Knoxville Fence Questions, Answered on Video
Choosing the Right Fence 10
Which fence fits your yard, your budget and East Tennessee weather.
Fence Cost & Buying Guide 7
What a fence actually costs here, and what drives the number up or down.
Permits, Rules & Licensing 12
Height limits, permits, licensing, and how to tell a real contractor from a truck and a trailer.
Residential Fencing by Town 12
Neighborhood-by-neighborhood installs across the ten counties we serve.
Privacy & Wood Fence 5
Wood privacy fence, horizontal styles, staining and upkeep.
Vinyl Fence 4
Low-maintenance vinyl, and how it stacks up against wood.
Aluminum & Chain Link 4
Ornamental aluminum, louver panels, chain link and kennel runs.
Farm, Ranch & Equestrian 7
Four-board, high-tensile and equestrian fencing for acreage.
Commercial & Security 10
Stadiums, utilities, federal facilities, institutional campuses and secure perimeters.
Reviews & Customer Stories 5
What customers say after the crew leaves.
About Loudon County Fence 28
Fifty-plus years, one family, ten counties.
Backyard Living & Seasonal 17
Seasonal notes and the lighter side of the fence business.
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Fence questions, answered
Short video answers to the questions East Tennessee homeowners actually ask before a fence goes in — what it costs, which rules apply to your address, why posts lean in this ground, and how to check a contractor. Filmed by Loudon County Fence, a family fence contractor working Knox County and nine surrounding counties from Lenoir City since 1973, under Tennessee Unlimited Contractor License #54371.
Fence rules in this region are set locally rather than by the State of Tennessee, so the City of Knoxville, the Town of Farragut and unincorporated Knox County each apply different height and permit rules. Each answer below states which one applies.
What does a fence cost in Knoxville?
Installed prices in Knox County run roughly $10 to $40 per linear foot for chain link, $14 to $50 for wood privacy, $19 to $60 for vinyl and $24 to $70 for ornamental aluminum. Labor is about half to sixty percent of the total, which is why the ground matters more than the catalogue: the same 200 feet costs very differently on open ground than on a chert ridge where post holes have to be drilled through rock. That is also why LC Fence will not quote a fence by phone or from satellite imagery.
- How Much Does It Really Cost to Build a Fence?0:31It’s one of the most common questions we hear, and the honest answer is that every property is different.
- Is It Cheaper to Build a Fence or Buy a Fence?0:52Thinking about installing a fence around your property in Knoxville or the surrounding East Tennessee area?
- What Is the Most Affordable Fence Option?0:30Looking for an affordable way to secure your property? For many homeowners and businesses, chain link fencing is one of the most cost-effective fencing solutions available.
How tall can a fence be, and do I need a permit?
It depends which side of a line your parcel sits on, and the three jurisdictions here genuinely differ. In the City of Knoxville, Article 10 section 10.3.L limits a privacy fence to 42 inches from five feet behind the front building line forward, and in the corner side yard — with no height limit at all in the side and rear yards. Unincorporated Knox County requires no building permit for a fence at any height; its front-yard test is anything that materially impedes vision above three and a half feet. Farragut exempts fences up to seven feet. A homeowners association can be stricter than all three, and in Tennessee it can place a lien over a covenant violation.
- How Tall Can a Fence Be in Knoxville TN?0:44Thinking about installing a fence in Knoxville? Before you decide how tall your fence should be, there are a few important things to check first.
- Do I Need a Permit for a Fence in Knoxville, TN?0:30Thinking about installing a new fence in Knoxville or East Tennessee?
- Can You Put a Fence on a Property Line in Tennessee?0:36Can you put a fence directly on your property line in Tennessee? In this quick video, we explain what Tennessee homeowners should know before installing a fence on or near a property line.
Why do fences lean here, and what stops it?
Knox County sits on carbonate bedrock with chert running through the residuum, so depth to rock changes dramatically across a single property — LC Fence has augered easily at five feet and hit refusal at fourteen inches fifty feet away. The soils above it are clay-rich: they hold water against a post, then shrink and swell with the seasons until the post works loose. What actually decides whether a run stays plumb is hole diameter and depth, a footing that sheds water rather than forming a bathtub, and bracing corner and gate posts to a different standard than line posts. Posts go a minimum of 24 inches deep across Knox County, deeper on slope.
- Why Do Fence Posts Lean?0:34Why do fence posts lean? In East Tennessee, the answer can have a lot to do with what happens below the ground.
- Why Some Fences Fail (And Others Last)0:35Most fences don’t fail because of age — they fail because of how they were installed. Improper post depth, poor alignment, and failing to account for terrain can lead to leaning, sagging, and long-term structural issues.
- How Long Does a Fence Really Last in East Tennessee?0:39How long should a fence last in East Tennessee’s climate? The answer depends on the material, the weather, and how it’s installed.
Which fence material is right for this climate?
