Fence Company in Smithfield, NC

Southern Built Fence Co is a Johnston County fence company based in Four Oaks, and we build fences in Smithfield, NC, about 15 minutes up I-95 from our base. We install privacy, wood, vinyl, aluminum, chain link and farm fence, build custom gates, and repair fences of any age. Estimates are free. Call (910) 786-1243.

Fences we build in Smithfield

Privacy fences: Six-foot wood or vinyl privacy for back yards.
Front-yard fences: Open picket, aluminum or split rail that meets the front-yard rules.
Vinyl fences: No painting, and it holds up to our humidity.
Aluminum fences: Decorative and open, a clean look for older homes near downtown and for pool areas.
Chain link: Budget-friendly and strong for pets, kids and kennels.
Farm fence: Field and pasture fence for the acreage outside town.
Gates and repairs: Custom walk and drive gates, leaning posts, rotted boards and storm damage.

Smithfield fence rules and permits

Smithfield's Planning Department says fences are regulated by the town's Unified Development Ordinance, but no permit is required. That does not mean anything goes: a fence that breaks the rules can still lead to a zoning violation.

Fences may not be taller than six feet unless the Town Council approves it. In a front yard, no fence or wall taller than three feet can be more than 75 percent solid, so a front-yard privacy fence is out, but an open picket or aluminum fence can work. On corner lots, fences in the sight triangle near the intersection cannot be taller than 30 inches, so drivers can see around them.

The same rules reach beyond town limits. Smithfield has an extraterritorial jurisdiction, or ETJ, covering about two miles around the corporate limits, and the town says its zoning applies there too. Farther out, you are in unincorporated Johnston County, which has no fence setback but recommends keeping the fence 1 to 2 feet inside your property line.

If you are in an HOA, its covenants can be stricter than the town's. We check your zoning, your HOA and your property line before we build.

Local conditions in Smithfield

Smithfield is the Johnston County seat and one of the oldest towns in the county, established in 1777. The Neuse River runs west of downtown and separates it from West Smithfield. Downtown is a historic district, and the streets around it have older homes on established lots, with mature trees, old fence lines and driveways that need a clear view to the street.

Away from the center, Smithfield has newer neighborhoods near I-95 and US-70, many with HOA rules, and rural homes on larger lots at the edges of the ETJ. Some of the ground near the river and the creeks, including along the Buffalo Creek Greenway, sits low and stays wet after a hard rain. We look at drainage and set posts deep in concrete.

Smithfield is close to home for us. It is a short run up I-95 from Four Oaks, so estimates come quickly and a follow-up visit is not a big trip.

What is included

Free on-site estimate: We walk the property with you and give you a real number.
UDO and HOA check: Heights, front-yard openness, corner sight lines and HOA rules, checked before we build.
Property line walk: If the line is unclear, we will tell you when a survey makes sense.
Posts set in concrete: Set deep and spaced for wind and wet ground.
Quick timeline: Most residential jobs are done within a week or two of approval, weather permitting.
Warranty and financing: A 1-year warranty on installations covering workmanship and materials, and financing is available.

Areas we serve near Smithfield

We cover Smithfield inside town limits, West Smithfield across the Neuse, and the neighborhoods off I-95 Exits 93, 95 and 97 and along US-70. From our Four Oaks base we also serve Selma, Four Oaks, Benson, Clayton, Garner, Goldsboro and the rest of the surrounding Johnston County area.

Not sure whether your address is in town, in the ETJ or in the county? That is one of the first things we check.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a permit to build a fence in Smithfield?
Smithfield's Planning Department says no permit is required for a fence, but fences still have to follow the town's Unified Development Ordinance, inside town limits and in the ETJ. We check your lot against those rules before we build.

Can I put a privacy fence in my front yard in Smithfield?
Not a tall one. The town says no fence taller than three feet in a front yard can be more than 75 percent solid. Open styles like picket, aluminum or split rail are the usual choice out front.

What does a fence cost in Smithfield?
It depends on the length, the height, the number of gates, the material and the terrain. The estimate is free. Call (910) 786-1243 and we will give you a real number.

Will my HOA let me build the fence I want?
Many Smithfield neighborhoods have covenants on height, material or color. We help you check them before we build so your fence is approved from day one.

How soon can you start?
After you approve the estimate, most residential jobs are finished within a week or two, weather permitting. Since the town does not require a fence permit, HOA approval is usually the only wait.

Phone: 910-786-1243