Ask for three things in writing: the California contractor licence number, proof of insurance and an itemized estimate. Anyone can look up a licence on the Contractors State License Board website, cslb.ca.gov, and it takes about a minute.
The Fresno Fence Company is licensed and insured. Ask us for the licence number and insurance certificate when we give you your estimate.
What should I ask a fence contractor before hiring?
- What is your CSLB licence number, and which class is it?
- Who checks the city or county rules, and who gets a permit if one is needed?
- Who opens the 811 ticket?
- How deep are the posts, what are they set in, and what do you do when you hit hardpan?
- Which wood species and grade, or which vinyl or metal product, and what size posts?
- Does the price include removing and hauling the old fence and its concrete?
- How many gates, how wide, with what hinges and latches?
- What is the start date and how many working days will it take?
- How will you protect sprinkler lines and irrigation valves?
How do I check that a contractor is licensed and insured?
Go to cslb.ca.gov and use the licence lookup. California requires a contractor licence for work of $1,000 or more in labor and materials combined. The CSLB says the limit rose from $500 on January 1, 2025, and that the small-job exemption applies only if the work needs no building permit and the person has no employees. Fence work falls under class C-13, Fencing. The record also shows bond and workers' compensation information. For liability insurance, ask the contractor's insurer to send a certificate directly to you.
What should a fence estimate include?
Length, height, material and grade, post size and depth, every gate and its width, removal of the old fence, any permit, cleanup, the payment schedule and the start date. If two estimates differ by a lot, find the line that is on one and missing from the other. Hardpan is a common one here: one bid allows for it and the other does not mention it. California requires a written contract for home improvement work over $500.
Should I get three quotes?
Yes, for a full fence. Three bids tell you the local price range and show which contractor measured carefully. Compare what each one includes before comparing totals.
What deposit is normal?
California limits it. On a home improvement contract, the down payment may not be more than $1,000 or 10 percent of the contract price, whichever is less (Business and Professions Code section 7159). Later payments are not supposed to get ahead of the work completed. Use a check or a card, and keep every receipt.
The cheapest quote wants half up front and will not show insurance. Is that a problem?
Yes. Asking for half up front breaks California's down payment limit for home improvement work. Refusing to show insurance on top of that is how unlicensed operators tend to behave. If a worker is injured or your property is damaged, the cost may land on you. Check the name on cslb.ca.gov before taking another step.
I paid a deposit and the contractor stopped showing up. What can I do?
Send a dated written message asking for a firm date to start or finish. If you get no answer, file a complaint with the Contractors State License Board, the state agency that licenses and disciplines contractors. Keep your contract, payment records and every text and email.
The crew cut my internet line or sprinkler pipe. Who pays?
That depends on whether the line was marked and on the contract. The 811 ticket brings out the utilities to mark what they own. It does not cover lines the homeowner put in. Sprinkler pipe is the one most often hit in Fresno yards, followed by low-voltage lighting. Point these out before work starts and have it noted on the estimate.
My HOA approved the fence in writing and now wants it moved. What now?
Keep the approval letter and leave the fence where it is for now. This is a dispute between you and the association, not a construction defect. A lawyer who handles California homeowner association matters is the right person to call.
Can I install a fence myself?
Yes, and a short run on flat ground is realistic for a handy owner. The two things that defeat most home-built fences here are hardpan, which a rented auger will not cut, and gates, which sag when the post is too light. You still have to contact USA North 811 before digging and follow the height rules.
We only know the real price after we measure your yard. The estimate is free and comes in writing. Call (559) 719-6557 or text us a photo of the fence line.