"My fence is leaning after a storm"
Storms find weak posts. A leaning run usually means posts that weren't set deep enough, footings that cracked or shifted, soil that stays soggy, or privacy panels catching wind like a sail. Sumner County is in the energy code's climate zone 4A (the A means moist), and wet soil plus strong storm winds is exactly what tests a post's footing.
Often only a few posts need to be reset or replaced. If a long section leans the same way, ask the contractor to check post depth, the footings and whether heavy panels are overloading the posts.
"The posts are rotting at the bottom"
Wood posts rot fastest right at the soil line, where they stay damp. Concrete collars that hold water against the wood, sprinklers and soil or mulch piled against the boards speed it up. Gallatin's zoning rules also expect fences to be kept in good repair, including replacing decayed parts, so a rotten post is worth fixing before it fails. Better-rated wood, steel posts behind wood boards, or vinyl are common fixes.
"Which side of the fence has to face out?"
In Gallatin, the city's fence requirements say fences and walls must be built with the "good" or finished side facing outward, toward neighbors and the street, rather than toward the inside of your lot. The Zoning Administrator can vary this in some situations, such as where the unfinished side won't be visible. Shadow-box styles that look finished on both sides are allowed.
"How tall can my fence be?"
In Gallatin's residential and mixed-use zones, fences and walls can be up to four feet in a required front yard and up to six feet in required side and rear yards. A front-yard fence also can't be more than 50 percent opaque, so solid privacy panels generally belong in the side and back. If a fence sits on a retaining wall or berm, the combined height counts. Near intersections, nothing can block the view between two and a half and ten feet above the street grade, so corner lots need extra care.
"Do I need a permit, and what about my HOA?"
The City of Gallatin's Fence Requirements page says a fence permit is required before you build a fence or wall, with a site plan showing the height, location, materials, existing structures and distances from lot lines. The city also puts it on the property owner to make sure the fence follows the subdivision's restrictive covenants or HOA rules. Ask your contractor who will apply for the permit, and get HOA approval in writing first.
"Who calls 811?"
Tennessee 811 asks for at least three working days' notice for a normal locate request, which is 72 hours not counting weekends and holidays, and a ticket is valid for 15 calendar days after the start date on it. Ask your fence contractor to confirm they have a valid ticket before they dig.
Words to use when you call
No trade terms needed. Tell the contractor things like:
- "The back fence is leaning after the storm last week."
- "A few posts are soft and wobbly at the bottom."
- "I want privacy in the back but something open in the front."
- "Our HOA requires a specific style and color."
- "We're on a corner lot."
Ask before you sign
- Who applies for the Gallatin fence permit, and is the site plan included?
- Will the fence meet the height and front-yard opacity rules for my lot?
- How deep will you set the posts, including gate posts?
- Does the finished side face out, as the city requires?
- Do you have a valid Tennessee 811 ticket before digging?
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Sources checked 2026-11-02: City of Gallatin: Fence Requirements; Tennessee 811: homeowners; IRC Table N1101.7 climate zones by county (UpCodes).