Kansas City fence company
Fence Builders in Kansas City, MO
We install wood, aluminum, steel and vinyl fences in Kansas City, Missouri. Privacy, picket spacing and gate access are planned around your property.
or call (913) 378-0089
4.8★ Google rating · Free estimates · Up to 5-year workmanship warranty · Financing available
About our company
We serve Kansas City, Missouri, from our home base in Overland Park. A fence can provide privacy, keep a dog in the yard or mark a boundary. We discuss those needs with you and measure the property before preparing a written estimate.
Our work
Recent fence projects in Kansas City
Black aluminum fence with puppy pickets
The homeowner wanted an open aluminum fence that would also work for a smaller dog. Extra pickets along the bottom bring the spacing below two inches on this project. We plan the spacing and the gap at the ground around the pet and the yard.
Black aluminumPuppy picketsUnder 2-inch lower spacing
6-foot cedar picture-frame privacy fence
We used cedar pickets with treated-lumber posts on this picture-frame fence. The posts were set about two feet into the ground, and we cut sections of existing concrete where posts needed to go. The frame gives the finished fence a defined border.
Cedar picketsTreated postsPicture-frame design
6-foot privacy fence with a reinforced double gate
This treated-lumber privacy fence includes a large double gate for wider backyard access. We used metal posts at the hinges to support the gate and help reduce sagging as the wood moves over time.
Treated lumberDouble gateMetal hinge posts
Board-on-board privacy fence with cap and trim
Overlapping treated-lumber boards give this privacy fence a substantial face. The cap and trim finish the edges and bring the individual sections together into one consistent design.
Board-on-boardTreated lumberCap and trim
4-foot black aluminum fence
This four-foot aluminum fence defines the backyard while keeping the view open. The black finish and open pickets give the property a clear boundary without a solid privacy screen.
4-foot heightBlack aluminumOpen view
5-foot spear-point metal fence
Spear-point pickets give this five-foot metal fence its distinctive architectural detail. The open design keeps visibility through the fence while the pointed top changes its profile.
5-foot heightMetal fencingSpear-point design
Cedar picket fence
This cedar picket fence encloses an established yard with mature trees and existing stonework. The spaced pickets keep some visibility and airflow through the enclosure.
Cedar picketsOpen-picket designExisting landscaping
Free estimates
Schedule a fence estimate
We will walk the yard with you, discuss the gates and materials, and put together a written estimate.
or call (913) 378-0089
Materials
Fence options we install in Kansas City
Start with what your fence needs to do: privacy, pet containment, backyard access or a more open boundary.
Wood fencing
Wood fencing can provide a solid privacy enclosure or a spaced-picket boundary. We install cedar and treated-lumber designs, including picture-frame, board-on-board and shadowbox styles. Exterior wood requires staining and ongoing care.
Aluminum fencing
Aluminum fencing leaves the view open and does not require wood staining. Height, lower picket spacing and gaps at the ground matter when the fence is intended to contain a dog.
Steel fencing
Steel provides an open ornamental fence with a heavier construction than aluminum. We discuss the product finish, gate weight and maintenance requirements when choosing a design.
Vinyl fencing
Vinyl is available in privacy and decorative designs and does not require staining. The panel style determines how much visibility the fence allows.
Planning a deck as well? See our Kansas City deck work.
Construction details
Built around the parts that do the work
Posts and pickets have different jobs
We use treated lumber for wood posts in ground contact. Cedar pickets can be paired with those posts above ground. Each component needs to suit the conditions it will face.
Gate support matters
A wide wood gate puts extra weight on its hinge posts. Metal hinge posts provide support as the wood moves with changes in weather.
Fasteners and wood care
Our wood-fence construction uses threaded Scrail fasteners to help keep pickets secured through seasonal movement. We also explain staining and maintenance before the job begins. Wood must be stained within the first year to qualify for the full five-year workmanship warranty.
Plan with confidence
Fence permits and property requirements in Kansas City, MO
We handle required city permitting for our fence projects.
We review the proposed design and property information before construction, including the conditions that can change the approved layout.
When a permit is needed
Ordinary fences are exempt from a Kansas City building permit. Height, placement, right-of-way and pool rules still apply.
