# How long does fence installation take? > How long fence installation takes in Johns Creek: HOA review, the city permit, the 811 wait, post setting and curing, weather, materials and the build itself. URL: https://uprightjohnscreekfencing.com/guide/how-long-does-fence-installation-take/ Learn 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. Last Updated: November 5, 2026 The build itself is usually the short part. On a typical Johns Creek job, most of the calendar goes to the steps before it: HOA review, the city fence permit and the Georgia 811 wait of at least 3 business days. The build then depends on the length of the fence, the number of gates, the ground and the weather. Special-order materials, like some aluminum styles and custom gates, can add lead time. [Upright Johns Creek Fencing](https://uprightjohnscreekfencing.com/) handles each of those steps as part of [fence installation](https://uprightjohnscreekfencing.com/fence-installation/) across north Fulton. This guide walks through the sequence and what changes its length. ## The steps in order 1. Estimate visit: measure the line, mark gates and note slopes, trees and private utilities. 2. Plat and site plan: the fence drawn on the lot survey. 3. [HOA approval](https://uprightjohnscreekfencing.com/guide/hoa-fence-approval/), if the subdivision has an architectural committee. 4. The [city fence permit](https://uprightjohnscreekfencing.com/guide/johns-creek-fence-permit/). 5. Materials ordered and delivered. 6. [Georgia 811 locate request](https://uprightjohnscreekfencing.com/guide/call-811-before-fence-posts/), at least 3 business days before digging. 7. Tear-out of any old fence. 8. Posts set in concrete. 9. Rails, boards or panels and gates. 10. Final walkthrough and cleanup. Steps 3 and 4 usually take the most time, and they cannot be rushed from the installer’s side. ## HOA review Many Johns Creek subdivisions have an architectural review committee that must approve a fence before it goes up. Committees meet on their own schedule, some monthly, and an incomplete application can push approval to the next meeting. Submitting a clear site plan and a picture or drawing of the style the first time is the best way to avoid delay. ## The city permit Johns Creek requires a fence permit for new and replacement fences, applied for through the city’s online portal with a site plan. Review times vary with the city’s workload and how complete the application is. Nearby cities have their own processes; the [service area pages](https://uprightjohnscreekfencing.com/service-areas/) cover each one. ## The 811 wait Before digging with a powered auger, Georgia law requires a Georgia 811 locate request and a wait of at least 3 business days for utilities to mark their lines. A normal request lasts 30 calendar days after its effective date, so it is placed close to the installation date, after approvals are in hand. If rain pushes the job past 30 days, a new request is needed. ## Materials Pressure-treated pine, chain link and common aluminum styles are usually easy to get. Cedar, some vinyl colors and profiles, specific aluminum panels, custom gates and gate operators can take longer. Ordering is usually done once the HOA has approved the style, so the approved product is the one delivered. ## Tear-out Removing an old fence adds time, especially when old posts were set in concrete and the footings have to come out or be worked around. Tear-out and disposal are priced separately; the [fence replacement page](https://uprightjohnscreekfencing.com/fence-replacement/) covers the work. ## Setting posts Posts are the most important step and the slowest per foot. Holes are dug, each gets a gravel base, posts are set plumb and aligned on a string line, and concrete is placed around them. Rocky ground slows digging; wet clay may mean waiting for holes to drain. Some crews finish a fence in one continuous visit and others let concrete set before hanging rails and gates, depending on the system and the weather. The [post depth guide](https://uprightjohnscreekfencing.com/guide/how-deep-should-fence-posts-be/) explains why posts get this much care. ## Building the fence Once posts are set, the fence goes up quickly. Wood fences get rails, then boards, then trim. Vinyl and aluminum panels slide or bolt into the posts. Chain link gets its framework, then fabric stretched and tied. Gates are hung last and adjusted to swing and latch. Longer runs, more gates, slopes and board-on-board styles all add time. ## Weather Heavy rain stops digging and post-setting, and saturated clay can delay work for a day or more after it ends. Summer heat slows crews in the afternoon; thunderstorms are common. Wind matters for setting large panels. Most delays are short, but a wet stretch can shift a schedule. ## After installation New pressure-treated pine is wet when installed and needs time to dry before staining. The [new fence staining guide](https://uprightjohnscreekfencing.com/guide/when-to-stain-a-new-fence/) covers timing. Concrete around posts keeps curing after the crew leaves, so avoid hanging heavy items or letting large dogs lean hard on the fence right away. ## How to keep the timeline short - Find your plat early; a [survey](https://uprightjohnscreekfencing.com/guide/survey-before-building-a-fence/) takes time if the corners are uncertain. - Submit the HOA application complete the first time. - Mark private lines, such as irrigation and dog fence wire, before the estimate. - Decide gate locations and widths before ordering. - Clear the fence line of plants, stored items and debris. The [fence cost guide](https://uprightjohnscreekfencing.com/guide/fence-installation-cost/) covers what the estimate includes. Questions about a specific yard can go to the number at the top of the page or the form below. ## Questions about this guide ### Do I need to be home during fence installation? Not for the whole build. It helps to be there at the start to confirm the line, gate locations and private utilities, and at the end to walk the fence and test the gates. ### Can a fence be installed in the rain? Light rain does not stop most work, but heavy rain fills post holes, softens clay and keeps concrete from setting well. Crews usually pause digging and setting posts until the ground drains. ### How long before a dog can use a new fence? Once the gates are hung and latching and the concrete around the posts has set enough to bear loads, usually after the build is finished and walked through. Ask the crew before letting a strong dog test it. 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 ## More guides Learn Do you need a permit to build a fence in Johns Creek? Yes, for every new fence and every replacement. This guide covers the permit, the zoning rules behind it, HOA approval, property lines, utilities, protected trees, and how the rules change in the cities around Johns Creek. 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. 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. Cost Guide How much does fence installation cost in Johns Creek? Typical Atlanta-area ranges per foot, what a Johns Creek permit adds, and the handful of things that move a fence price more than the material does. Learn How deep should fence posts be? Deep enough to resist the load the fence puts on them. Height, wind, gates and the soil all change the answer, so posts on one fence are not all the same depth.