One of the first things Orlando homeowners ask after "how much?" is "how long?" Maybe you're trying to get a fence up before your new puppy comes home, or before the kids are out of school for summer, or before your in-laws visit for the holidays. Whatever the reason, knowing the timeline helps you plan.
The honest answer is that a typical fence project in Orlando takes 2-4 weeks from first contact to finished fence. The actual installation — boots on the ground, building the fence — usually takes just 1-3 days. It's everything before installation day that takes the most time.
Here's a breakdown of each step.
When you call or submit an online request, we typically schedule a site visit within a few business days. During the estimate visit, we'll measure your property, discuss material and style options, identify any challenges (slopes, trees, underground utilities, access issues), and talk about your budget.
After the visit, you'll receive a detailed written estimate. For straightforward projects, we often provide the estimate the same day or next business day. More complex projects with multiple material options or unusual site conditions might take a couple of days to quote.
During busy season in Orlando — typically March through October — getting scheduled for an estimate may take slightly longer. If you're planning a spring or summer fence project, we recommend calling in January or February to get ahead of the rush.
Once you accept the estimate, we'll send a contract, collect a deposit, and get you on the installation schedule. This usually happens within a day or two of your approval.
How quickly we can actually start the installation depends on our current workload. During slower months (November through February), we can sometimes start within a week. During peak season, the wait might be 2-4 weeks. For large or complex projects, allow extra time.
If your project requires a permit — and most Orlando fence installations do — this is typically the longest part of the pre-installation process. We submit the permit application to City of Orlando on your behalf, including a site plan showing the fence location, height, and setbacks.
Standard permit review takes 5-10 business days. During busy periods at the permitting office, it can stretch longer. If your property is in a historic district (College Park, Lake Eola Heights, Lake Davis, South Eola), the Historic Preservation Board review adds additional time — sometimes 4-6 weeks.
If you have an HOA, their architectural review process runs in parallel with the city permit. HOA approvals typically take 2-4 weeks. We recommend submitting your HOA application as soon as possible — ideally before or right after signing the contract — so it doesn't hold up the project.
For more on the permitting process, see our detailed guide on fence permits in Orlando.
Before we dig any post holes, we call Sunshine 811 to have underground utilities marked. This is required by law and protects against hitting gas lines, water lines, electrical cables, or fiber optic cables. The utility companies have 3 business days to respond and mark their lines.
Orlando has a lot of underground infrastructure, especially in newer developments. We've hit unmarked irrigation lines, old abandoned septic lines, and all kinds of surprises in the sandy soil. Having utilities marked prevents the dangerous ones and gives us a heads-up about the rest.
For common materials — standard pressure-treated pine, basic vinyl panels, popular aluminum styles — we either have them in stock or can get them within a day or two from our local suppliers.
Specialty materials take longer. Custom-color vinyl panels, specific aluminum styles, cedar boards, or composite materials may require ordering from the manufacturer. Lead times vary from one to three weeks depending on the material and current supply chain conditions.
We try to order materials as soon as the contract is signed, so they arrive by the time the permit is approved and we're ready to install.
If we're replacing an existing fence, removal typically happens the day before or the morning of the new installation. A standard backyard fence removal takes 3-6 hours for a two-person crew. Larger fences, fences with concrete footings, or fences tangled in vegetation take longer.
We haul away all old materials and dispose of them properly. If you want to remove the old fence yourself to save on costs, just make sure you pull out the old posts and concrete — don't cut them off at ground level, because buried posts and concrete interfere with new post installation.
This is the part everyone waits for. How long the actual build takes depends on the fence size, material, and site conditions:
Material also affects speed. Chain link is the fastest to install — a straightforward backyard chain link fence can go up in a single day. Wood fences take a bit longer because each board is individually attached. Vinyl panels are pre-assembled, which speeds things up, but they require precise post spacing. Aluminum is similar in speed to vinyl.
Morning: The crew arrives, unloads materials and equipment, and begins laying out post locations. Using the approved site plan, they mark each post position with spray paint or stakes. Posts are typically spaced 6-8 feet apart.
Post setting: This is the most critical part. We auger holes 30-36 inches deep in Orlando's sandy soil, set the posts plumb and level, and fill each hole with concrete. Posts need time for the concrete to set — ideally 24-48 hours for full cure. For wood and chain link fences, we often set posts and attach panels on the same day. For vinyl and aluminum, which require precise post spacing, we sometimes set posts one day and install panels the next.
Panel/picket installation: Once posts are set and checked for alignment, the fence panels, pickets, or mesh go up. This is the fastest part of the process for most fence types.
Gates and finishing: Gates are hung, hardware is installed, and any trim or cap pieces are added. We do a final walk-through to check every detail — post caps on every post, gates swinging and latching properly, no loose boards or panels.
In a perfect world, every project hits the timeline above. But a few things can cause delays in Orlando:
The sooner you call, the sooner your fence is up. Orlando Fence serves all of Orlando, Winter Park, Kissimmee, Lake Mary, and the surrounding communities. Call us at (704) 749-0642 or request your free estimate online to get the clock ticking on your new fence.
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