Get Quotes from Top Fencing Contractors in Detroit, MI

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

Any contractor that intends to perform a fencing project in Detroit must obtain a residential builders license. The Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (DLRA) oversees the issuance of this license through the Bureau of Construction Codes (BCC). Non-compliance with this licensing requirement is a misdemeanor and attracts penalties. For a first-time offender, these penalties include a maximum fine of $25,000, imprisonment for a maximum term of one year, or both. For subsequent offenders, the penalties include a maximum fine of $25,000 or imprisonment for a maximum term of two years or both.

To be eligible for this license, interested persons must:

• Complete 60 hours of approved prelicensure courses
• Be of good character
• Submit an application
• Pass the required licensing examination

Eligible persons can submit their applications online through the Accela Citizen Access portal. To access the portal, they must create a user account or log in with their existing user account, as the case may be. The portal also makes provisions for uploading necessary documents. Alternatively, they can submit a completed Residential Builder or Maintenance & Alteration Contractor License Application Form to the BCC through the means available on the form.

Applicants should note that certain documents, such as a valid photo ID and proof of completing the prelicensure courses, are necessary to process the application. Similarly, they must pay an application fee. Further inquiries regarding residential builder's licensing can be directed to the BCC by email. Interested persons can also request a return phone call by providing a phone number and convenient call time in their email message to the Bureau.

Residents of Detroit can confirm if their preferred contractor is licensed by checking the DLRA license search portal or contacting the BCC license verification hotline at (517) 241-9316.

In addition to obtaining a residential builders license, contractors must also register this license with the Detroit Buildings, Safety Engineering and Environmental Department. This can be done by submitting a completed Application for Registration of Contractor License Form to the Department at:

Contractors can direct inquiries regarding this registration requirement to the Department at (313) 224-2733 or by visiting the Department in person. Similarly, residents can verify if a contractor has complied with this requirement by contacting the Department's customer service at (313) 224-3202.

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

The fees contractors or fencing companies charge for erecting a fence vary and depend on many factors. These factors include the necessary labor, permit costs, and the timeframe for executing the project. Nonetheless, the average cost of building a fence in Detroit ranges between $1,100 and $6,000. Considering this varying cost, it is crucial to always compare estimates with different contractors before signing off on your fencing project. Comparing estimates not only helps determine the average cost for the project, but it prevents extortion and possible scam situations.

Some of the reasons homeowners erect fences around their properties include:

• Privacy
• Security
• Preventing pets from wandering away
• Improved property value and appeal
• Decoration
• Personal preferences.

Certain fencing materials and styles are best for each reason. However, fencing materials and styles also vary in cost and installation time, thereby influencing final estimates for a fencing project. Popular fencing materials in Detroit include:

• Chain Link: This material has the typical appearance of a woven mesh made from galvanized steel wire. Chain link fences cost between $9 and $15 per linear foot, which is relatively affordable. They are low-maintenance, easy-to-install fences and are effective for security purposes. However, they do not offer privacy and are not aesthetically appealing compared to other fence materials.
• Vinyl: Vinyl fences are popular for their aesthetic appeal, privacy, and low maintenance. They are also easy to install and cost between $15 and $23 per linear foot. A drawback of vinyl fencing is its plastic-based material. Therefore, vinyl fences are not eco-friendly. They are also not as durable as other fencing materials.
• Wood: Wood fencing costs between $11 and $17 per linear foot. This material is durable, offers a variety of designs, is eco-friendly, and offers privacy. However, wood material is prone to shrinking and cracking and is highly maintained.
• Wrought Iron: Wrought iron is considered one of the most expensive fencing materials, costing between $20 and $30 per linear foot. However, it is widely considered durable, low-maintenance, elegant, aesthetically pleasing, and eco-friendly. Additionally, it offers security and privacy.
• Brick: Brick fences are best for privacy. They are also eco-friendly, noise-dampening, and durable. However, they require constant maintenance and are prone to discoloration and damage from extreme weather conditions. Brick fences typically cost between $10 and $40 per square foot.
• Steel: This is a metal-based fencing material along with wrought iron, aluminum, and chain link. Steel fencing offers security, attractive aesthetics, and durability. It also requires minimal maintenance and costs between $10 and $15 per linear foot. Disadvantages of this fencing material include lack of versatility and rusting.