How your property affects the plan
Residential fencing generally has a six-foot maximum, with four-foot limits in front and street-side yards. Boulevard and parkway frontage can change the allowed materials and openness.
HOA approval is separate. Bring any HOA guidelines and available survey or plat to your estimate. Utility locating does not establish property boundaries.
Explore Kansas City, MO fence requirements, diagrams and FAQs
Kansas City exempts fences from the building-permit requirement, but that does not exempt them from the city’s fence, zoning, right-of-way, pool-barrier, boulevard, parkway or property-maintenance rules. The most important residential limits are six feet overall, four feet in the front yard and, on a corner lot, four feet throughout both the front yard and the street-side yard.
Does a Kansas City fence need a permit?
An ordinary fence does not require a Kansas City building permit. Chapter 18 lists fences as building-permit-exempt work. Even so, the city expressly states that exempt work must still meet the Zoning and Development Code and the Building and Rehabilitation Code. Chapter 27 also prohibits a fence that violates its height, location, maintenance or right-of-way requirements.
No ordinary building permit
Fences appear on Kansas City’s official list of work exempt from a building permit. A related retaining wall, pool or other construction may have separate requirements.
Six-foot residential maximum
A fence or wall on a residential lot may not exceed six feet unless the Board of Zoning Adjustment grants a special exception.
Four feet in the front yard
The front yard is the area between the home’s front wall, and the line extending from it, and the front property line nearest the street.
No right-of-way encroachment
Fences and retaining walls cannot extend into the public right-of-way. The right-of-way line is not automatically the curb, sidewalk or edge of pavement.
Where can a standard residential fence go?
A typical interior residential lot may have fencing up to six feet high beside and behind the house. Once the fence extends in front of the home’s front wall line, the maximum drops to 48 inches. Kansas City defines that front-yard area from the front wall of the residence, not simply from a generic setback line or the neighbor’s fence.
Typical interior lot: the home’s front wall line separates the four-foot front-yard area from the ordinary six-foot side and rear area. Property boundaries, public right-of-way, utilities, easements and private restrictions still require an address-specific check.
Enlarge diagram · scroll sideways to read labels
Property lines and public right-of-way are different
Kansas City’s standard residential fence section does not establish a universal minimum setback from a private property line. Instead, the fence must remain on the owner’s property and may not encroach into the public right-of-way. A fence may be placed on or just inside a verified private boundary, but the owner bears the risk if the assumed line is wrong.
Two different checks: Missouri 811 marks participating underground utilities; it does not establish a property boundary or public right-of-way. A recorded plat or boundary survey may be needed.
Enlarge diagram · scroll sideways to read labels
Corner lots have a much larger four-foot zone
On a residential corner lot, Kansas City limits fences to 48 inches in both the front yard and the side yard nearest the second street. The street-side yard runs between the side wall of the home and the street-side property line, extending from the front yard through to the rear yard. A six-foot fence generally must remain behind the rear wall line of the home on that street side.
Representative corner lot: gold shows the four-foot front and street-side areas. Red shows the portion behind the rear wall line where a fence may generally reach six feet. The actual home orientation, property lines, right-of-way and any visibility or special-district requirements must be verified.
Enlarge diagram · scroll sideways to read labels
Corner lotsPoolsBoulevards and parkwaysDrainage and utilitiesHistoric districtsHOA restrictions
*Kansas City’s definitions depend on the residence and the street it fronts. A corner lot’s street-side four-foot zone is not merely a small sight triangle; it extends through the street-side yard as defined by Chapter 27.
Boulevards and parkways have separate fence standards
Boulevard and parkway frontage requires an address-specific zoning check. Section 88-323 distinguishes residential from non-residential development. The 80% transparency rule and listed material restrictions appear in the non-residential standards; they should not be assumed to govern every residential fence. Residential parkway lots can have separate landscape-buffer, plat and development-plan restrictions.
Easements, drainage, utilities and fence construction
Property and right-of-way: The fence must remain out of the public right-of-way. A survey or recorded plat may be needed when monuments, pins or reliable boundary information are unavailable.
Utilities: Missouri 811 marks participating underground public utilities. It does not mark property lines, private irrigation, invisible pet fencing or every privately owned service. Gates or removable sections may be prudent where an easement holder needs future access.
