What To Put In A Fencing Service Agreement
A generic contractor service agreement usually misses the things unique to putting a fence in the ground: who's responsible for the property line, who calls 811, who handles HOA approval, and what happens when the crew hits something underground.
Property lines and survey responsibility
The client is responsible for confirming the property line and providing a survey if one exists. The agreement should say plainly that the fence gets installed along the line the client marks or confirms, and that the company isn't liable for a fence later found to encroach based on incorrect information from the client.
The 811 utility locate
State clearly who calls 811 (or the local utility locate service) before digging — typically the company, with enough lead time for marks to be placed and visible before work starts.
HOA and local approval
The client is responsible for obtaining any required HOA or local approval before work begins, unless otherwise agreed in writing. Without this clause, a fence held up by missing approval becomes the company's scheduling challenge instead of the client's.
Hidden underground obstructions
Rock, roots, or an unmarked obstruction found while digging should trigger a notification and a revised price for the affected sections — not a silent absorption of extra labor cost.
This is a starting point, not legal advice. Have a licensed attorney in your state review any service agreement before using it for real jobs — requirements vary by location.