Likewise, some of the preferred fencing styles in Detroit include:

• Gothic fences: They are unique for their pointed tops, which may have a spear-like or simple spiky appearance. The gothic fence style is best achievable on picket fences or fences made from metal materials like wrought iron and steel. They are also widely considered secure and durable.
• Picket Fence: Fences made using the picket style are usually low, for decorative purposes and for establishing property boundaries. This fence style involves placing a row of vertical wooden planks or iron bars on horizontal anchors. Wood and metal materials are best for picket fences.
• Garden Fence: These are low, picket-style fences used primarily to surround a garden. They are also used for decoration.
• Dog-Ear Fence: This fence style is largely done on wooden picket fences. It is achieved by trimming the edges of the fence's vertical planks, making the planks look like the folded edge of book pages.
• Flat-Top fence: As the name implies, this involves making the top of a fence flat. This style is achievable on fences made from most fencing materials.
• Lattice-Top fence: The lattice-top style is best achieved on wooden fences, and it entails having lattice patterns designed on the top part of a fence.
• Split Rail Fence: The split rail fencing style is also part of the picket style family. However, it involves using a row of vertical wooden logs to hold several horizontal wooden logs instead. Split rail fences are usually low and used to surround large parcels of land.
• Scallop fence: This style entails making the top of a fence curved.
• Shadow-Box fence: Shadow-Box fences are also a variant of picket fences. However, they are two-sided, with each side placed against the other in a way to cover up the spaces between the vertical wooden planks. Shadow-box fences are effective for privacy and can be secure too.
• Electric Fence: This style involves enabling a fence with electricity, thereby delivering electric shocks to trespassers. Accordingly, this style requires some metal material on the fence to be effective.
• Custom Fence: These fences are designed and created to cater to a homeowner's preferences, needs, and demands. Other things are also considered, such as the area where the fence would be installed, its landscape, and local requirements. Since custom fences are according to specification, they may involve several materials, styles, and utilities. However, it should be noted that installing a custom fence usually costs more compared to other fence styles and designs. This is largely because of the labor, time, and skill necessary to create and install such fences.

Fence erectors in Detroit earn an average pay of $43,750 annually. The following list compares the average hourly pay of these contractors with that of fence contractors in other cities across Michigan and the rest of the United States:

What Kind of Fencing Services Do You Offer?

A critical factor influencing a fencing project's success is the contractor's skillset and experience. Fencing services are wide-ranged and include:

• Fence designing
• Consultation
• Fence installation
• Replacement, repair, or maintenance of installed fences
• Fence gate installation
• Creating custom fences.

Other services include marking utility lines, obtaining permits, and setting property boundaries. A contractor is rarely skilled in all of these services. Therefore, always confirm your preferred contractor's experience range and the services they offer. You can confirm this by requesting proof of previous work related to your project description. This way, you are assured that your contractor has the necessary skills for your project, and you can better avoid instances of poor service delivery.

When Am I Required to Have a Fence in Detroit?

While Detroit homeowners are at liberty to install fences around their property, such fences must adhere to requirements provided under relevant state and city laws. Examples of such laws include:

• The Michigan Building Code and the Detroit City amendments
• The Detroit Street, Sidewalk, and Other Public Places Ordinance
• The Detroit Residential Code
• The Detroit Zoning Code

These laws each regulate fencing projects in different ways. However, some of their significant provisions include:

• Excavation on properties adjacent to a street or alley is prohibited unless the area is enclosed by a fence at least four feet tall.
• Swimming pools must be enclosed by a wire-mesh fence or any other fence. Also, fences enclosing swimming pools must be at least four feet tall.
• Homeowners with fences that serve as boundaries between their property and their neighbor's property must maintain their side of the fence.
• Front fences of one or two-family dwellings must not exceed four feet in height unless a deed restriction or historical district ordinance provides otherwise.
• Side or back fences of one or two-family dwellings must not exceed six feet in height.
• Fences with barbed wires are allowed on lands classified under the industrial or business district, but such fences must be at least six feet tall.
• Barbed wire fences are prohibited around one or two-family dwellings.
• Fences must be maintained and be in good condition.

