Cost guide
What fence and deck work costs on Long Island
What public data can and cannot tell you
No government agency publishes a price list for fence and deck work on Long Island, and vendor price ranges are not facts. What public data does show is what the labor costs, what the towns charge for permits, and what grants exist. The price for your job comes from licensed pros' written estimates after they see it.
What the trade earns on Long Island
| Occupation | Entry level | Median | Experienced | Jobs on Long Island |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carpenters | $54,732 | $78,841 | $97,440 | 7,110 |
| Fence Erectors | $35,360 | $35,717 | $54,150 | 260 |
Annual pay from the New York State Department of Labor, updated to the first quarter of 2026. Entry level is the average of the lowest third of wages; experienced is the average of the top two thirds.
What the towns charge
- City of Glen Cove: The City treats decks and porches as additions that need a permit. Its fee schedule bills them as a building permit: $250.00 for the first $1,000 of value, then $20.00 for each added $1,000 or part of it.
- Town of Southampton: Southampton's fee for a fence over 4 feet and up to 6 feet is $.10 per linear foot, with a $50 minimum.
- Town of Southold: Southold charges $500 for an area variance application involving a fence at the Zoning Board of Appeals.
- Town of Southold: Southold prices deck additions to existing homes with new dwellings, additions and alterations, at $250 plus $0.50 for each square foot of floor area.
- Town of Shelter Island: Shelter Island's 2022 fee schedule lists a new fence at $75.00 and charges no fee for repairs.
- Town of Shelter Island: The town's 2022 fee schedule prices a new Shelter Island deck of up to 500 square feet at $250.00.
What moves the price
Fence and deck prices turn on the length or the square footage, the material, the footings, the height of the deck off the ground, and the railings and stairs.
How to compare estimates
- Give every company the same scope, in writing, so the prices compare.
- Check what each estimate includes: permits, disposal, patching, cleanup and warranties.
- Ask how changes are priced once work starts.
- Never pay most of the price up front.
Related
Questions homeowners ask
How much does a fence or deck builder cost on Long Island?
No public agency publishes job prices. The price comes from written estimates after a licensed pro sees the job. For context, Long Island carpenters earn a median $78,841 a year, according to the New York State Department of Labor.
Why do estimates for the same job differ so much?
Usually because they price different scopes: different materials, permits, disposal or warranties. Give each company the same written scope and the prices compare.
Sources
Every fact on this page comes from these official pages. Rules and fees change, so confirm with the office before you file anything.
- New York State Department of Labor, Occupational Wages (Long Island region, wages updated to the first quarter of 2026) (read 2026-11-03)
- City of Glen Cove, Building Department, and the documents it links: Building Permit Application, Building Permit Application Checklist (rev 11/2020) and Fee Schedule (As Amended 12/23/2024; linked as Effective 03/18/25) (read 2026-11-03)
- Town of Southampton, Building and Zoning Fee Schedule (Residential) (read 2026-11-03; page dated effective 05/26/2026)
- Town of Southold, Zoning Board of Appeals submission process (read 2026-11-03; page dated October 4, 2023)
- Town of Southold, Fee Schedule (read 2026-11-03)
- Town of Shelter Island, 2022 Building Department Fees (read 2026-11-03; page dated 2022)
Checked 2026-11-03. Facts come only from the official pages listed, read on that date.
Talk the job through before you call anyone
Tell us about the house and the job in about four minutes. Revival calls you, free, to go over the scope, the budget, the timing and your town's permit office. Contractor matches open as our first licensed partners sign.