Ask for three things in writing: the contractor's California licence number, proof of insurance and an itemized estimate. The licence takes a minute to check on the Contractors State License Board website, cslb.ca.gov.
Modesto Fence Company is licensed and insured. Ask for the licence number and the insurance certificate when you get your estimate.
What should I ask a fence contractor before hiring?
- What is your CSLB licence number, and what class is it?
- Does my fence need a permit or HOA approval, and who handles it?
- Who contacts USA North 811?
- How deep will the posts go, and what happens if you hit hardpan?
- What wood species and grade, or which vinyl or metal product, and what size posts?
- Is removing and hauling the old fence in the price?
- How many gates, how wide, and what hardware?
- What is the start date and how many working days?
- How will you protect my sprinklers and drip lines?
How do I check that a contractor is licensed and insured?
Look them up with Check a License on cslb.ca.gov. California requires a contractor licence for work of $1,000 or more in combined labor and materials. The CSLB says that threshold rose from $500 on January 1, 2025, and that the small-job exemption is lost if the work needs a building permit or the person hires workers. Fence work falls under the C-13 Fencing class. The licence record shows the bond and the workers' compensation status. Liability insurance is separate, so ask for a certificate issued by the insurer.
What should a fence estimate include?
Total footage, height, the material and grade, post size and depth, every gate and its width, removal of the old fence, any permit, cleanup, the payment schedule and a start date. If two estimates differ by a lot, one of them is missing a line the other has. The CSLB says a written contract is required in California for home improvement projects over $500.
Should I get three quotes?
Yes, for a full fence. Three written bids tell you the local going rate and show which contractor actually measured. Compare what is included before comparing totals.
What deposit is normal?
California sets the limit. The CSLB states that a down payment on a home improvement contract cannot be more than $1,000 or 10 percent of the contract price, whichever is less. After the down payment, what you pay cannot get ahead of the value of the work done. Use a check or a card and keep every receipt.
The cheapest quote wants half up front and will not show insurance. Is that a problem?
Yes. Half up front is far above the legal down payment limit for a home improvement job in California. Refusing to show insurance on top of that points to someone working without a licence. If their worker is injured or your property is damaged, the cost can land on you. Check the name on cslb.ca.gov before going any further.
I paid a deposit and the contractor stopped showing up. What can I do?
Send a dated written request for a firm schedule. If you get no answer, file a complaint with the Contractors State License Board, the state agency that licenses and disciplines contractors. Keep the contract, your payment records and every text and email.
The crew cut my internet line or sprinkler pipe. Who pays?
That depends on whether the line was marked and on the contract. A USA North 811 request covers lines owned by the utilities. Sprinkler and drip lines, pool plumbing and yard lighting belong to the owner and are not marked. Point them out before work begins and have the estimate say how unmarked private lines are handled. Sprinkler pipe along a fence line is the most common casualty in valley yards.
My HOA approved the fence in writing and now wants it moved. What now?
Keep the written approval safe and leave the fence where it is for now. This is a dispute between you and the association, not a construction defect. A lawyer who handles California homeowner association matters can tell you where you stand.
Can I install a fence myself?
Yes. A short, straight fence on open ground is a reasonable project for a handy owner. The hard parts here are hardpan, which defeats a hand post-hole digger quickly, and gates, which need deep, plumb posts. You still have to contact USA North 811 before you dig and follow the height rules for your city or the county.
We can only give a real number after seeing the fence line. The estimate is free. Call (209) 231-7679 or text us a photo of the yard.