Drainage: A fence should not block a drainage path, trap debris or interfere with stormwater facilities. Recorded drainage easements and site conditions need review before posts or solid panels cross them.
Maintenance: Kansas City requires fences and retaining walls to remain structurally sound and in good repair. Posts must be firmly set, rails or slats firmly attached, and the fence maintained against rot, decay, deterioration and loss of structural integrity.
Finished side: When a fence is used to satisfy the zoning code’s required landscaping or screening provisions, its finished side must face the adjacent property or street. Private covenants may impose a broader finished-side requirement on ordinary residential fencing.
Special situations need an additional check
Swimming pools
Kansas City requires a protective fence around a swimming pool deeper than two feet. The pool must be in a side or rear yard and at least ten feet from side and rear property lines.
- The protective fence must be at least four feet high.
- Gates or entrances must be self-closing and lockable when the pool is not attended by a responsible person.
- The pool location, fence layout and gate arrangement must satisfy the pool rule along with Chapter 27’s residential height and corner-lot standards.
- A pool project can have requirements beyond the building-permit exemption that applies to an ordinary fence.
Total Home Fence and Deck confirms the actual pool and gate layout rather than assuming an ordinary yard fence automatically qualifies as the required protective barrier.
Corner lots
The entire front and street-side yards are limited to four feet. A special exception is needed for a taller fence, and approval is not automatic.
Boulevards and parkways
Residential and non-residential frontage have different standards. We confirm applicable landscape buffers, plats, development plans and material requirements for the address.
Special exceptions
The Board of Zoning Adjustment may grant an exception to Chapter 27’s height limits after considering cause, neighborhood appearance and compatibility with the residence. This is a discretionary public-review path, not a standard permit.
Homes associations and deed restrictions
Private restrictions may be stricter about style, material, color, height and location. The building-permit exemption does not replace HOA approval, and HOA approval does not override city rules.
How Total Home Fence and Deck helps
We review the fence style, height, gates and site conditions before construction, including the home’s front and rear wall lines, corner-lot street-side yard, property boundaries, public right-of-way, boulevard or parkway frontage, pools, utilities, drainage and homes-association requirements. We offer wood, aluminum, vinyl and steel fencing. Our wood fences use treated posts instead of cedar posts, pickets are fastened with scrails, and wood gates use three-inch metal hinge posts to better handle long-term gate stress.
Kansas City fence permit and code FAQ
Does a new fence need a Kansas City building permit?
No. Kansas City lists fences as building-permit-exempt work. The fence must still comply with Chapter 27, zoning, right-of-way, pool and any special-district rules.
How tall can a residential fence be?
The ordinary maximum is six feet. The front yard is limited to four feet, and a corner lot’s front and street-side yards are both limited to four feet.
Where does the four-foot front-yard limit begin?
At the front wall of the residence and the line extending from that wall across the lot. The area between that line and the front property line nearest the street is the front yard for this fence rule.
Can a six-foot privacy fence run beside a corner-lot side street?
Not through the defined street-side yard under the standard rule. That area is limited to four feet. A six-foot portion generally must remain behind the home’s rear wall line, unless a special exception is approved.
Can a fence be built on the property line?
Kansas City’s standard residential fence rule does not state a general setback from a private boundary. The fence must remain on the owner’s property and outside the public right-of-way. A survey may be needed to verify the legal line.
Does a fence along a boulevard or parkway have different rules?
Residential and non-residential frontage have different standards. We confirm applicable landscape buffers, plats, development plans and material requirements for the address.
How high must a pool fence be?
A pool deeper than two feet needs a protective fence at least four feet high, with self-closing, lockable gates or entrances when the pool is unattended.
Does Missouri 811 mark property lines?
No. Utility locating and boundary surveying are different services.
Official references
City of Kansas City: Building Permit Exempt Work
Kansas City Code Chapter 27: Fences and Walls
Kansas City Zoning Code 88-305-07: Swimming Pools
Kansas City Zoning Code 88-323: Boulevard and Parkway Standards
Kansas City Zoning Code 88-425-10: Landscaping and Screening Material
This page provides general educational information, not an address-specific zoning, boundary or code determination. Requirements can change. The city, utilities, homes association and project professionals must confirm current requirements for the property and design.
Process
What to expect
Here is how a fence project with us goes, start to finish.
01
Site visit
We come out, walk the yard, check the slope and access, and talk through how you plan to use the space.
02
Written estimate
You get a written quote with materials, layout, and a drawing of the fence with measurements.
03
Style approval
You sign off on the fence style and gate locations before anything is ordered.
04
Build
The build crew works from the drawing you approved. If questions or unexpected conditions come up during construction, we talk with you and work through them before moving forward.
05
Walkthrough
We go over the finished fence with you on site before we call it done.
Site visits are free. Choose an available time for your estimate.
or call (913) 378-0089
Reviews
What customers say about working with us
Feedback on our fences, decks and service. Rated 4.8 stars on Google. Read more reviews.
★★★★★
“Crew was awesome”
Brian was great to work with. He always returned calls quickly and answered all my questions. Our project was delayed by concrete removal company. Brian stayed connected and patient about starting our project. Once started, the crew was awesome. They finished in a timely manner even working around winter storms. We love our new deck and have gotten many compliments on it. They did such a nice job, we’re going to do another one!
Kat Steckler
Google review
★★★★★
“Great work would definitely use them again.”
The Total Home Fence and Deck crew did a great job in a timely manner facing multiple rain days and the heat. They built a set of stairs from my existing deck and screened in our porch. Great work would definitely use them again.
Greg Graham
Google review
★★★★★
“Courteous and very knowledgeable”
Brian from Total Home & Deck came out on time and was very helpful to our needs. He was courteous and very knowledgeable about the process. I would definitely encourage others to reach out to this company.
Sylvia Williams
Google review
Questions
Planning your Kansas City fence
Which fence works best for privacy?
Wood and vinyl can both provide a solid privacy enclosure. Wood offers options such as picture-frame and board-on-board designs. Vinyl offers privacy without a staining requirement.
What is the difference between aluminum and steel?
Both offer an ornamental, open-picket appearance. Steel is heavier, while aluminum is lighter and resistant to rust. We can compare the specific products, finishes and maintenance needs at your estimate.
Can you build a fence for a small dog?
Yes. Puppy-picket aluminum designs reduce the spacing along the lower part of the fence. We also look at the gap beneath the fence and discuss your dog’s size and habits.
Why use metal posts at a wood gate?
Gate hinges concentrate the weight of the gate on the supporting posts. Metal hinge posts help provide stable support and reduce sagging as the wood moves over time.
Do wood fences need staining?
Yes. Exterior wood needs ongoing care. Staining within the first year is required for the full five-year workmanship warranty on qualifying wood projects. Ask us about the terms for your fence.
In our own words
Our Five-Year Warranty Changed the Way We Build
Why we stand behind our work for five years, and what it has taught us about building.
When we started our company, there was one thing we wanted our customers to know from the beginning:
When we finish your project and shake your hand, that shouldn’t be the end of our relationship.
If you need us, we want to be there.
In the home-improvement industry, one-year workmanship warranties are common. We never believed that was enough. We wanted to build a company that stood behind its work for much longer than that.
That’s why we offer a five-year workmanship warranty.
We’ve had employees, customers and even others in the industry ask us the same question:
“Why offer five years when almost nobody else does?”
The answer is simple.
Because we can. And because we believe we should.
01A warranty is only as good as the company behind it
Putting a five-year warranty on paper is easy.
Standing behind it years later is what matters.
Some of the best feedback we’ve received has come from customers after we’ve performed warranty service. We’ve had homeowners tell us they loved the idea of our five-year warranty when they hired us, but weren’t completely sure whether we’d really come back two, three or four years later if they needed us.
Then they called.
And we showed up.
That’s what we want our warranty to mean.
But there’s another benefit to our five-year warranty that most homeowners will never see.
It has made us better builders.
02It forces us to think beyond the day we finish
When you’re responsible for your workmanship for five years, you start looking at construction differently.
It’s no longer enough to ask:
“Does this look good and work properly today?”
We also have to ask:
“How is this going to perform years from now?”
That question has changed the way we build.
03A great example: our fence gates
Years ago, we noticed we were receiving occasional service calls involving wood fence gates.
We could go out, make an adjustment and take care of the customer. But after seeing the same type of issue more than once, we started asking a different question:
Why does this keep happening, and how can we prevent it?
