Fence Installation in Salem, MA
Wood, vinyl, aluminum, and pool-safety fencing set on frost-depth posts — including historic-district-appropriate designs.
A fence is only as straight as its posts are deep. In Salem’s frost climate, a fence set in shallow holes will lean and heave within a couple of winters. We set posts below the 48-inch frost line in concrete, verify the property line first, and — on historic streets — build fences that fit the period. The result is a fence that stays plumb, lasts, and doesn’t end up an inch onto your neighbor’s lot.
Materials
Fence types we install in Salem
- Cedar & wood — privacy, picket, and board styles; period-correct for historic homes
- Vinyl / PVC — low-maintenance and salt-air friendly near the coast
- Aluminum — clean, durable, great for pool enclosures
- Chain-link — economical security and pet containment
- Pool-safety fencing — code-compliant barriers around pools
- Custom & historic — architect-style fences that suit Salem’s older homes
How we work
How we install a Salem fence
Layout & lines
We confirm the property line and lay out the run, gates, and any historic review.
Set posts
We dig below the frost line and set posts in concrete so the fence stays plumb.
Hang panels
We build or hang panels level and consistent, with smooth-operating gates.
Finish
We trim, cap, and clean up — a straight, finished fence ready for years of New England weather.
Permits in Salem
Do you need a permit for a fence in Salem?
In Salem, fences over 7 feet generally require a building permit through Salem Inspectional Services; most residential fences fall under that. If the work is visible from a public way in a local historic district, it also needs a Certificate of Appropriateness from the Salem Historical Commission before a permit is issued. We handle the permit, the drawings, and the hearing — and we tell you which apply before any work starts. A street-facing fence in a historic district is exactly what the Commission reviews, so we confirm it before we dig.
| Material | Typical range |
|---|---|
| Chain-link | $15–$30 / lin ft |
| Vinyl / PVC | $30–$60 / lin ft |
| Cedar / wood | $30–$65 / lin ft |
| Aluminum | $35–$70 / lin ft |
Why AB Mendez
Why Salem homeowners hire us for fencing
The owner builds it
Anibel Mendez quotes and runs every Salem project personally — no salesman, no handoff to a sub who has never seen your property.
Engineered for New England
Frost-depth footings, proper drainage, and code-compliant materials. We build for year 10, not the first photo.
Licensed, insured, permitted
Massachusetts HIC registration, full insurance, Dig Safe on every dig, and permits pulled in our name — the boring stuff that separates real contractors from a guy with a truck.
From the owner
“Half the fence calls I get are to fix a leaning fence someone set too shallow two winters ago.”
Posts are the whole job. Set them below the frost line in concrete and the fence stays straight for decades; set them shallow and the first hard winter pushes them out of plumb. We never cut that corner — Anibel Mendez
Fencing FAQ
Common questions
How deep do you set fence posts?
Below the Massachusetts 48-inch frost line, set in concrete, so the fence doesn’t heave or lean.
Do I need a permit for a fence in Salem?
Usually only for fences over 7 feet — but street-facing fences in historic districts need Commission approval, which we handle.
What fence lasts longest near the coast?
Vinyl and aluminum shrug off salt air; cedar looks best on historic homes but needs occasional care. We’ll match it to your site.
Can you match a historic fence style?
Yes — we build period-appropriate picket and board fences and handle historic review.
Do you offer free estimates?
Yes — call (781) 731-5303 or request one online.
Free estimates in Salem
Install a fence that stays straight
Send us your property line and we’ll come look and lay out the run.
AB Mendez Masonry & Landscaping · Licensed & Insured · Serving Salem & the North Shore