How to Prepare Your Property Before Building a Fence: Marking Utility Lines & Complying with City Codes
Building a fence around your property is a great way to increase privacy and security. However, before you start construction, it’s important to take some time to prepare your property and mark any utility lines that may be present. This will help ensure that your fence is built safely and in compliance with local regulations. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to do it:
1. Understand the Different Types of Utility Lines
2. Locate and Mark the Utility Lines on Your Property
3. Research Regulations and Building Permits
4. Create a Fence Plan
5. Hire a Professional Fencing Contractor if Needed
By following these steps, you can be sure that your fence project will be completed safely and without any surprises.
Understand the Different Types of Utility Lines.
Within the United States, you should always call 811prior to digging any post holes. This is a national number that will connect you with your local agency to request that the utility lines be marked on your property. It is also helpful to understand the different lines that will be marked.
Natural Gas Lines
Natural gas is one of the most common utilities used in homes and businesses. Gas lines are usually buried underground, and they can be difficult to locate without the help of a professional. If you’re planning to dig on your property, it’s important to know where your gas line is located before you start digging.
Electric Lines
Electric lines are another type of utility that is often buried underground. Like gas lines, they can be difficult to locate without the help of a professional. If you’re planning to dig on your property, it’s important to know where your electric line is located.
Sewer and Water Lines
Sewer and water lines from the city are usually buried underground as well on your property. While generally, they are burried deeper, don’t assume these lines won’t be in the way.
TV or Data Cable Lines
The final major utility line to be aware of is that of TV or data cable lines. Our experience is that these lines are sometimes very shallow, so pay particular attention to the location of these lines.
Locate and Mark the Utility Lines on Your Property.
Before starting any excavation, you must contact the utility companies to mark the lines on your property. This will ensure that you do not damage any underground utilities and avoid costly repairs. The best way to reach the utility companies is by calling 811, which is the national “Call Before You Dig” number. By calling this number, you will be connected with a local one-call center which can then notify the appropriate utility companies of your plans to dig.
The representative from the one-call center will ask for some basic information about your project, such as the location and type of work being done, and then notify the appropriate utility companies. The utility companies will then send someone out to your property to mark the lines. It is important to note that each type of line will be marked with a different color code:
• Red: Electric Lines
• Yellow: Gas Lines
• Orange: Communication Lines
• Blue: Water Lines
• Green: Sewer Lines
After the lines have been marked, you will need to wait for at least 48 hours before starting any excavation work. This waiting period allows time for all of the utility companies to mark their lines and gives you time to double-check their work. If you have any questions about the markings, be sure to call the utility company directly before proceeding with your project.
Put Markers in Place for Visibility.
Once all of the underground utilities have been located and marked, it is important to put markers in place so that they are visible when excavating for your fence posts. This can be done by driving wooden stakes into the ground along each line or by using brightly colored tape or flags placed every few feet along each line. By taking these precautions, you can avoid damaging any underground utilities and incurring costly repairs or delays in your fencing project.
Research Regulations and Building Permits.
Before you begin building your fence, it’s important to check with your local city or county office to find out what regulations apply to fences in your area. You may need to obtain a permit before beginning construction, and there may be restrictions on the height, material, and location of your fence.
For example, in some cities, fences can only be built on properties that are zoned for residential use. In other areas, there may be limits on the height of fences (usually between 6 and 8 feet) or on the percentage of lot coverage that a fence can occupy. It’s also common for there to be setbacks from property lines – meaning that you’ll need to leave a certain amount of space between your fence and your neighbor’s property.
Apply for Building Permits.
In some cases, you will need to obtain a building permit before beginning construction on your fence. The application process is usually relatively simple – you’ll just need to submit a completed application form along with any required plans or drawings to your local city or county office. Once your application is approved, you’ll be able to pick up your permit and start building!
Create a Fence Plan.
Before you can purchase materials or hire a professional, you need to take detailed measurements of the proposed fence area. Use a measuring tape or wheel to get the linear footage of your property line. If you’re planning on installing a gate, be sure to measure that as well. To avoid any surprises or extra costs, it’s best to overestimate the amount of fencing you need.
Conclusion
After reading this blog post, you should have a better understanding of how to safely prepare your property before building a fence. You should know the different types of utility lines that may be on your property and how to mark them. You should also research local regulations and building permits before starting your project. Finally, you should create a fence plan to help you complete the project.
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