sINCE 1994
FAMILY OWNED
4.8 stars
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12,000+
Fences Installed
BBB A+ RATED
Why Richmond Homeowners Still Choose Wood
There is a reason neighborhoods like the Fan District and Church Hill still run almost entirely on wood. The look is warm, the style is classic, and the level of on-site customization is something vinyl and aluminum simply cannot match. For a Richmond home built before 1950 — or a new build that wants to read that way — wood is often the only material that fits.
Wood does require periodic maintenance, and we are direct about that with every customer. A properly installed wood fence in Richmond will not run 30 years untouched the way a quality vinyl fence will, but for the right property and the right homeowner, it remains the right call. Hurricane Fence has been installing wood fences across Richmond since 1994, and our 2025 Richmond crews completed 1,392 residential projects across the city and surrounding counties.
Wood Fence Styles for Richmond Homeowners
We build wood fencing in cedar and pressure-treated pine, and in the styles Richmond yards and HOAs actually request. Every job is built to your property line and your grade, rather than being dropped in as prefabricated panels.
Board-on-Board Privacy
Board-on-board is the most-installed privacy style we build in Richmond. Overlapping pickets eliminate any sightline gap between boards, and the panel reads as a clean, solid line from either side of the fence.
Shadowbox Privacy
Shadowbox uses alternating pickets on opposite sides of the rail, which gives you a finished face on both your side and your neighbor’s side. It is the style most often approved when an HOA requires the “good side out” for both adjoining lots, and it allows some airflow through the panel.
Classic Picket Fence
The classic picket is the right call for front yards in the Fan, Church Hill, and Museum District, where a 4-foot picket reads as historically consistent with the neighborhood. We build pickets in cedar for the look, and use Ground Contact pressure-treated posts in the ground.
Lattice-Top Privacy Panels
Lattice-top adds a finished decorative edge to a 6-foot privacy panel without giving up any meaningful privacy. It is a popular choice in Glen Allen and Midlothian backyards where the fence is visible from a patio or deck.
Split Rail and Ranch Rail
For larger Mechanicsville, Ashland, and Hanover County lots where the fence is defining property rather than blocking sightlines, we install split-rail and ranch-rail wood fencing in cedar rounds or sawn rail. These styles read as estate fencing rather than perimeter privacy.
Decorative Variations and Custom Gates
We build flat-top privacy with beveled post caps, alternating-height picket patterns, horizontal slat panels, basket-weave designs, and matching custom gates for any style we install. If you have a specific look in mind, our salesperson will walk you through it on the property.
Cedar, Pressure-Treated Pine, and the Details That Decide Whether a Wood Fence Lasts
Three things determine how long a wood fence holds up in Richmond’s climate: the species of the pickets, the treatment level of the posts, and the fasteners that hold the whole assembly together. We pay close attention to all three on every project.
Species: Cedar vs. Pressure-Treated Pine
Cedar is the higher-end choice. It contains natural oils that resist rot, warping, and insect damage, and it holds its appearance with less attention than pine. Pressure-treated pine is the budget-friendly option and performs well in Richmond when properly maintained, though it generally requires more frequent staining and tends to warp or crack faster than cedar in a humid climate.
Posts: Ground Contact Pressure-Treated
Every wood post we set goes into the ground at Ground Contact treatment level (AWPA UC4A or UC4B), regardless of whether the pickets above it are cedar or pine. Standard above-ground treatment in a buried post will rot at the soil line within a few years in Richmond’s wet clay, so the Ground Contact spec is non-negotiable on our jobs.
Fasteners: Hot-Dipped Galvanized, Ring-Shank
Every nail we drive is hot-dip galvanized and ring-shank-rated to ASTM A153 — the industry standard for fasteners exposed to weather. Ring-shank nails grip the wood roughly 40 percent better than smooth-shank under lateral and thermal stress, which matters a lot when Richmond runs through 20 to 30 freeze-thaw cycles every winter. Pickets fastened with cheap smooth-shank nails are the ones you see working loose by year five.
How We Install Wood Fences in Richmond
01
The Walkthrough Comes First
Every project starts before any equipment is on the property. Our team walks your lot with you, confirms the fence line, identifies any grade changes, and works through the style and material details in person.
02
The Miss Utility Call
Before any digging starts, we place the Miss Utility call through Virginia 811. Virginia law requires 3 business days’ notice before ground penetration. We handle this on every single project.
03
Post Setting and the Curing Gap
Posts go 30–36 inches deep on every wood fence job, well below Richmond’s 15–20 inch frost line. We set them in concrete before the fence panels are attached. Then we wait 5–10 business days between post setting and fence installation.
04
Typical timeline
1–3 weeks from estimate to installation start. Concrete curing adds 5–10 business days before panels are attached.
