Jerith and Ameristar are industry leaders.)
• What size posts will they set? (4x4 posts are standard for most residential fences, but 6x6 posts are stronger and more resistant to leaning over time, especially in Charlotte's clay soil.)
• How deep will they set the posts? (30 to 36 inches is standard. Shallower posts are a shortcut that leads to leaning fences within a few years.)
• Will they use concrete for post footings? (They should. Gravel-only footings are cheaper but far less stable, especially in the moisture-retaining red clay common across the Charlotte metro.)
• Can they show you a material sample? (Any good fence company will have samples of the products they install or can get them from their supplier.)

Verify They Pull Permits If Needed

Most residential fences in Charlotte do not require a building permit (fences under 7 feet are generally exempt in Mecklenburg County). But there are situations where a permit or at least a zoning review is needed -- fences over 7 feet, fences near floodplains, commercial properties, and pool enclosures.

A good contractor will know the rules for your specific location without you having to educate them. They should bring up permit requirements and HOA approval during the initial consultation. If they do not mention either, ask directly. For a full rundown of local regulations, see our guide on Charlotte fence permit rules and HOA guidelines.

Also confirm that the contractor will call 811 (NC One-Call) before digging. This is legally required in North Carolina and marks underground utility lines to prevent hitting gas, water, cable, or electrical lines during post hole digging. It is free and takes a few business days. Any contractor who skips this step is putting your property and their crew at risk.

Check References and Past Work

Beyond online reviews, ask the contractor for two or three references from recent projects in the Charlotte area. Specifically, ask for references from projects completed at least 6 months ago, not just last week. A fence can look perfect on day one and start showing problems within a few months if the installation was not done right.

When you contact references, ask these questions:

• Did the project come in on budget, or were there unexpected charges?
• Did the crew start and finish on the dates promised?
• How does the fence look now compared to when it was installed?
• Did anything go wrong, and if so, how did the company handle it?
• Would you hire them again?

If a company cannot or will not provide references, that tells you something. If they have been in business in Charlotte for any length of time, they should have plenty of satisfied customers willing to vouch for their work.

Understand the Contract

Never agree to a fence installation based on a verbal quote or a handshake. Get everything in writing. A proper contract from a Charlotte fence company should include:

• Detailed scope of work: Exact material, brand, color, style, height, and linear footage. Number and type of gates. Post size and depth. Whether old fence removal is included.
• Total price: All-inclusive, with no vague line items like "miscellaneous" or "additional charges as needed."
• Payment schedule: Reputable companies typically ask for 30% to 50% as a deposit, with the balance due upon completion. Some break it into three payments: deposit, midpoint, and completion. Be wary of anyone asking for full payment upfront.
• Timeline: Expected start date and completion date. A reasonable buffer for weather delays is normal, but there should be a committed timeframe.
• Warranty: What is covered and for how long? Most quality Charlotte fence companies offer a 1 to 2 year labor warranty covering installation defects. The materials typically carry a separate manufacturer warranty (lifetime for most vinyl, 20+ years for aluminum, limited for wood). Make sure both are spelled out.
• Cleanup: The contract should state that the company will remove all debris, leftover materials, and packaging from your property upon completion.

Red Flags to Watch For

In a market as large as Charlotte, there are plenty of good fence companies. There are also a few that cut corners, overpromise, or disappear after taking your deposit. Watch for these warning signs:

• Cash only, no contract: Legitimate businesses accept checks, credit cards, or electronic payments and provide written contracts. Cash-only operations are often uninsured and leave you with no paper trail if something goes wrong.
• High-pressure sales tactics: "This price is only good today" or "I have a cancellation and can start tomorrow if you sign now" are pressure moves, not legitimate business practices. A reputable company gives you time to decide.
• No on-site visit before quoting: Any company that quotes your fence project over the phone without seeing your property is guessing. Terrain, access, underground utilities, existing structures, and property line locations all affect the job. A phone quote is not a real quote.
• Unusually low bids: If one quote is 30% to 40% below the others, ask why. Common reasons: thinner material, shallower post depth, no concrete footings, skipping the 811 call, or subcontracting to uninsured labor. The cheapest bid frequently becomes the most expensive project when you factor in repairs and early replacement.
• No online presence: In 2025, a legitimate Charlotte fence company should have at minimum a Google Business listing with reviews. No website, no reviews, no social media presence -- that is a company that either just started or does not stand behind its work long enough to accumulate a reputation.
• Demanding full payment upfront: A 30% to 50% deposit is reasonable and standard. Full payment before work begins is not. You lose all leverage if the company does subpar work or does not finish the job.
• Vague timeline: "We'll get to it in a few weeks" is not a timeline. A professional company gives you a specific start date and estimated completion date, with a plan for weather delays.

Questions to Ask Before Signing

Before you commit to a contractor, run through this checklist:

• How long have you been installing fences in the Charlotte area?
• Are you licensed and insured? Can I see your certificate of insurance?
• Who will actually be doing the work -- your own crew or subcontractors?
• What specific material brand and grade are you quoting?
• How deep do you set the posts, and do you use concrete footings?
• Will you call 811 before digging?
• Do I need HOA approval, and have you dealt with my HOA before?
• What is your warranty on labor? What does the manufacturer warranty cover?
• What happens if you hit a utility line, a rock ledge, or a tree root during installation?
• How do you handle change orders if I want to modify the plan during installation?

What a Good Fence Company Should Do

To set the right expectations, this is what the process should look like when you work with a quality Charlotte fence contractor:

Initial consultation: They come to your property, walk the fence line with you, measure everything, and discuss material options. They ask about your HOA, your goals for the fence (privacy, pets, pool, property boundary), and your budget. This visit should be free and take 30 to 60 minutes.

Written quote: Within a few days, you receive a detailed written quote specifying material, brand, height, style, linear footage, gate details, total price, payment schedule, and estimated timeline. The quote should be valid for at least 30 days.

Material samples: If you are choosing between materials or colors, they bring samples or direct you to a showroom where you can see and touch the products.

Pre-installation: They call 811 to mark utility lines. They confirm the start date a few days in advance. They coordinate with your HOA if approval is pending. They remind you to tell your neighbors that work is coming.

Installation: The crew arrives on the scheduled date with all materials. They protect your landscaping, set posts at proper depth in concrete, build the fence level and plumb, and install gates that swing freely and latch correctly. Installation takes 1 to 3 days for a typical residential fence.

Walkthrough and cleanup: They walk the completed fence with you, check every gate and latch, and address any concerns on the spot. They remove all debris, packaging, concrete bags, and leftover materials from your property.

Follow-up: A good company checks in after a few weeks to make sure everything is holding up. They honor their warranty without hassle if an issue develops.

That is the standard you should expect. If a company cannot or will not commit to this process, keep looking. Charlotte has enough good fence contractors that you do not need to settle.

Browse our directory of Charlotte fence companies to find rated contractors in your area, or request a free quote to get connected with local professionals. You can also call us directly at and we will help match you with the right company for your project.