How much does a fence cost in Covington and the Northshore?
Most fences around Covington and the Northshore run about $10 to $45 per linear foot installed, which puts a typical residential yard in the $3,000 to $9,000 range. Chain link sits at the low end, wood and vinyl in the middle, and ornamental aluminum or iron at the top. Where you land comes down to the material, the height, how many gates, and what your soil and permits require.
What a fence costs per linear foot
Fence installation is usually priced by the linear foot, and the material is the single biggest factor. Here is what the common options run installed around the Northshore and Greater New Orleans in 2026. These are market ranges, not a W2 quote, since the real number depends on your yard.
| Material | Installed, per linear foot |
|---|---|
| Chain link | $10–$20 |
| Wood, pressure-treated pine | $15–$24 |
| Wood, cedar | $22–$30 |
| Vinyl (PVC) | $20–$35 |
| Aluminum / ornamental | $25–$45 |
| Wrought iron | $30–$60 |
Labor is roughly half of any of these numbers. The rest is material, hardware, and the gates.
What a full fence project runs
For a whole yard, the total tracks your footage. Most residential jobs fall between 150 and 250 linear feet, which lands a typical project in the $3,000 to $9,000 range once you pick a material and add a gate.
A common benchmark is about $4,500 for 200 feet of four-foot cedar picket with a gate. The same 200 feet in chain link runs closer to $2,000 to $4,000, while vinyl or ornamental aluminum can reach $7,000 to $9,000. Fencing just the three open sides of a quarter-acre back yard usually needs 150 to 200 feet, so it sits at the lower end of those ranges.
What drives your fence price up or down
- Material is the big one, from chain link at the bottom to iron and composite at the top (see the table above).
- Height adds up. A six-foot privacy fence costs noticeably more than a four-foot fence, and eight-foot is another step up.
- Gates each add hardware and labor. A walk gate runs about $150 to $250, and a wide or automated drive gate can run several hundred to a couple thousand.
- Tearing out an old fence adds about $3 to $5 per linear foot for removal and haul-off.
- Terrain matters. Slopes, tree roots, and brush that has to be cleared first all add labor.
- Permits and surveys can add a small line item (more on that below).
The Louisiana factors that change the price here
Two local conditions on the Northshore affect both the price and the right material.
The first is the ground. St. Tammany Parish soil is clay-heavy with a high water table, and that moisture sits against fence posts. A crew that knows the area digs the post holes deeper, adds a gravel base so water drains away, or switches to metal posts, especially in the wettest spots. That care costs a little more up front, but it is the difference between a fence that stands straight for decades and one that heaves or rots in a few years.
The second is the climate. Heavy humidity and aggressive Formosan termites are hard on wood, and Gulf hurricanes punish solid privacy fences. Those pressures often push the smart choice toward vinyl or aluminum, which cost more per foot but skip the rot, termite, and rebuild costs down the road. We break that down in the best fence types for Louisiana weather and in our fence material comparison.
Do you need a permit, and what does it cost?
Often, yes. Most incorporated Northshore towns require a fence permit, and the fee is usually modest, in the range of $50 to $150. Flood zones, which cover a lot of the parish, can also affect what kind of fence you are allowed to put up. We cover the details in do you need a fence permit in St. Tammany Parish, and we handle the permit on the jobs we build.
FAQ
What is a fair price for fence installation? Around the Northshore, plan on $10 to $45 per linear foot installed, depending on the material. Most homeowners spend $3,000 to $9,000 on a standard yard. A fair quote breaks out material and labor instead of giving one lump number, so you can compare bids. Labor is usually about half the total.
How much is 200 feet of fence? Roughly $2,000 to $9,000 installed, depending on the material. Chain link runs about $2,000 to $4,000 for 200 feet, a wood privacy fence lands around $4,000 to $6,000, and vinyl or ornamental aluminum can reach $7,000 to $9,000. Gates, height, and tear-out of an old fence add to it.
How much does it cost to fence a typical back yard? A typical quarter-acre back yard, fencing the three open sides, runs about $2,300 for chain link, $3,800 to $6,000 for wood, and $4,500 or more for vinyl. The exact number depends on the footage, the height, how many gates, and whether the old fence has to come out first.
Does it cost more to put a fence in Louisiana’s wet, clay soil? It can. The Northshore’s clay and high water table hold moisture against the posts, so a good crew digs deeper, adds a gravel base for drainage, or uses metal posts. That care adds a little labor up front but it is what keeps the fence from heaving or rotting early.
How much does it cost to remove an old fence? Tear-out and haul-off usually runs about $3 to $5 per linear foot, or a few hundred dollars for a typical yard. It is worth doing right, since a new fence sits better and lasts longer when the old posts and footings are fully removed first.
Get a real number for your fence
Every yard is different, and the only way to know your price is to measure yours. W2 Commercial Construction builds fences across Covington, Mandeville, Madisonville, Slidell, and the Northshore. Ask for a free estimate and we will walk the property, talk through the material that fits your budget and your lot, and put a written price in your hands.