A little prep makes a big difference. Here's exactly what to do before our crew arrives — to keep the install fast, clean, and on schedule.
A successful fence install starts with a prepared yard. We handle most of the heavy lifting (permits, utility marking, materials), but there are six things you can do that will make your install faster, cleaner, and stress-free.
1. Confirm your property line (1-2 weeks before)
If you have a survey from when you bought the home, dig it out. If not, talk to your neighbors and confirm where the line is. Florida law requires fences to be on your side of the property line — even an inch over can cause legal headaches later.
If there's any doubt, hire a licensed surveyor ($300-500) for peace of mind.
2. Get HOA approval submitted (3-4 weeks before)
Most Marion County HOAs require ARC (Architectural Review Committee) approval before any fence install. We provide all the paperwork, drawings, and product specs you need to submit.
Approvals typically take 2-4 weeks. Don't wait until the install date to start this.
3. Sunshine 811 utility marking (we handle this)
Florida law requires utility lines to be marked before any digging. We schedule Sunshine 811 on your behalf 3-5 business days before install. You'll see colored flags appear in your yard:
- ●Red: Electric
- ●Yellow: Gas
- ●Orange: Communications
- ●Blue: Water
- ●Green: Sewer
Don't pull these flags. Leave them in until install is complete.
4. Plan for pets (the day of)
Dogs and cats are stressed by jobsite noise. Plan to keep them inside or at a friend's house on install day. If your existing fence is being removed, your pets won't have a contained yard until the new fence goes up — usually within hours, but plan for it.
5. Clear the fence line (the day before)
Move anything within 5 feet of the fence line — patio furniture, planters, hose reels, kids' toys. The crew needs space to work and store materials without dragging things across your yard.
6. Make sure we can access the yard
If we need to drive equipment or carry materials through a gate, make sure the gate is at least 36 inches wide and unlocked. If access is limited, mention it in your initial consultation so we plan accordingly.
What to expect on install day
Our lead installer will arrive between 7-9am with the crew and trailer. We'll do a brief walkthrough with you to confirm the fence line, gate placement, and any obstacles. Then the crew gets to work.
Most residential installs in Marion County finish in 1–3 days, depending on project size. Small jobs are often completed in a single day. Larger properties may take 2–3 days. We'll give you a specific timeline when we quote your project.
We don't leave until your yard is clean and you've done the final walkthrough.
Ready to schedule? Get your free quote and we'll walk you through the prep timeline for your specific install. Request your free estimate →
Written by
Andri Ramírez
Founder, Ocala Fence Install
