When Rhode Island homeowners come to us for a fence estimate, the first question we ask is: what do you need the fence to do? The answer almost always falls into one of three categories — privacy, pet containment, or pool safety. Each has a clear winner.
Best Fences for Privacy
If your goal is to block the view from the street, a neighboring house, or a shared property line, you need a solid fence with no gaps. Here are the top options:
1. Vinyl Privacy Fence — Best Overall
A 6-foot vinyl privacy fence is the most popular privacy solution we install across Rhode Island. It provides complete visual screening, requires virtually no maintenance, and looks great year after year. The tight panel construction means no gaps — you get a true privacy barrier. Available in white, tan, gray, and two-tone combinations.
2. Wood Privacy Fence — Best for Customization
If you want a more natural aesthetic or need a custom height or style, a wood privacy fence is the way to go. Board-on-board construction adds visual interest while still blocking the view. Cedar is the best wood choice for Rhode Island's climate — it's naturally rot-resistant and handles our humid summers and wet springs well. Requires staining or sealing every 2–3 years.
3. Stockade / Board-on-Board
Technically a style of wood fence, stockade and board-on-board are worth mentioning specifically because they're among the most privacy-effective options. The overlapping boards mean there are no sightline gaps even as the wood shifts slightly with seasonal temperature changes.
Best Fences for Pets
Pet containment fencing has different requirements than privacy fencing. You need height to prevent jumping, a solid base to prevent digging underneath, and gaps small enough that a determined dog can't squeeze through.
1. Vinyl Privacy Fence — Best for Dogs
A 5- or 6-foot vinyl privacy fence with panels set close to the ground is the gold standard for dog containment. No gaps to squeeze through, no easy toeholds to climb, and no wood to chew through. It's also easy to clean. For large or athletic breeds, 6 feet is the minimum we'd recommend.
2. Chain Link — Best Value for Pet Containment
Chain link is cost-effective, durable, and excellent for securing a large area for dogs. It's not a privacy solution, but for a dog run or a large yard where budget matters, galvanized chain link is hard to beat. For dogs that tend to climb, consider a fence with a slight inward overhang at the top.
3. Wood Privacy Fence — Good, With Caveats
Wood works well for most dogs, but heavy chewers can work through boards over time — especially along the bottom where ground moisture softens the wood. If you have a chewer, vinyl is the better long-term bet.
What About Small Dogs?
Small dogs often don't need height — they need gap control. A standard picket fence with pickets spaced 3–3.5 inches apart can contain most small breeds. Talk to us about picket spacing options when you get your estimate.
Best Fences for Pools
Pool fencing across Rhode Island, Massachusetts, and Connecticut is not optional — it is mandated by state law and enforced at the local building department level. The requirements are specific, and failing inspection means you can't legally use the pool until corrections are made. Here's what each state requires.
Rhode Island Pool Fence Requirements
Rhode Island follows the International Residential Code (IRC) barrier requirements as adopted by the state building code:
- Minimum 48 inches (4 feet) tall on all sides
- No openings larger than 4 inches in any direction
- Gates must be self-closing and self-latching, with the latch located on the pool side of the gate at least 54 inches above grade — or on the outside if the release mechanism is at least 3 inches below the top of the gate
- No footholds, handholds, or horizontal rails that would allow a child to climb
- The fence must fully enclose the pool area — walls of the house may serve as part of the barrier in some configurations, but this must be reviewed with your local building department
- Bottom clearance of no more than 2 inches between the fence and the ground
Requirements vary by municipality. Providence, Warwick, and other cities may have additional local requirements beyond the state code. Always verify with your local building department before installation.
Massachusetts Pool Fence Requirements
Massachusetts enforces pool barrier requirements under 780 CMR (the Massachusetts State Building Code), which adopts the International Residential Code with state amendments:
- Minimum 48 inches (4 feet) tall
- No openings larger than 4 inches in any direction
- Gates must be self-closing and self-latching; latch must be on the pool side and positioned so that a child cannot reach over the top to operate it
- Gate latch must be at least 54 inches above grade or shielded from the outside
- No climbable horizontal members or footholds on the outside of the fence
- The fence must completely enclose the pool; house walls may be used as part of the barrier only if all doors opening onto the pool area are equipped with self-closing, self-latching hardware
- Maximum 2-inch gap between fence bottom and ground
Massachusetts municipalities including Attleboro, North Attleboro, Fall River, Seekonk, and Taunton enforce these requirements at the local level. A building permit is required in all Massachusetts municipalities for pool fence installation.
Connecticut Pool Fence Requirements
Connecticut adopted the International Swimming Pool and Spa Code (ISPSC) as part of the Connecticut State Building Code. Key requirements include:
- Minimum 48 inches (4 feet) tall
- No openings larger than 4 inches — for chain link, the mesh size must be 1¼ inches or smaller, or the fence must have slats that reduce openings to 1¾ inches or less
- Gates must be self-closing and self-latching; latch must be located on the pool side of the gate, at least 54 inches above grade
- No horizontal members between 45 inches and 60 inches above grade on the outside of the fence (climbing prevention)
- Bottom clearance of no more than 2 inches from the ground
- The fence must fully enclose the pool; under Connecticut's rules, a house wall may be used as a barrier only if specific alarm requirements are met on all doors opening to the pool area
Norwich, Putnam, and other eastern Connecticut municipalities enforce these requirements. Permit requirements vary by town — Lynch Fence is familiar with local building departments across the region and handles the permit process on every pool project.
1. Aluminum Ornamental Fence — Best for Pools
Aluminum ornamental fencing is the most popular pool enclosure choice across all three states. It meets code requirements out of the box, looks elegant, never rusts, and requires minimal maintenance. The vertical picket design has no climbing footholds, spacing is easy to control for 4-inch compliance, and self-latching gate hardware is standard on every installation we do.
2. Vinyl Fence — Code-Compliant with Full Privacy
A properly specified vinyl fence meets pool code requirements in RI, MA, and CT while also giving you full visual privacy. Ideal for homeowners who want the pool area screened from neighbors. Panels must be installed with no more than a 2-inch bottom gap, and gate hardware must meet self-closing/latching requirements — both of which we spec on every pool project.
3. Chain Link — Budget Option
Chain link can meet pool code in all three states if specified correctly (mesh size 1¼ inches or smaller in CT; vinyl-coated chain link with proper hardware). It's a viable option where budget is the primary concern, though it's rarely the first choice for residential pool areas. We can also add privacy slats to chain link to improve both appearance and visual screening.
Combining Purposes
Many homeowners need a fence to do more than one thing — contain a dog and provide privacy, for example. The good news is that most privacy fences also work well for pet containment. A 6-foot vinyl privacy fence with panels close to the ground handles both jobs perfectly.
For pool areas where you also want privacy, a vinyl privacy fence with a self-latching gate is a popular combination — it meets code and blocks the view from neighbors.
Not sure what you need? Give us a call at (401) 356-4699 or request a free estimate. We'll walk your property and help you choose the right fence for your specific situation.
Areas We Serve in Rhode Island
Lynch Fence installs fencing across all of Rhode Island. Find your town: