Chain link fence installation in Rapid City, SD
The durable, see-through fence that keeps dogs and kids in without blocking the view of the hills.
Chain link has a reputation as plain, but there are good reasons it's everywhere. It's strong, it lets wind pass through instead of fighting it, it doesn't rot, and it costs less per foot than most solid fences. On an open Rapid City lot where wind is the main enemy, that matters.
What options are there?
- Galvanized. The standard silver fence. Tough and long-lived.
- Black or green vinyl-coated. Blends into a yard and the view much better than bare metal.
- Privacy slats. Add some screening, but they also add wind load, so the posts need to be up to it.
- Dog runs and kennels. Smaller enclosures, sometimes with a top.
- Tall or commercial grade. Heavier wire and posts for sport courts or business property, where taller fences are often allowed.
How do you make chain link dog-proof?
Dogs push out under the bottom or climb at the corners. Ask for a bottom tension wire or a bottom rail so the mesh can't be lifted, and pick a height that matches your dog. Self-closing, self-latching gates help if kids are going in and out. Keep in mind Rapid City's 4-foot front yard limit if the run wraps toward the street.
Wire gauge and posts
Lower gauge numbers mean thicker wire. Ask what gauge mesh is being used, the diameter of line and terminal posts, and how deep posts are set. Terminal posts at corners and gates carry the tension of the whole run, so they need to go deep and be set solidly.
Barbed wire on top?
Not on a house in town. Rapid City's code bans barbed wire in residential districts, and Summerset requires Planning Commission approval for any barbed wire security fence. If you need extra security on commercial property, have the contractor confirm what your zoning allows.
Pricing comes from the contractor, after they've walked the line, looked at the grade and the soil, counted gates and heard what the fence has to do. We don't quote prices, and any figure given over the phone before someone sees the property is a rough guess at best.
Where we connect you with help
Common questions
Is chain link good for windy lots?
Yes. Open mesh lets wind pass through, so it puts far less load on posts than a solid fence. Adding privacy slats changes that.
Can chain link have barbed wire in Rapid City?
Not in residential districts. The city code bans barbed wire there.
Related services
More background: Rapid City fence guide.
Backyard to close in, a gate that drags, or a fence the wind laid over?
Call the number above and a fence contractor who works in your part of the Black Hills will set a time to look at the line.