Unlike a standard section of fence, a gate is supported by hinges on only one side. That means the gate post and hinges are constantly carrying the weight of the gate. Over time, that added stress, along with the natural movement of wood, can cause a gate to sag, twist or stop operating properly.
Instead of accepting that as a normal part of owning a wood fence, we decided to find a better way to build it.
We began incorporating metal into our gate and post construction to create a stronger, more stable system.
The result?
Our gate-related service calls dropped dramatically.
Had we not been standing behind our work for five years, we may never have recognized the pattern. We might never have had a reason to redesign the way we built them.
Our warranty helped make our fences better.
04We’ve learned the same lessons from our decks
A newly completed deck can feel extremely strong.
But we’re not building only for the day the project is finished.
We’re thinking about what happens after years of weather, movement and everyday use.
Through years of building, servicing and evaluating our own projects, we’ve continued improving the way we brace, block and reinforce critical areas of our decks.
We’ve had inspectors look at our construction and tell us:
“You guys overbuild these things.”
We’re perfectly comfortable with that.
Because we’re not trying to build something that’s simply strong enough to pass an inspection today.
We’re building with the next 10 or 15 years in mind.
05The greatest benefit of our five-year warranty
The biggest benefit of our warranty isn’t actually the repairs we’ve made.
It’s what those service calls have taught us.
Every time we’ve returned to one of our projects, we’ve had the opportunity to see how our workmanship performs in the real world.
And when we find something that could be better, we don’t want to simply repair it and move on.
We ask:
Why did it happen?
Could we build it differently?
How do we keep it from happening to another customer?
Those questions have led to real changes in the way we build our fences and decks.
And that process never stops.
We’re not claiming that nothing will ever go wrong. That’s exactly why warranties exist.
What we’re saying is something different:
If something can be built better, we want to know about it. And when we learn a better way, we change the way we build.
06Wood projects require proper care
There is one important requirement to our five-year warranty when it comes to wood fences and wood decks:
The wood must be stained within the first year.
We didn’t add this requirement as a way to avoid standing behind our work. In fact, it’s just the opposite.
We added it because we want your fence or deck to last.
One of the biggest misconceptions we hear in our industry is that a new wood fence or deck doesn’t need to be stained. We’ve met countless homeowners who were told exactly that.
We strongly disagree.
Exterior wood needs to be maintained.
From the day your fence or deck is built, it’s exposed to sunlight, rain, moisture, temperature changes and the elements. Over time, that exposure can dry the wood, discolor it, contribute to cracking and checking, and shorten its useful life.
We sometimes compare it to taking care of your skin.
You use sunscreen to help protect your skin from the sun, and moisturizer to help keep it from drying out. Exterior wood needs protection for many of the same reasons. A quality stain helps protect the wood from UV exposure and moisture while helping it maintain its appearance and performance.
That’s why our five-year workmanship warranty on wood projects requires the fence or deck to be stained within the first year.
We believe there’s a shared responsibility when it comes to making a wood project last.
Our responsibility is to build it correctly and stand behind our workmanship. Your responsibility is to properly maintain the wood after we leave.
When we both do our part, we’re giving your fence or deck the best opportunity to perform the way it should for years to come.
And we’d rather be completely upfront about that requirement than tell a homeowner that exterior wood requires no maintenance.
We care about how your project looks and performs years from now. Not just how it looks the day we finish it.
07More than a warranty
Our five-year warranty gives our customers peace of mind knowing that we’re going to stand behind our workmanship.
But to us, it represents something bigger.
It’s accountability.
It gives us the opportunity to learn from the projects we’ve built, improve our construction methods and continue raising our own standards.
Our warranty has helped us identify things that could be improved, make changes to the way we build and reduce the likelihood that the same issue will happen to another customer.
That’s something we’re proud of.
Our five-year warranty doesn’t just protect our customers. It has helped make us a better company.
And when your project is finished, we shake hands and our trucks pull away, we want you to know one thing:
If you need us, we’re still your contractor.
Five-Year Workmanship Warranty: available on qualifying fence and deck projects. Wood projects must be stained within the first year after installation. Additional terms, conditions and exclusions apply. Read warranty details.
or call (913) 378-0089