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  Residential fencing is a great way to keep intruders from entering a yard, while providing some privacy from neighbors. Fencing can be chain link, wood or plastic material. Fence post placement, however, is fairly universal for all fencing types. There are some general rules about post placement that should be followed.
  
  

Fence Post Placement

• Fence posts should be placed no more than 8 feet from one another as fencing sections should not exceed 8 feet to maintain stability throughout the fence. Using a string line will help keep the fence posts in a perfect line and avoid unwanted curves.
  
  

Buried Post Depth

• Posts should be buried a minimum of 36 inches in the ground . A better practice in areas where the ground freezes is burying the posts 4 feet deep. This ensures that the posts are below the frost line making movement minimal. For fences over 4 feet in height, concrete is required to anchor the posts.
  
  

Fence Panel Attachment to Fence Posts

• To attach fence panels to the fence posts, galvanized screws or nails must be used. If the nails or screws are not galvanized, they will rust and break easily and can cause injury.
  
  

Property Lines

• The general rule in fence post placement is 2 feet from the property line on your side, allowing you to make maintenance repairs to the fence. Fence posts against the sidewalk can be within a foot of the sidewalk in most areas. These are general rules and may be different from in your jurisdiction. Always check your local building codes and set back regulations before starting a fencing project.