# How to prepare your yard for fence installation > How to prepare your yard for fence installation in Johns Creek: find the plat, mark private lines, clear the fence line, and plan gates, pets and approvals. URL: https://uprightjohnscreekfencing.com/blog/prepare-yard-for-fence-installation/ Planning Most delays on install day trace back to something in the yard nobody mentioned. A few hours of preparation keeps the crew digging instead of waiting. Last Updated: November 5, 2026 Most delays on install day trace back to something in the yard that nobody mentioned: a sprinkler line under the post spot, a dog in the yard, a woodpile across the line or a gate width that was never decided. A few hours of preparation in the week before keeps the crew digging instead of waiting. [Upright Johns Creek Fencing](https://uprightjohnscreekfencing.com/) handles permits, the 811 request and the build itself for [fence installation](https://uprightjohnscreekfencing.com/fence-installation/) across north Fulton. This checklist covers the parts only the homeowner can do. ## Weeks before: paperwork - **Find your plat.** The recorded lot survey shows lines, easements and setbacks. It is usually in your closing papers, and it is the base for the site plan. If corners are uncertain, the [survey guide](https://uprightjohnscreekfencing.com/guide/survey-before-building-a-fence/) explains when to call a surveyor. - **Start HOA review.** Architectural committees meet on their own schedules; the [HOA approval guide](https://uprightjohnscreekfencing.com/guide/hoa-fence-approval/) covers what they want. - **Let the permit run.** Johns Creek requires a fence permit for new and replacement fences. The [permit guide](https://uprightjohnscreekfencing.com/guide/johns-creek-fence-permit/) explains the steps. ## The week before: find what is underground Georgia 811 marks utility-owned lines. It does not mark anything installed on your side of the meter. Walk the yard and note or flag: - Irrigation lines and sprinkler heads near the fence line. - Landscape and pool lighting wires. - Invisible dog fence wire. - Power, gas or water run to a shed, workshop or pool equipment. - Septic lines, on lots that have them. If you are not sure where they run, an irrigation contractor or private locator can trace them. The [811 guide](https://uprightjohnscreekfencing.com/guide/call-811-before-fence-posts/) explains what the public locate covers. ## Clear the line The crew needs a clear strip on both sides of the fence line to dig, set posts and carry rails and boards. Move: - Woodpiles, compost bins, play sets and stored items. - Planters, pots and garden decor. - Plants you want to keep, transplanted a few feet away. - Vehicles and trailers that block access to the backyard. Overhanging limbs that would rub the fence can be trimmed now. Leave large tree work to an arborist. ## Make room to get in Fence materials come in long bundles. A crew needs a route from the driveway to the backyard: an open side yard, a removable section of an old fence, or a gate wide enough to carry rails and posts. If there is no such route, mention it before install day so the plan accounts for it. ## Old fence If an old fence is coming out, the estimate should say who removes it and where it goes. Anything attached to it, such as lights, planters, hoses or signs, should come off beforehand. The [fence replacement page](https://uprightjohnscreekfencing.com/fence-replacement/) covers tear-out. ## Decide the details now - **Gate locations and widths.** Think about the mower, wheelbarrow and trash cans, not just people. - **Which way gates swing.** Usually into the yard, away from slopes. - **The finished side.** Johns Creek’s zoning code calls for the finished side to face out along property lines (confirm with the city); the [finished side guide](https://uprightjohnscreekfencing.com/guide/which-side-of-fence-faces-out/) explains why. - **Height on slopes.** Racked or stepped; the [slope guide](https://uprightjohnscreekfencing.com/guide/fence-on-a-slope/) explains both. ## Pets and children Keep dogs inside or in a secure area while the crew works, because sections of the yard will be open. Post holes are a hazard until posts are set, so keep children away from the work area. After the fence is built, check the gate latches before letting a dog out alone. ## Talk to your neighbors A short heads-up to neighbors on shared lines avoids surprises. Crews may need to stand on the neighbor’s side to fasten boards, and paint marks and flags from the 811 locate may appear in their yard. ## On install day Be home at the start, if you can, to confirm the line, the gate spots and the private utilities. Be home again at the end to walk the fence, test the gates and ask questions. Concrete keeps curing after the crew leaves, so avoid hanging anything heavy on the fence right away. ## After installation New pressure-treated pine needs to dry before it is stained. The [new fence staining guide](https://uprightjohnscreekfencing.com/guide/when-to-stain-a-new-fence/) covers timing. Questions about a specific yard can go to the number at the top of the page or the form below. ## Questions about this post ### Should I remove plants along my future fence line? Move anything you want to keep that sits within a couple of feet of the line, since crews need room to dig, set posts and carry materials. Plants you do not mind losing can stay for the crew to clear if that is in the estimate. ### Do I need to tell my neighbors before a fence goes in? It is not usually required, but it helps. Crews may need to work from the line, and a neighbor who knows the plan is less likely to be surprised by stakes, paint marks or noise. Want this answered for your own yard? A site visit shows what the line, the slope and the rules mean for your fence. Call (678) 509-2926 ## Keep reading Learn How long does fence installation take? The build itself is usually the short part. Approvals, the permit and the Georgia 811 wait take longer, and weather and special-order materials can add to both. Learn Do you need to call 811 before digging fence post holes? Yes, when the holes are dug with a powered auger, and it is the safe choice even by hand. Georgia requires the request at least 3 business days ahead. Learn Do I need a survey to build a fence? Not always, but often when the fence will sit close to the property line. Here is what a plat shows, what a survey adds, and how to decide. Learn How do you get HOA approval for a fence? Submit a site plan, the style, the height and the color to your HOA's architectural committee before the city permit. Here is what they look for. Maintenance Fence maintenance checklist for Georgia homeowners Twenty minutes walking the line a couple of times a year catches the small problems, a loose post, a sprinkler soaking the boards, a sagging gate, before they spread.