Residential Fence Installation in Tallahassee
Rain is the first thing a Tallahassee fence has to survive. The city averages 58.8 inches of rain a year, with June through August the wettest stretch, so posts sit in damp ground for months at a time. Termites come next. So the posts, which you never look at, matter here about as much as the boards you do.
Wood Privacy Fences: Pressure-Treated Pine and Cedar
Pressure-treated pine and cedar are the two common wood choices for a privacy fence. Both usually go up 6 feet tall in dog-ear, board-on-board or shadowbox styles. Posts should be treated for ground contact (the UC4A rating), because untreated pine can be done in five to ten years. Typical installed prices from national guides:
- Wood fences overall: $20 to $50 per linear foot, or $4,000 to $10,000 for an average project
- Cedar privacy: $35 to $40 per linear foot
- Upkeep: reseal treated pine every one to two years
Formosan subterranean termites live across Florida's cities. Find out what the posts and bottom rail are treated with before you sign.
Vinyl Privacy Fences
Vinyl (PVC) panels don't rot, and cost guides rate vinyl well for humid climates. A wash with a hose and mild soap clears the green film that shows up on shaded runs. Guides list vinyl at $30 to $60 per linear foot, or $40 to $85 for full privacy, and 20 to 30 years of life. Solid vinyl panels catch wind, so ask about aluminum stiffeners in the posts and the bottom rail.
Aluminum Fences
Black powder-coated aluminum looks like wrought iron and won't rust, even in Tallahassee's summer humidity. It's a popular choice around pools, and cost guides say it fits uneven or sloped yards. Expect $25 to $75 per linear foot installed and 30 to 50 years of life. A 200-foot run typically lands between $5,000 and $15,000.
Wrought Iron and Ornamental Steel Fences
True wrought iron is rare now. Most "iron" fences are welded steel, galvanized and powder-coated, with spear finials, scrolls or brick columns. Steel is stronger than aluminum and heavier on the posts. Guides list it at $50 to $85 per linear foot, and a well-kept iron fence can last 50 years or more. Plan on touching up scratches before the rust starts.
Chain Link Fences
Chain link gets more Tallahassee searches than any other fence type, and it's one of the least expensive to install, at about $10 to $40 per linear foot. Galvanized mesh is the budget pick. Black vinyl-coated mesh costs more but blends into a yard. It's quick to build, at 6 to 10 hours per 100 feet, and it lets wind through. Privacy slats can be woven in later. Some installers raise an existing chain link fence with taller posts or extension arms, so ask whether yours is a candidate.
Pool Fences
Florida's pool barrier law asks for a fence at least 4 feet high on the outside, with gates that open away from the pool and close and latch by themselves. A new pool can't pass final inspection without a barrier or one of the other approved safety features. Pool fences run about $10 to $45 per linear foot, and aluminum is the usual choice. Removable mesh is another option.
See pool fences in Tallahassee for the full barrier rules.
Driveway Gates and Automatic Gate Openers
Driveway gates swing or slide, and either can be automated later if the posts are sized for it. Guides put a manual driveway gate at $1,000 to $6,000. An automatic gate lands between $1,600 and $13,000, with most around $7,000. A walk gate is far cheaper, often $50 to $400 installed.
Farm, Ranch and Horse Fencing
Larger lots on the edge of town call for board fence, split rail or woven wire rather than privacy panels. Split rail runs about $15 to $35 per linear foot, or $35 to $40 with wire mesh on the inside to keep dogs in. Three- and four-board fences on treated posts are the classic horse fence. For horses that lean, woven no-climb wire is worth pricing.
See farm and ranch fencing for acreage, horse fencing for paddocks, or split rail fences for a lighter rustic line.
Picket Fences
Picket fences mark a front yard without walling it off. Treated pine pickets run about $22 to $45 per linear foot. Cedar pickets cost around $25 to $35, and vinyl pickets skip the painting. An arbor over the walk gate dresses up the entry. Check HOA rules on front-yard height before you choose.
See picket fences in Tallahassee, or garden and deer fences if the goal is keeping animals out of beds.
Horizontal Slat, Modern and Composite Fences
Horizontal boards with tight, even gaps give a modern backyard a clean line. One way to build it is stained pine or cedar boards on steel posts. Aluminum slat panels and composite boards cost more but don't warp or rot. Composite runs about $20 to $85 per linear foot and lasts 25 to 30 years, and it resists pests.
See horizontal fences for slat designs and composite fences for low-upkeep boards.
Commercial Fencing in Tallahassee
Send commercial requests the same way. The city requires a 6-foot buffer fence in some non-residential districts next to incompatible uses, and not every fence contractor takes every commercial job below, so describe the site in the form.
HOAs, Apartment Communities and Property Managers
Perimeter fence, pool enclosures, dumpster screens and entry gates. Check what the community's declaration says about fence review before ordering.
Retail, Office and Storefront Security
Ornamental steel or aluminum out front and access-control gates for after-hours parking and loading areas.
