Types of Inspections for Fencing in Portland

If you’re considering adding a fence to your home, it’s important to know the local rules and regulations. A variety of inspection types are often required for fence construction, including post hole depth inspections, fence placement inspections and final inspections. These inspections are meant to ensure that contractors meet certain standards. They can also help protect homeowners from shady contractors. In addition, some inspections may be required by zoning overlays or homeowners’ associations.

All residential and commercial fencing must be built inside your property lines and must not encroach on any public or private easements. If your fence encroaches on an easement, it may need to be removed at your expense. A surveyor can determine where your property lines are and mark them on your site plans for the city to review before you get started.

Fence placement inspections occur when an inspector find out more visits the construction site to check that the fence is located within the proper setbacks. These inspections are not a requirement for all fence construction, but they can help ensure that the fence does not infringe on public or private property.

You’ll need to submit detailed site plans with your permit application that clearly illustrate the location of the proposed structure on your property, its dimensions and all setbacks in each direction. The plans must be drawn to an engineer’s scale using one inch equals 100 feet. You’ll also need to provide a topographical map of your property and identify all existing structures. The site plan must be signed by a registered land surveyor or architect.

Once your permit is approved, you’ll need to schedule a post-hole depth inspection. The inspector will come to your construction site to measure the depth of each hole and mark the location of each post in relation to the property line. This information will then be entered into Portland’s database. You can also view the results of the inspection the next day on the Permit/Case Search.

If you need to make any changes to your permit after it’s been approved, you must re-inspect the work. If the change is significant, you’ll need to re-apply for your permit and pay the permit fee again.

Pool fence inspections are another common type of inspection for fences. These inspections are meant to ensure safety requirements for swimming pools, such as ensuring that the fence is at least 4 feet high and is completely surrounded by a secure fence. This helps to prevent children from accidentally falling into the pool. Pool fence inspections also look at gate latches and locks to make sure they’re functioning properly.

While these inspections are not required for all fence construction, they can help you avoid costly mistakes and keep your project running smoothly. In addition to these specific inspections, you’ll need to review all other zoning and building ordinances for your area before beginning construction. If you’re not sure what the requirements are, you can talk to a permit specialist or visit our FAQ page.