Permits and HOA Rules for Wood Fences in Richmond
StWood is the historic material of Richmond’s older neighborhoods, so for many wood-fence customers the most important regulatory step is not the building permit — it is the Certificate of Appropriateness from the Commission of Architectural Review, which is required on any property inside a city historic district.
Outside the historic districts, the rules are simpler: no building permit for a standard residential wood fence, with height limits enforced by Richmond Zoning Administration and pool-barrier permits issued by Richmond Permits and Inspections. The summary is below, with the official references at the end of the section.
Standard residential fencing: no building permit required
- Pool barriers: building permit required regardless of fence material (we pull it for you)
- Front yard maximum height: 4 feet, with the R-1 single-family district as the main exception
- Rear and side yard maximum height: 6.5 feet, with posts, columns, and gates allowed up to 8 feet
- Setback: Hurricane builds 4 to 6 inches inside your property line by default to leave a clean maintenance gap.
For the historic districts
For the historic districts including Church Hill, the Fan District, and the Museum District,, a Certificate of Appropriateness from the Commission of Architectural Review is required before installation. Wood is the historically consistent material in these neighborhoods, which generally makes approval achievable. You can learn more at the City of Richmond Commission of Architectural Review page.
For the historic districts
Many Henrico and Chesterfield HOAs restrict wood privacy fences to rear yards only, and shadowbox is frequently the preferred privacy style because it presents a finished face to both lots. We prepare the HOA submission packet and handle the filing on your behalf.
Get a Free In-Person Estimate
Choosing the right fence often comes down to balancing privacy, appearance, HOA requirements, and long-term maintenance. During your estimate, we walk the property with you, discuss material options, evaluate layout and grading conditions, and explain what makes the most sense for your neighborhood and goals.
We come to you. Written quote on the spot.
Across Hampton Roads
Areas We Serve
Chesterfield: Wood fence installation runs into the area’s heaviest clay soils; our bell-bottom footing standard was specifically developed for conditions like this
Henrico: From older neighborhoods near the city line to newer subdivisions in the western county
Midlothian: Active HOA communities often have specific fence style and setback rules
Glen Allen: Newer development with more structured HOA requirements alongside larger lots
Mechanicsville: Mix of established neighborhoods and rural lots; split rail and spaced picket styles are common
Colonial Heights: South of the river; local ordinances apply
Petersburg: Older housing stock; classic wood styles suit the neighborhoods
Ashland: Hanover County jurisdiction; no CAR review in most neighborhoods
Hopewell: Smaller lots and city jurisdiction
Post-winter inspection (every March). After Richmond’s freeze-thaw season, walk the fence line and push lightly on each post. Look for soft spots at the grade line.
Spring staining check. If your wood fence was last stained more than two years ago, spring is the right time to assess it before summer’s humidity sets in.
Staining and sealing (every 2–3 years). Power wash first. Wait for a window when relative humidity is below 70%. Late spring and early fall are the best windows.
Clay drainage check. Clear soil and organic debris away from the post base each spring. Soil that builds up against the post traps moisture and accelerates the rot process.
After major storms. After heavy ice or wind events, check for pickets that have shifted, rails that have pulled away from posts, and gate hardware that has moved out of alignment.
Ready to Install? Request a Free Estimate
We have been building wood fences in Richmond since 1994 — long enough to have replaced fences we originally installed and to have watched neighborhoods turn over twice. Every wood install is backed by our 1-year workmanship warranty. Class A Contractor, AFA Blue Ribbon Company, BBB A+.
We come to you. Written quote on the spot.
Frequently Asked Questions
Richmond Wood Fence — Common Questions
How much does wood fence installation cost in Richmond, VA?
Wood privacy fencing is generally mid-range compared to the other residential materials we install.
How long does wood fence installation take?
Most Richmond residential wood fence projects are complete within 1–3 weeks of the estimate. The concrete curing gap adds 5–10 business days before fence panels go up.
Do I need a permit for a wood fence in Richmond, VA?
No. Standard residential wood fences in Richmond do not require a building permit. Pool barriers are an exception. Height limits apply: 4 feet in the front yard, 6.5 feet in the rear and side yards.
Should I choose cedar or pressure-treated pine?
For pickets and above-grade elements, cedar performs better in Richmond’s humid climate. For posts, we use Ground Contact pressure-treated pine (UC4A or UC4B grade) regardless of what species the pickets are.
How do I maintain a wood fence in Richmond’s climate?
Plan on staining or sealing every 2–3 years, with an annual inspection every spring.
What does Hurricane Fence’s warranty cover on a wood fence?
Our 1-year residential installation warranty covers defects in our workmanship, including post movement, picket separation, and structural issues caused by installation errors.
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