Ranked on service life in East Tennessee humidity: ornamental aluminum effectively does not rot or rust and outlasts everything; vinyl is next and needs no refinishing; chain link is extremely durable when galvanized or vinyl-coated; wood is the shortest-lived, because summers here combine heat, humidity and insects. Wood is still the right answer when you want privacy and warmth — it just needs sealing to reach its full life. Containment, screening or boundary marking usually decides the budget before material does.
- Choosing the Right Fence for Your Home0:35Looking for a fence in Knoxville, Tennessee? The right fence depends on your property, your goals, and how you plan to use your outdoor space.
- Wood Fence vs Vinyl Fence: Which Is Better?0:27Trying to decide between a wood fence and a vinyl fence? Both options offer unique advantages, and the best choice depends on your budget, maintenance preferences, aesthetic goals, and long-term plans for your property.
- Is Aluminum Fencing Worth It?0:30Is aluminum fencing worth the investment? In this video, Loudon County Fence explains why aluminum fencing has become one of the most popular choices for homeowners throughout East Tennessee.
- What Is the Best Fence for Privacy?0:30Looking for the best fence for privacy? Privacy fencing is one of the most popular home improvement projects for homeowners who want to create a more secluded, secure, and enjoyable outdoor living space.
- What Is a Puppy Picket Fence?0:36Looking for the best fence for a puppy or small dog? A puppy picket fence can be a great solution when standard fence openings are too large for smaller dogs.
- Best Fence for a Lakefront Property in East Tennessee0:32What’s the best fence for a lakefront or lake-view property in East Tennessee? There isn’t one answer.
When can a fence go in, and how long does it take?
Fence work runs year round in East Tennessee. Spring books up fastest, so cooler months often mean shorter waits and more flexible scheduling. Once a job is scheduled, most residential fences go up in one to three days. Add about three business days before that for the Tennessee 811 utility locate — post holes count as excavation under state law, and private lines such as irrigation, invisible dog fence and power to a shed are never marked.
- Can You Install a Fence in Fall or Winter in Knoxville?0:30Can you install a fence in the fall or winter in Knoxville, Tennessee? In many cases, yes — but weather, ground conditions, and property access can all affect your fence installation project.
- What Time of Year Is Best to Install a Fence?0:30What time of year is best to install a fence? Many homeowners assume they have to wait until spring, but the truth is that fence installation can happen year-round throughout East Tennessee.
- How Long Does Fence Installation Take?0:30How long does fence installation take? It’s one of the most common questions homeowners ask before starting a new fence project.
- Winter Is the Smart Time to Build a Fence0:36Most people assume fence projects start in spring, but winter is often the best time to build. Cooler weather means fewer delays, faster installs, and more flexibility in scheduling.
How do I check a fence contractor before signing?
Tennessee licenses contractors by dollar limit, and most fence companies in the state cannot legally bid the larger jobs. LC Fence holds a Tennessee Unlimited Contractor License, number 54371, which carries no monetary cap on project size, and runs $5 million in general liability with $6 million in aggregate bonding capacity. The state’s license lookup is public, so verify the license, the bonding and the insurance on any contractor you are considering — before money changes hands, not after.
- Unlimited Contractor License Explained0:34Did you know that most fence companies in Tennessee can’t legally bid on the jobs we do every day?
- Not Every Fence Company Is Licensed, and That Matters1:00Always check your contractor’s license before hiring anyone to build your fence, deck, or any major home project.
- “He Said He Could Do It Cheaper…”0:28We’ve all heard it before… “I found a guy on Facebook. He said he could do it cheaper.” At first, it looks fine.
What does a fence actually do for the property?
Beyond the boundary, the three things homeowners here ask about most are value, noise and upkeep. A fence can lift curb appeal and resale, though how much depends on material and condition. Noise reduction is real but depends on mass and gaps — a solid privacy panel does far more than a picket. And upkeep is almost entirely a wood question: sealing a wood fence is what separates a fence that lasts from one that greys and cups.
- Does a Fence Increase Property Value?0:36Can a fence increase your home’s value? In many cases, the answer is yes.
- Does a Fence Help Reduce Noise?0:30Does a fence help reduce noise? The answer is yes, but the type of fence you choose makes a big difference.
- Summer Is the Perfect Time to Stain Your Fence0:30If you’ve been thinking about staining or sealing your wood fence, now is the perfect time to do it.
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Fence installation across Knoxville and East Tennessee
Licensed since 1973 and working out of Lenoir City. Pick your area, your job, or read up on the rules before you build.
Knoxville & Knox County
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Before you build
- What a fence costs in Knox County
- Which fence is right for you?
- Does my HOA have to approve it?
- What counts as a lawful fence?
- Wood vs vinyl
- Aluminum vs vinyl
- Height & permit rules by city
- Knox County fence rules
- Who pays for a shared fence?
- Rock, clay & post depth
- Storm damage & insurance
- All 31 fence answers
