Ask for three things in writing: a California contractor licence number, proof of insurance and an itemized estimate. The licence takes a minute to check on the Contractors State License Board site, cslb.ca.gov.
Fremont Fence Solutions is licensed and insured. Ask for the licence number and an insurance certificate when we give you the estimate.
What should I ask a fence contractor before hiring?
- What is your CSLB licence number, and what class is it?
- Does my fence need a permit or planning approval, and who applies?
- Who places the USA North 811 ticket?
- How deep are the posts, and what are they set in?
- What species and grade are the boards, and what size are the posts?
- Is removing and hauling the old fence in the price?
- How many gates, how wide, and what hardware?
- What is the start date and how many working days?
- If the fence is shared, will you show each neighbor's share on the quote?
How do I check that a contractor is licensed and insured?
Search the name or number under Check a License on cslb.ca.gov. California requires a contractor licence for a job of $1,000 or more in combined labor and materials. The figure was $500 until January 1, 2025. The exemption for smaller jobs does not apply when the work needs a building permit or the person has employees. Fence work falls under the C-13 Fencing class. The licence record also shows the bond and the workers' compensation status. For liability cover, ask the contractor's insurer to send you a certificate.
What should a fence estimate include?
It should include the footage, height, material and grade, post size and depth, each gate and its width, tear-out and haul-away, any permit, cleanup, the payment schedule and a start date. If two estimates differ, find the line that is on one and missing from the other. California requires a written contract for a home improvement job over $500.
Should I get three quotes?
Yes, for a full fence. Three quotes show you the local range and which companies measured carefully. Compare the scope of work first and the total second.
What deposit is normal?
California caps it. The down payment on a home improvement contract may not be more than $1,000 or 10 percent of the contract price, whichever is less. The Contractors State License Board publishes this rule, and it also says later payments may not exceed the value of the work done. Pay in a way that leaves a record.
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 points to someone working without a licence. If a worker is injured or a pipe is broken on your property, the cost can land on you. Check the name on cslb.ca.gov before you sign anything.
I paid a deposit and the contractor stopped showing up. What can I do?
Send a dated written request for a firm schedule. 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, your payment records and every message.
The crew cut my internet line or sprinkler pipe. Who pays?
That depends on whether the line was marked and on what your contract says. USA North 811 gets utility-owned lines marked. It does not cover sprinkler pipe, drip lines or wiring a past owner put in. Point those out before work starts and ask for a note on the estimate saying you did.
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. The issue is between you and the association and has nothing to do with how the fence was built. A lawyer who handles California common interest developments can advise you.
Can I install a fence myself?
Yes. A straight, level run in a Fremont back yard is a reasonable project for a handy owner. The hard parts are the posts and the gates. Clay is slow to dig by hand and holds water in the hole, and a gate post set a little off will show within a year. You still have to contact USA North 811 before digging and keep to the city's height limits.
We can only give a real price after measuring the fence line. The visit is free and the quote is written. Call (510) 240-8149 or text a photo of the fence.