Fencing installation is setting fence posts into the ground, usually in concrete, and fixing panels or boards between them to mark a boundary, add privacy or keep children and pets in, with gates fitted where access is needed.
In Hertfordshire, we price new fencing and gates against our guide for the East of England, £1,250–£3,200 including VAT, then adjust it once we have surveyed your home. We work across Watford, Hemel Hempstead, Stevenage and St Albans and the rest of the county or region. Planning and building control requirements follow the rules for England, and we look into your property's position before a written quote is sent.
- Guide price
- £1,250–£3,200 inc VAT
- Time on site
- 1–3 days for a typical garden
- Planning rules
- England
- Price level
- About 5% above the national guide
- Towns listed
- 19
- Survey
- Free, with a written quote
How much do new fencing and gates cost in Hertfordshire?
These are guide costs, not quotes. For new fencing and gates in Hertfordshire the range is £1,250–£3,200, VAT included, reflecting prices in the East of England that are about 5% above the national guide. Once we have visited for a free survey, you get a firm figure for the scope you approve.
| Type of job | What it usually involves | Guide in Hertfordshire |
|---|---|---|
| Repairs or a short run | Replacing a few panels and posts, or a short run of up to about 6m. | £300–£950 |
| Typical garden boundary | About 20m of panel or closeboard fencing with concrete posts and gravel boards. | £1,250–£3,200 |
| Composite or long runs with gates | Composite or premium fencing, longer runs, or a driveway gate. | £3,200–£7,400 |
The main things that change the figure:
- Total length and height of fencing
- Fence style and material: panels, closeboard or composite
- Ground conditions, slopes and removal of the old fence
- Number, size and type of gates
What do you get?
- Measured survey of each fence run, levels and slopes
- Removal and disposal of the old fence and posts
- Concrete or timber posts set in concrete
- Panels or boards fixed level or stepped to follow the ground
- Post caps and capping rails where specified
- Site cleared and waste removed
Housing across Hertfordshire
Hertfordshire is home to the first garden cities, Letchworth and Welwyn Garden City, and the post-war new towns of Stevenage, Hatfield and Hemel Hempstead. Watford and St Albans have Victorian terraces and Georgian streets, interwar semis line the commuter suburbs, and brick-and-flint cottages appear in Chiltern villages to the west.
New-town and garden-city homes often suit extensions, window replacement and roofline renewal, though some garden-city estates have their own design guidance. Victorian terraces commonly take loft rooms and side-return extensions.
Generally dry with chalk and clay soils; clay areas can move in long dry spells, and mature trees near houses need considering for foundations.
Planning and building rules in Hertfordshire
Homes in Hertfordshire come under the regulations for England, summarised below. We don't rely on general rules alone: we confirm the position for your address with the council before a quote goes out.
In England, fences, walls and gates up to 2 m high are usually permitted development, or up to 1 m where they are next to a road used by vehicles or its footpath. Listed buildings, conservation areas and estates with planning conditions can be stricter.
Building Regulations do not apply to ordinary garden fences, but boundary lines should be agreed with your neighbour first.
Rules change and every property is different, so we check the planning history and constraints for your address before we quote.
The four stages
Survey and measure
It starts with a survey at the property, free of charge. We check condition, access and services, ask how you want the finished result to look, and answer any questions you have about new fencing and gates.
Price and scope agreed
We turn the survey notes into a written quote. The price is fixed for the specification we agree, and the document sets out materials, scope and payment stages in plain language.
Plan and prepare
Next comes planning the work itself. We set a start date that suits you, line up the right trades, and make sure any approvals for new fencing and gates are in place before the first day on site.
On site to finish
The work is carried out to the agreed specification, with floors and furniture protected and the site kept tidy. At the end we clean up, walk through the finished job with you and hand over any certificates.
What you can expect from us
Questions about new fencing and gates in Hertfordshire
Do I need planning permission in Hertfordshire?
It depends on the work, the size of the project, your property type and whether the building is listed or in a conservation area. Hertfordshire is in England, so England's rules apply. Many smaller jobs need no planning application, but some still need building control approval. We check what applies to your address before quoting.
How do you fence a sloping garden?
On a sloping garden, fence panels are usually stepped, so each panel is level and set slightly higher or lower than the one before, with the gap below filled by a gravel board. Closeboard fences can instead follow the slope, giving a smooth top line. The choice depends on how steep the slope is and the look you want. We discuss both at the survey.
Who owns the fence between me and my neighbour?
Fence ownership is usually shown on the title plan or deeds, sometimes with a T mark on the side of the owner. If it is unclear, it may be shared. Even on your own boundary, it is sensible to talk to neighbours before replacing a fence, agree access and confirm the line. We fit the fence on the line you confirm and can face the good side outwards if you wish.
Can I stay at home during the work?
In most cases, yes. Most people can live at home throughout, and we plan the work to keep disruption down by protecting floors, agreeing working hours and keeping access routes clear. Bigger jobs affecting kitchens, bathrooms or heating may mean a short spell with reduced facilities, and we talk this through with you at the survey.
How do I make my fence last longer?
A fence lasts longer when timber is kept off the soil and protected from moisture. Gravel boards beneath the panels, concrete posts and keeping plants and soil away from the fence all help. Treat timber with a preservative or stain every few years, and replace damaged boards promptly. Composite fencing needs only occasional washing.
Towns in Hertfordshire
We offer new fencing and gates in each of the towns below, all within Hertfordshire. Select yours for guide prices, postcodes covered and nearby places.