How do I prepare my yard for fence installation in Metro Vancouver?

Proper yard preparation before your fence contractor arrives can save you money, prevent delays, and ensure the installation goes smoothly. While your fence crew will handle the heavy construction work, there are several things you should take care of in advance — and a few critical steps that are legally required in BC.

Call BC One Call (1-800-474-6886) for a free utility locate at least one week before your installation date. This is not optional — it's legally required in BC before any excavation, including fence post holes. BC One Call coordinates with BC Hydro, FortisBC, Telus, Shaw, and municipal water and sewer departments to mark the location of buried utilities on your property with paint or flags. Hitting a buried gas line with a post-hole auger is extremely dangerous, and striking an electrical cable or water main creates costly damage and potential injury. The service is free and typically completed within 5 business days. Your fence contractor should confirm that utility locates have been done before starting work — if they don't ask, that's a red flag.

Confirm your property boundaries before the fence goes in. If you don't have a recent survey showing the exact property lines, consider hiring a BC Land Surveyor ($500 to $2,000 depending on lot complexity) or at minimum locate your existing survey pins. Many Metro Vancouver properties have iron survey pins at the corners, buried a few inches below grade — a metal detector can help find them. Building a fence even a few inches over the property line onto your neighbour's land creates legal liability and may require removal at your expense. For a fence costing $10,000 or more, a $1,000 survey is cheap insurance.

Talk to your neighbours before installation begins. If the fence is on or near the shared property line, give your neighbours advance notice of the project, the start date, and the expected duration. Discuss which side of the fence will face their property — a good neighbour fence puts the finished side facing out. If you're replacing a shared fence, discuss cost-sharing under BC's Property Law Act. This conversation prevents misunderstandings and disputes that can escalate quickly once construction starts.

Clear the fence line of obstacles. Remove or relocate anything within 3 to 4 feet on both sides of where the fence will be installed. This includes garden beds, planters, decorative rocks, patio furniture, stored materials, compost bins, children's play equipment, and any other items that would block access. Your fence crew needs clear access along the entire fence line to operate efficiently — a post-hole auger, wheelbarrow, and lumber need room to manoeuvre. The wider the clear zone, the faster and more efficiently your crew can work.

Trim back trees, shrubs, and overhanging branches along the fence line. Vegetation pressing against a new fence traps moisture (a major concern in Metro Vancouver's wet climate), creates staining, and can physically push fence panels out of alignment as it grows. Cut back any branches to at least 12 inches from the fence line. If major tree pruning is needed, handle it before the fence crew arrives — fence installers are not arborists and won't trim your trees.

Address drainage issues before the fence goes in. If you know that water pools along the planned fence line during Metro Vancouver's rainy season (October through March), mention this to your contractor during the quoting process. They may recommend gravel drainage beds, adjusted post depth, or a raised bottom rail to keep fence boards above standing water. Fixing a drainage problem after the fence is built is far more difficult and expensive.

Mark any underground features that might not show up on utility locates — irrigation lines, landscape lighting wiring, French drains, septic components (rare in Metro Vancouver but present in some older areas of Delta, Langley, and Maple Ridge), and any DIY underground installations. Paint or flag these so your fence crew knows to avoid them.

Ensure vehicle access for material delivery if possible. A standard fence project requires hundreds of pounds of lumber, concrete bags, and hardware. If your fence crew can back a truck close to the work area, it saves hours of manual carrying and reduces labour costs. Clear the driveway and any access paths on installation day. For rear-yard fences on narrow Vancouver lots where vehicle access is impossible, discuss the access plan with your contractor during quoting — manual carrying adds 10 to 25% to labour costs.

Secure your pets on installation day and until the fence is fully complete and all gates are hung and latched. An incomplete fence line with open sections is a major escape risk for dogs. Make arrangements to keep pets indoors or at a friend's house during the installation period.

Good preparation makes the difference between a smooth 2 to 3 day installation and a frustrating project with delays. Vancouver Fence Builders can match you with professional fence contractors who will guide you through the preparation process during the quoting stage.

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