See commercial fencing.
Industrial, Utility and Solar Sites
Tall galvanized chain link with barbed-wire arms and cantilever slide gates. A summary of the city code we read says barbed and razor wire aren't allowed in residential zones, so confirm the zoning first.
See security fencing.
Schools, Churches, Parks and Sports Fields
Ballfield fence, backstops, playground enclosures and pedestrian gates sized for crowds.
Construction Sites: Temporary Fence
Free-standing panels on stands, privacy screen and short-term rental to secure a site for the length of a build.
See temporary fence.
Fence Repair and Replacement in Tallahassee
"Who repairs fences in Tallahassee?" shows up among the local Facebook group posts in Google's results for fence repair here. Repair requests go through the same form as new builds.
Fence Repair: Leaning Posts, Broken Boards, Sagging Gates
A leaning section usually points to a rotted or loose post, and resetting it in fresh concrete is the common fix. Minor repairs often run $100 to $300 and typical repairs $300 to $900 in national guides.
Storm and Hurricane Damage Fence Repair
Helene's 2024 gusts reached 67 mph at Tallahassee's airport. Photograph the damage before anything is cleared, for your insurer.
Fence Replacement and Old Fence Removal
Tearing out and hauling away an old fence adds about $10 to $20 per linear foot. Replacement as a whole runs about $30 to $80 per foot.
Gate Repair and Gate Opener Service
Sagging gates, failed hinges, latches that won't catch and openers that stall. Pool gates that no longer self-close should be fixed first.
Fence Staining and Sealing
New pine needs to dry before it takes stain. After that, plan on resealing every one to two years.
Dog and Pet Fences
Dig guards along the bottom, puppy panels on picket fences and latches a nose can't lift. Tell us the dog's size when you call.
Get a free fencing estimate in Tallahassee
- The call and the form are free
- Your request goes to one contractor, not a list of bidders
- Ask for posts, gates, removal and cleanup priced line by line
- Hold the final payment until the gates swing and latch
How a Fence Project Works
STEP 01
Call or send the form
Give the rough length, the material you're leaning toward, gate count and widths, and whether an old fence comes out. A photo of the line helps.
STEP 02
Site visit and written quote
Ask the contractor to walk the line, look at slopes, trees and drainage, and price posts, panels, gates, removal and cleanup line by line.
STEP 03
Survey, HOA approval and the 811 locate
Confirm where your property line is (a survey costs about $200 to $1,200), get HOA sign-off if you have one, and call Sunshine 811 at least two full business days before any digging. The locate is free.
STEP 04
Posts, then panels
Posts go in first. Concrete cures for one to four days unless fast-set mix is used, then rails, boards or panels and gates follow. Most yard fences are finished in two to four days.
STEP 05
Walk-through and final payment
Check that gates swing and latch, the line is straight and the yard is cleaned up. Pay the last installment after that, and ask for lien releases from any supplier that sent you a Notice to Owner.
Fence Cost in Tallahassee
These are national installed ranges from cost guides, not quotes. A measured price from someone who has walked your line replaces them.
| Fence type | Per linear foot installed | Typical project |
|---|---|---|
| Chain link | $10-$40 | $1,500-$6,000 for 150 ft |
| Wood (all species) | $20-$50 | $4,000-$10,000 average |
| Vinyl | $30-$60 | $6,000-$12,000 for 200 ft |
| Aluminum | $25-$75 | $5,000-$15,000 for 200 ft |
| Wrought iron / ornamental steel | $50-$85 | $10,000-$17,000 average |
| Split rail | $15-$35 | $3,000-$7,000 |
| Pool fence | $10-$45 | $2,000-$13,500 |
| Old fence removal | $10-$20 | $600-$800 for 100-200 ft |
Gates, tear-out of an old fence and a survey are priced on top of the per-foot figure, so list them when you ask for a quote.
Things to Know Before Building a Fence in Tallahassee
City or county
Inside city limits, the City of Tallahassee's Growth Management office sets the rules. In unincorporated Leon County, the county does.Permits
The city's permit page lists two fence cases that need one: masonry fences with a footer over 2 feet, and other fences over 10 feet.Canopy roads
Land within 100 feet of the centerline of a protected canopy road, such as Meridian, Miccosukee or Old Bainbridge, is protected, so check with Growth Management before posts go in there.HOA approval
Florida law bars an HOA from requiring a building permit before it reviews your fence request. Its own approval is still separate.Property line
Build on your side of the line. A survey settles doubt before the posts are in concrete.Sunshine 811
The homeowner exemption covers digging only to 10 inches, and post holes go deeper, so call before any fence job.Lien law
Residential contracts over $2,500 must include Florida's Construction Lien Law notice.
Fence Installation Service Area
Tallahassee Expert Fencing takes fence and gate requests from homeowners, HOAs and businesses across Tallahassee. Inside city limits, the city's rules apply. Just outside, Leon County's do. If you're not sure which side of the line you're on, ask the city's Growth Management office at 850-891-7001.