Your First Fence on a New Home

Checklist

1. HOA guidelines
2. Property pins
3. Plat and easements
4. Irrigation map
5. Gates
6. Approval

Related: Developer-controlled HOAs.

Why new homes need extra care

New Charlotte subdivisions, particularly in Steele Creek, Berewick, University City and the edges of the county, are graded by builders to move water around homes. Those swales, inlets and drainage easements often run right along the lines where homeowners want fences. Builders also bury property pins under fresh topsoil and sod.

Step by step

1. Get the plat from your closing documents. It shows lot lines and easements.
2. Find the pins at your lot corners before landscaping covers them further.
3. Read the HOA guidelines and note allowed materials, heights, colors and locations.
4. Map irrigation if the builder installed it.
5. Plan gates for mowers, carts and future projects like a shed or patio.
6. Submit for approval with our drawing.
7. Schedule installation once approval and 811 locates are complete.

Protecting the new lawn

Fresh sod and seed are vulnerable. We minimize equipment on the lawn, tarp clay spoil and haul extra soil away.

Think ahead

Planning a pool, a deck or a patio extension? Tell us now so gates and fence lines work with the future plan.