Is This Fence Quote Fair? What a Good Quote Shows

Is this fence quote fair?

A fair fence quote is one you can check. If it says "6 ft privacy fence, back yard, $X" and nothing else, you cannot compare it with anything, and that is usually the point. Ask for the details and the fair quotes get easy to spot.

Updated October 28, 2026 · Sources listed at the end

A close view of a tall fence made of vertical pine boards

Vertical boards on rails: the most common backyard privacy fence. Photo: Daniel Janzen / Unsplash

What the quote should list

Linear feet and height, with the material grade or style.
Post spacing and depth, and whether posts are set in concrete.
Each gate, with its width and hardware.
Removal and haul-off of the old fence, or a clear note that it is not included.
Who calls 811 and who pulls the permit, if one is needed.
Where the line runs and what it is based on.
The deposit and payment schedule. Any warranty on the work, in writing.

Red flags

A price given without anyone walking the line.
Pressure to sign today for a discount that expires tonight.
A large cash deposit.
"We don't need a permit for that" in a city whose guide says otherwise. Jacksonville Beach, for one, requires a permit to install or replace a fence.
No answer about where the property line is.

The FTC warns that home repair scammers may show up after a storm and pressure you to pay or decide fast.

About "licensed"

Florida has no statewide fence contractor license (section 489.105 does not list the trade), and Jacksonville's Construction Trades Qualifying Board has no fence category. So the useful checks are different: ask for a certificate of liability insurance, ask who pulls the permit, and get the price and layout in writing. If a fence company tells you it holds a state fence license, ask what kind; Florida does not issue one. Some counties license fence contractors locally, so a local card can be real. Check it with whoever issued it.

Compare two quotes

Job	Published range	Source
Typical fence project	$3,000 to $7,000, about $4,500 average	Fixr, Jan 2025
100 linear feet, installed	$1,200 to $3,500	Fixr, Jan 2025
200 linear feet, installed	$2,400 to $7,000	Fixr, Jan 2025
Old fence removal and disposal	$600 to $800 for 100 to 200 ft	Fixr, Jan 2025

Fixr, updated January 2025. National ranges, useful only as a sanity check.

Put the two quotes side by side and line up the posts and gates, then removal. Most of the gap between two honest quotes hides there.

Questions Jacksonville homeowners ask

How much deposit is normal for a fence?

There is no state rule we can point to. Many companies ask for a share up front to order materials. Keep it reasonable, pay by card or check, and get the amount and terms in writing.

Should the fence company pull the permit?

Usually it is easier if they do, since they know the office. Whoever pulls it, get it in writing and keep a copy. A failed inspection is the permit holder's problem to fix.

Can I buy the materials and pay only for labor?

Some fence companies will do labor only and many won't, since they can't stand behind material they didn't choose. If you go that way, get the material list from the installer first so the post count and lengths match the yard.

Two companies told me different rules. Who is right?

Ask each one which code section they mean, then check it with the city or county permit office for your address. A rule you can't find in writing is worth a phone call before it changes your plans.

What warranty should a fence come with?

Materials often carry a manufacturer warranty; the installation warranty is whatever the company offers. Get both in writing and note what voids them.