Fence installation and repair around Bozeman

How it works

1. Call or send a request

   Tell us your town and what you need fenced, fixed or replaced.

2. We connect you

   Your call goes to an independent fence contractor that serves Bozeman and the Gallatin Valley.

3. They call you back

   They look at the property and quote the job directly.

Who is this for?

Homeowners and landowners in Bozeman, Belgrade, Four Corners, Gallatin Gateway, Big Sky, Livingston and the country in between who want a new fence, need a gate built or rehung, or have a fence that's leaning, rotting or lying on the ground after a windstorm. That covers a 6-foot cedar privacy fence on a new subdivision lot, a chain link run to keep a dog in, and a mile of buck-and-rail on a few acres out toward the Bridgers.

What fences work in the Gallatin Valley?

• Wood privacy and picket fences. Cedar and treated pine are the most common backyard fences in town. They look at home here and can be repaired board by board.
• Vinyl fences. Low upkeep and no staining, popular in newer neighborhoods. Panels and posts need to be rated and set for wind.
• Chain link. The practical choice for dog runs, side yards, gardens and commercial-style security, with privacy slats if you want them.
• Buck-and-rail, post-and-rail and wire fences. The rural Montana look on acreage, built to hold horses or cattle or just mark a line.
• Wildlife-friendly and deer fences. Fences that let elk and deer cross safely, or tall exclusion fences that keep deer out of a garden or orchard.

Which one is right depends on what the fence has to do, the HOA or city rules for your lot, how exposed it is to wind and drifting snow, and how much upkeep you want. See all fence services.

What does Bozeman's climate do to a fence?

Bozeman sits at about 4,800 feet, and Montana State University's weather station averages more than 90 inches of snow a year. Long freezes, deep frost and spring thaw push poorly set posts up and out of line. Snow piles against solid fences and adds weight. Wind is the other big one: privacy fences act like sails, and Livingston, just over Bozeman Pass, is known as one of the windiest places in the country. A fence built for this valley needs posts set deep enough for local frost, solid footings, and hardware sized for the load.

Warning signs your fence needs work

• Posts leaning or rocking when you push on them
• Soft, dark or crumbling wood at the base of posts
• Sections bowing after a wind event or a heavy snow
• A gate that drags, won't latch or has dropped at the latch side
• Loose or popped vinyl panels and rails
• Sagging wire, broken stays or posts heaved out of the ground by frost

Small problems like a broken board or a loose gate hinge are cheap to fix early. Rotted posts and leaning runs usually get worse every winter. More on fence repair and replacement.

Do I need a permit, and what about my HOA?

It depends on where you live. Inside Bozeman city limits, the City of Bozeman's development code sets fence heights and placement, including rules near streets and driveway corners, and properties in historic areas may need extra review. Belgrade, Livingston and unincorporated Gallatin County each have their own rules. Many newer subdivisions around Bozeman and Belgrade also have HOA covenants that control height, material and color, and some require approval before you build. Check both before you sign. The Bozeman fence guide covers who to ask.

Call 811 before anyone digs

Every post hole is a dig. Montana 811 is the free service that has buried utility lines marked, and lines are usually marked within two full business days of a request. It doesn't mark private lines, such as a power line from your meter to a shop or a water line to a stock tank, so tell the contractor about any of those. A good fence contractor makes the 811 request as part of the job.

Fencing acreage and wildlife

Elk, deer, moose and pronghorn all move through the Gallatin Valley and Paradise Valley. Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks publishes guidance for wildlife-friendly fences: a top wire no higher than about 42 inches, at least 12 inches between the top two wires, and a smooth bottom wire at least 18 inches off the ground. Fences built that way keep livestock in while letting wildlife jump over or crawl under without getting tangled. More on ranch and wildlife fencing.

Are you a fence company?

No. Bozeman Fence Installation is a referral service. We connect you with an independent fence contractor that serves your address, and that contractor measures, quotes, builds and warranties the work. Read our tips for hiring a fence contractor before you sign anything.

Areas we cover

• Bozeman
• Belgrade
• Big Sky
• Livingston

Planning ahead? Read our Bozeman fence guide.