How Much Does Fence Installation Cost in California?
National cost guides put wood fence installation at $20 to $50 per linear foot. A wrought iron fence runs $50 to $85 per linear foot, and custom ornamental iron runs $85 to $130. For about 200 linear feet, the same guides put a new fence at $4,000 to $12,000 on average. A wrought iron fence of that length averages $10,000 to $17,000.
These are market numbers, not our price list. Redwood privacy fences run $35 to $50 per linear foot in common grade and $70 to $120 in high grade. Gates, tear-out, slopes and salt air move the rest. We look at those details before we build wood and iron fences and gates across the Monterey Bay area.
What does a fence cost per linear foot by material?
National cost guides price a fence by its material and style. The rows below are their installed ranges for wood and iron, the two kinds of fence we build.
| Material and style | Installed cost per linear foot |
|---|---|
| Wood fence | $20 to $50 |
| 6 foot wood privacy fence | $25 to $50 |
| Redwood privacy fence, common grade | $35 to $50 |
| Redwood privacy fence, high grade (surfaced boards, uniform color) | $70 to $120 |
| Wrought iron fence | $50 to $85 |
| Galvanized wrought iron fence | $60 to $65 |
| Ornamental wrought iron (twisted pickets, scrolls) | $65 to $85 |
| Custom-designed ornamental iron | $85 to $130 |
For wood, the guides put materials at $10 to $30 per linear foot and labor at $5 to $20. Labor on a wrought iron fence runs $15 to $25 per linear foot. A custom-designed iron fence is priced by the welding it takes.
How much do gates add to the cost of a fence?
Gates are priced on their own lines, apart from the fence. National cost guides list these wrought iron gate figures.
| Gate | Published range | What the figure covers |
|---|---|---|
| Wrought iron walk gate | $200 to $650 | Materials alone |
| Single-car wrought iron driveway gate | $4,000 to $6,000 | Installed, with an automatic swing opener and keypad |
| Wrought iron swing gates, 10 feet wide or larger | $6,500 to $9,000 | Installed, with a solar-powered automatic opener |
The walk gate figure is for materials alone, so installation comes on top. A driveway gate also needs posts or columns strong enough to carry it. We build stone and block gate columns, and each column is masonry work on its own footing.
An automatic opener needs power at the gate, from a solar panel or an electrical line. When it takes a line, a licensed electrical contractor runs it as part of the job.
Why do two fence bids come back so far apart?
Often the bids cover different work. One may include tearing out the old fence, and another may not. National cost guides put removal and haul-away at $10 to $20 per linear foot. They put a full fence replacement at $30 to $80 per linear foot.
The finish and a survey can add to a bid too. Staining or painting a fence adds $2 to $14 per linear foot. If the property line is in doubt, a land survey runs $200 to $1,200.
Ask each bidder to list the height, material and grade, posts, gates, tear-out and finish. Then compare the bids line by line.
California sets rules for that paperwork. The Contractors State License Board says any home improvement job over $500 needs a written contract. The down payment can be no more than $1,000 or 10 percent of the price, whichever is less.
What moves the price of a fence in the Monterey Bay area?
Ground comes first. In the sandy hills around Prunedale and Aromas, federal soil descriptions show slopes of 9 to 75 percent. A fence on a slope has to step down or follow the grade. Slopes and loose sand slow the post work, and slower work shows up in the labor line.
Salt air comes next. In its corrosion guidelines, Caltrans treats structures within 1,000 feet of the ocean as a marine exposure. That is a bridge standard, not a fence code. Near the water, we plan iron fences and gates with galvanized or powder-coated finishes and coastal-grade hardware.
A draft fire rule could also change the plan near the house. The Board of Forestry’s draft Zone 0 rule covers the first five feet around a home in fire-prone areas. It would require a five-foot non-combustible section where a fence attaches to a house. The draft’s own example is replacing a wooden gate with a metal one.
The draft would also bar new combustible fences and gates inside that zone. It would still let owners repair an existing wood fence with wood. It is a draft, not a final rule, so check its status before you pick materials near the house.
Access matters too. Tight side yards and a long carry from the street add labor.
Do you need a permit to build a fence in California?
The California Residential Code, as California cities publish it, exempts fences not over 7 feet high from a building permit. Zoning height limits are a separate set of rules. They are usually lower, and each city or county sets its own.
Carmel-by-the-Sea shows how far apart the two can be. Its zoning table allows fences of 4 feet in the front setback and 6 feet in side and rear setbacks. It allows a 1 foot lattice on top of side and rear fences. Treat those numbers as orientation only, and confirm the current limits with the City.
Where a fence does need a permit, national cost guides put the fee at $40 to $150. Local fees vary, so confirm with your city or the county before the posts go in.
How do you get a real number for your fence?
Published ranges cannot see your yard. Your fence installation cost comes down to the length, the ground, the gates and the finish.
Aguilar and Sons Construction is a licensed general building contractor based in Salinas, CSLB license #787101. We build redwood fences, iron fences, custom iron gates and driveway gates that open by hand or by motor. We also weld custom iron railings for decks and steps, and we build redwood decks.
Estimates are free and done on site. Read more about our fence and gate installation, or call or text (831) 262-9943.