How to Build a Privacy Fence, Step by Step
How to build a privacy fence: property lines and permits, setting posts in concrete, attaching rails and pickets, and the parts SoCal DIYers get wrong.
Here's how a privacy fence actually goes up — the same sequence we follow on the job, so you can decide whether to swing the post-hole digger yourself or hand it off. Do it right and it stands straight for decades; rush the posts and it leans by year two.
What you'll need
Post-hole digger or auger, level, string line and stakes, tape measure, circular saw or handsaw, drill/driver, concrete mix, gravel, exterior screws or nails, plus your posts, rails, and pickets.
Step 1 — Lay out the line
Mark the corners, run a taut string line between them, and mark post spacing — typically 6 to 8 feet on center. Straight string now means a straight fence later.
Step 2 — Dig and set the posts
Dig holes about one-third of the fence height deep. Add a few inches of gravel for drainage, drop in the post, brace it plumb in both directions, and fill with concrete. Getting every post plumb and aligned is the whole ballgame — take your time here.
Step 3 — Let the concrete cure
Give the footings at least 24–48 hours before you hang any weight on them. Skipping this is the #1 reason DIY fences lean.
Step 4 — Attach the rails
Run horizontal rails between posts — two for a standard fence, three for 6-ft-plus privacy. Keep them level.
Step 5 — Attach the pickets
Fasten pickets tight together for full privacy, checking level every few boards so small errors don't compound across the run. Keep them an inch or two off the ground to slow rot.
Step 6 — Hang the gate and finish
Use heavy hinges and a solid latch on a properly braced gate post — gates take the most abuse and sag first. Then seal or stain wood to protect it from the SoCal sun.
The honest part: when to call a pro
If your yard slopes, the soil is hard clay or rock, the run is long, or the gate is big, the labor and margin for error climb fast — and a fence that leans or racks is a costly redo. That's the point where a one-day professional install usually beats a frustrating three weekends.
Want it built right the first time?
We install straight, plumb, concrete-set privacy fences across LA & Orange County — usually in a day or two, with a written workmanship guarantee.
Related reading: Wood privacy fences · Vinyl privacy fences · 6-ft privacy fence cost per foot
Frequently asked questions
Can I build a privacy fence myself?
A straight run on flat ground is a doable (if strenuous) weekend-plus project for a handy DIYer. Slopes, long spans, rocky SoCal soil, heavy gates, and setting posts truly plumb and cured are where DIY jobs go wrong — and a leaning fence is expensive to tear out and redo.
How deep should fence posts go?
Rule of thumb: at least one-third of the above-ground height, plus a few inches of gravel for drainage. So a 6-ft fence wants roughly 2 to 2.5 ft of post in the ground, set in concrete — deeper for gate posts and windy, sandy sites.
Do I need a permit to build a fence in LA or OC?
Often not for a standard 6-ft side or rear fence, but front-yard height limits, pool barriers, corner-lot sight lines, and HOA rules frequently apply and vary by city. Confirm with your local building department first — and always call DigAlert (811) before you dig.
Ready for a real quote?
Guides get you close — a free on-site measure gets you exact. One visit, one clear written number, no pressure.