How long does a new fence take in Durham?

For an ordinary fence with no historic district, HOA or pool review, Durham's paperwork is short: no permit, and a legal wait of three working days for the 811 notice. Here is each step, with the times the sources give.

1. Check the rules for your lot. Height, sight triangles and easements are on the rules page. In a local historic district, staff review a minor Certificate of Appropriateness within 10 business days. If staff send it to the Historic Preservation Commission, it follows the monthly meeting calendar, with deadlines set about two months ahead (Durham COA).
2. Find the property line. If you are not sure where it runs, a survey can take up to a week to schedule and complete (Angi timelines).
3. Get quotes. North Carolina's Attorney General advises getting at least three written estimates (NC Attorney General).
4. Get HOA approval, if you have an HOA. Your community's declaration sets the process (G.S. 47F), so ask the association how long its review takes.
5. Pool barrier permit, if the fence surrounds a pool. Durham reviews these in the order received (Durham pool checklist) and does not publish a review time.
6. The 811 notice. The contractor must notify NC 811 at least three full working days before digging (G.S. 87, Art. 8A). Utilities then have three full working days, not counting the day of notice, to mark their lines (NC811).
7. Installation. Most crews finish a standard yard in two to four days, and a small yard can take one (Angi timelines). Wood and vinyl fences can go up in one to two days, while some metal fences take three to four (Fixr).
8. Concrete. Fast-setting post concrete sets in 20 to 40 minutes and can take heavy loads after 4 hours, longer below 72 degrees (Quikrete). Regular concrete needs one to four days to cure (HomeGuide).

Crew time per 100 feet

When to book

Winter is the slow season for fence contractors, and Angi says they are more likely to offer a discount of 10% to 25% then (Angi). Material delivery times vary by product and supplier, so ask each contractor when they can start and how long the materials take to arrive.