Get three things on paper: the contractor's California licence number, proof of insurance and an estimate that lists each item. You can check the licence yourself in about a minute at cslb.ca.gov, the website of the Contractors State License Board, which happens to be based in Sacramento.
Fence Solutions Sacramento is licensed and insured. Ask us for the licence number and a certificate of insurance with your estimate.
What should I ask a fence contractor before hiring?
- What is your CSLB licence number?
- Is my address in the city or the county, and does this fence need a permit or planning approval?
- Who files the USA North 811 request?
- How deep will the posts be, and what happens if you hit hardpan?
- What wood species and grade are the boards, and what size are the posts?
- Does the price include removing and hauling away the old fence?
- How many gates, how wide, and with what hardware?
- When do you start and how many working days will it take?
- For a shared fence, can the quote show each neighbor's part?
How do I check that a contractor is licensed and insured?
Use the licence search on cslb.ca.gov with the company name or number. California requires a contractor's licence for any job of $1,000 or more counting labor and materials. The threshold rose from $500 on January 1, 2025. The small-job exemption does not apply if the work needs a building permit or the person uses employees. The licence record shows the bond and whether workers' compensation is on file. For liability insurance, ask for a certificate sent to you by the insurer.
What should a fence estimate include?
The footage, the height, the material and grade, post size and depth, every gate with its width, removal and disposal of the old fence, any permit, cleanup, a payment schedule and a start date. When two estimates differ, look for the item one lists and the other leaves out. California requires a written contract for home improvement work over $500.
Should I get three quotes?
Yes, for anything more than a small repair. Three quotes tell you what the work costs in this market and which company measured with care. Judge the scope before the price.
What deposit is normal?
In California the law sets the ceiling. For a home improvement contract the down payment cannot be more than $1,000 or 10 percent of the contract price, whichever is less. The Contractors State License Board publishes that rule and adds that payments after the deposit cannot exceed the value of the work completed. Pay by a method that leaves a record.
The cheapest quote wants half up front and will not show insurance. Is that a problem?
Yes, on both counts. Half up front is more than California's down payment limit allows for home improvement work. A contractor who will not show insurance may not be licensed at all. If someone is hurt or a pipe is cut on your property, you may be the one who pays. Look the company up on cslb.ca.gov before signing.
I paid a deposit and the contractor stopped showing up. What can I do?
Write to them, with a date, asking for a firm schedule. If that brings nothing, file a complaint with the Contractors State License Board, which licenses and disciplines contractors in California. Hold on to the contract, proof of payment and all texts and emails.
The crew cut my internet line or sprinkler pipe. Who pays?
It turns on whether the line was marked and what the contract says. USA North 811 arranges marking of lines the utilities own. It does not cover sprinkler and drip lines or wiring added by an earlier owner. Show those to the crew before digging and have the estimate note that you did.
My HOA approved the fence in writing and now wants it moved. What now?
Keep the written approval safe and do not move the fence yet. This is a disagreement between you and the association, not a defect in the fence. A lawyer who works with California homeowner associations can tell you where you stand.
Can I install a fence myself?
Yes. A straight run on a flat Sacramento lot is within reach of a handy owner. Posts and gates are where it goes wrong. Hardpan can stop a hand digger cold, summer clay is like brick, and a gate post that is slightly off will show it by the next season. You still need to notify USA North 811 before digging and stay within the height limit for your address.
A real price needs a tape measure on your fence line. The visit costs nothing and the quote comes in writing. Call (916) 890-2911 or text us a photo of the fence.