Fence contracts with the layout, the line and the neighbor signed
Most fence disputes aren't about the fence. They're about where it went: a foot over the line, a gate on the wrong side, a run through the neighbor's flower bed. The contract settles that only if the layout, the property line and the neighbor's say-so are signed before the first post hole. SignMaster gets all three signed in the yard or by link.
Updated November 5, 2026 · 3 min read
On this page
What belongs in a fence contract
- Contract and priceMaterial, style, height, linear feet, gates and hardware, post setting, old fence removal and haul-away. The fence installation contract is a start.
- Layout drawingThe sketch from your walk, with runs, gate positions and which side faces out. The homeowner initials the page.
- Property line acknowledgmentThe homeowner says where the line is and accepts responsibility for it, or provides a survey. You build where they mark.
- Permits and HOA approvalWho applies, and that work starts once the approval is in hand. Height and style rules come from the city and the HOA, not you.
- Private utilities811 locates public lines. Sprinklers, dog fences, low-voltage lighting and gas lines to a grill are the homeowner's to mark, and they initial that.
- Neighbor agreementFor a shared fence, the neighbor's consent to the location and their share of the cost, if they're paying.
From the walk to the signature
- 1
Measure and sketch
Walk the line with your wheel and sketch the layout on paper as you always have. Then scan it: the iPhone and iPad app finds the page edges and makes a clean PDF.
- 2
Fill the contract
Open your contract template and fill in the linear feet, height and style. A calculated field multiplies feet by your price and adds the gates the homeowner ticks.
- 3
Send both together
Put the contract and the scanned layout in one envelope, so the drawing is part of what gets signed. Add an initials field on the drawing page.
- 4
Sign in the yard
Choose Sign in person and hand over your phone. The homeowner initials the property line, private utility and drawing pages, and signs.
Gate swing and the good side
Two lines on the drawing save a lot of callbacks: which way each gate swings, and which side of the fence faces the neighbor. Ask the homeowner to initial both.
When the neighbor is part of the deal
A fence on a shared line is easier to build when the neighbor has signed, even if they aren't paying. Add them to the same envelope as a second signer. They get their own link, sign on any phone or computer without an account, and both households get the sealed PDF when it's complete. If they're splitting the cost, a text box can print their share in the contract. If they won't sign, you know before the crew is scheduled, not when they walk out with a survey.
Many fence customers are on a deadline: a new puppy, a pool inspection, a closing. A sign-by date and automatic reminders keep the contract moving, and the deposit stays your business; SignMaster doesn't take payment.
Pricing for fence companies
A salesperson and an office manager share Crew: $49 a month for 5 people, with each extra person at $8 a month. A one-truck fence company can run on Solo at $15 a month with unlimited envelopes. Free gives one person 3 envelopes a month. New workspaces get 14 days of Crew free. Compare plans.
What SignMaster doesn't do
- It doesn't find property lines, order surveys or request utility locates.
- It doesn't draw layouts. Scan your sketch or upload a drawing from another tool.
- It doesn't collect deposits.
- It emails signing links, and you can copy a link to text it.
Questions? Answers.
Who is responsible for the property line on a fence job?
That's what your contract should say. Many fence contracts put it on the homeowner, who marks the line or provides a survey. Whatever you choose, have them initial it.
Can two neighbors sign the same fence contract?
Yes. Add both as signers in one envelope. Each signs from their own link or in person, and both get the sealed copy.
Can I attach the fence layout drawing?
Yes. Scan your sketch or upload the drawing, and send it in the same envelope as the contract with an initials field on the page.
Does SignMaster call 811 for me?
No. Request locates the way you do now. Use the contract to put private lines, like sprinklers and dog fences, on the homeowner to mark.