Fence Removal by Fence Type

Every fence comes down in the same order: gates, then the infill (boards, wire or panels), then rails, then posts. What changes from one type to the next is how the infill is fastened and how much the posts fight back.

Six-foot wooden privacy fence with gray, leaning pickets and a broken rail along the back of a suburban yard

Wood privacy fences

A privacy fence is solid boards end to end, so even a short run is a lot of lumber. Sound sections can be unscrewed and lifted off whole; rotten ones split and come down in pieces, which takes longer to pick up. Posts are often set in concrete. Pressure-treated boards can't be burned under North Carolina rules and go to the landfill as building debris, not to the yard waste sites.

Old chain-link fence fabric rolled up on the grass with galvanized top rail sections and posts stacked beside it

Chain-link fences

Chain link is the cheapest fence to take out. The crew cuts the tie wires, unrolls the fabric off the posts and rolls it tight, then pulls the top rail and posts. It's all steel, so ask whether the hauler takes it for scrap and credits you; see scrap metal pickup. Posts in concrete come out with a post puller or get cut at grade.

Low white picket fence with peeling paint and a weathered split-rail fence section lying in a front yard

Picket and split-rail fences

Picket fences are short and light but usually painted, and cost guides note that lumber with lead-based paint can need special handling. Don't sand or burn old painted pickets. Split-rail fences usually have no fasteners: the rails sit in holes cut through the posts and lift out. Cost guides put split rail at $3 to $5 a foot, slightly above picket.

White vinyl privacy fence panels lying flat on a lawn after removal, with hollow posts still standing

Vinyl fences

Vinyl panels slide out of their posts in whole sections, which keeps the job neat. Because vinyl comes out in solid sections, cost guides price it at $3 to $4 a foot, the same as chain link. The hollow posts may be sleeved over a concrete footing, so ask how the hauler handles those.

Gloved worker carrying an old wooden kitchen chair down brick porch steps toward a white pickup with another chair in the bed

Why Winston-Salem homeowners call Winston-Salem Junk Co.

Your request goes to a single independent hauler
Hear the all-in figure before anything is carried out
Calling is free; the hauler bills only the job you OK
Mention stairs, a gate code or a hot tub when you call

Fence Removal Cost by Length

National cost data for 2026, per Angi:

Fence length	Chain link	Wood
100 feet	$300 to $400	$300 to $500
175 feet	$525 to $700	$525 to $875
325 feet	$975 to $1,300	$975 to $1,625

Hourly
When billed by the hour, fence crews run about $40 to $90.

Disposal is weight-based, and a long run of privacy fence is a lot of lumber. Ask whether the dump fee is inside the quote.

New Fence After the Old One

Many fence removals are really the first half of a replacement. A few local points:

City permit
The City of Winston-Salem requires a building permit only for fences over 6 feet tall. Above that, the fee is $0.15 per square foot with a $100 minimum, and the plans need an engineer's seal.
Property line
The City has no fence setback outside easements and rights of way, but advises staying at least 6 inches off the line to avoid disputes with neighbors. Removal is a good time to find the survey pins.
Old posts
If the new fence follows the same line, tell the hauler whether to pull the old posts or cut them flush.
HOA rules
The City doesn't enforce homeowners association rules, but the association may.

See deck removal when a deck or pergola comes out alongside the fence.

Fence Removal in Winston-Salem, NC

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