Some of the requirements in these laws are technical and can be difficult to understand. Therefore, it is in your best interest to hire only licensed contractors who are also familiar with the relevant laws. This way, you are less likely to violate these requirements, as failure to comply with them attracts penalties. If you have further inquiries on fencing requirements in Detroit, you can contact the Zoning Department of the Detroit Buildings, Safety Engineering, and Environmental Department (BSEED) at (313) 224-1317. Concerned residents can also report fencing violations through the Building Codes Violation hotline at (313) 224-2733.

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

Per Section 105 of the Michigan Building Code, a permit is necessary before erecting any structure, including a fence. However, Section 105.2 lists work exempt from this requirement, and this includes fences that are seven feet or less in height. Since residential fences must not exceed six feet in height, they fall under this permit exemption.

However, property owners or companies that intend to erect fences not within this exemption must obtain a permit. Permits are obtained by submitting a completed building permit application form to the Detroit BSEED at:

The permit application form and the required plans and construction documents relevant to the fencing project must be submitted. Also, applicants must pay an application fee, which is necessary to process the permit application. Alternatively, permit applications can also be made online through the Accela Citizen Access portal. Permit applicants can utilize the step-by-step guide provided by the BSEED to learn how to apply for permits online.

After a fencing project is completed, the relevant homeowner must ensure to schedule inspections with the BSEED. The BSEED conducts inspections on construction-related works in Detroit through its Construction Inspection Division. Inspections are to ensure that all construction-related projects comply with relevant laws and public safety. Project owners or their contractors can schedule inspections by contacting this Division at (313) 224-3202 or through the Accela Citizen Access portal.

Project owners can make further inquiries on fencing permits by contacting the BSEED at (313) 224-2733.

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

A typical fencing project involves the following steps:

• Consultation with a contractor or fencing company
• Determining the fence's specifications, such as its height, design, material, and purpose
• Notifying neighbors
• Obtaining permits where necessary
• Utility line marking
• Digging for the fence installation
• Fence installation

Other considerations may be involved, such as marking property boundaries and requesting inspection from city officials. Each of these steps is equally important, but paying more attention to utility line marking is necessary. This is because utility lines are sometimes passed underground. In some cases, they are unmarked, making it difficult to avoid them. Digging for your fence without marking utility lines can lead to you cutting into them. This is dangerous because cutting utility lines can result in serious injuries from hazards like explosions and electrocution. It can also give you a bad neighborhood reputation as you will disrupt the delivery of essential services.

In most cases, fence contractors mark utility lines as part of their jobs. This is not always the case, so ensure to confirm with your preferred contractor if they will do so. Alternatively, you can take responsibility and contact MISS DIG at 811, (800) 482-7171, or (248) 370-6400 to ensure such lines are professionally and properly marked. MISS DIG is the body responsible for utility line marking in Michigan. Note that callers are advised to place a call at least three days before digging.

If you need more information on utility line marking and how it relates to digging for your fence, you can contact the Detroit Homeland Security & Emergency Management Department at (313) 596-2590.

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

Contractors in Detroit are not required to maintain insurance policies before applying for a license or handling any project within city limits. However, installing a fence is not risk-free. Accidents do happen, just like in any other occupation. In 2020, Michigan recorded more than 130 fatal workplace injuries. This did not account for the several other nonfatal injuries. In some cases, project owners are held responsible for workplace accidents and are mandated to pay costs for repairs of affected properties and treatment of injured persons. This underscores the need to hire insured contractors, especially contractors with third-party policies like general liability and workers' compensation insurance policies. With insured contractors, you have a financial safety net. If an accident occurs during your project, the insurance covers most of the financial implications and saves you from personal expenses.

One way to verify your contractor is insured is by requesting proof of insurance, such as an insurance certificate or indemnity document. Also, make sure to confirm the validity of any presented document from the relevant insurance provider.