Home / Areas We Serve / Hockessin, DE
Hockessin Fence Contractors & Builders Serving New Castle County
Joe Giunta is on every job. Hockessin’s terrain and soil require it.
Hockessin is unincorporated New Castle County, and the terrain here is not uniform. The wooded rolling hills near Delcastle Recreational Park behave differently from the lower areas near Mill Creek. J&A Fence runs crews here and in nearby New Castle County areas weekly. We check the site conditions before we dig. Owner Joe Giunta is on-site for every project.
Schedule Your Free Estimate Today





Best of Chester County
2021 & 2022
~16 Years in Southern
Chester County
PA Licensed:
HIC#PA096519
5 Year Workmanship
Warranty
Licensed &
Insured
High-Performance Fencing for Hockessin Properties: Vinyl, Wood, Aluminum, & Privacy Systems


Wood Fence Systems
Board-on-board and stockade styles read as traditional on colonial and stone ranch lots — and they define a sloped property line cleanly, where aluminum would be overkill. We use pressure-treated lumber for structural posts and Western Red Cedar for boards where natural decay resistance matters.

Aluminum Fence
Hockessin’s rolling terrain is where aluminum earns its place. Rackable panels follow the slope continuously, so there are no gaps at grade and no stepped-panel staircase effect on a rolling lot.

Vinyl Fence Systems
The large single-family colonials, brick Cape Cods, and stone ranch-style homes that define this market do not need a fence that requires annual maintenance. Vinyl handles the wet Delaware winters without staining, sealing, or follow-up. Our USA-assembled Country Estate panels are built to withstand this climate.

Privacy Fence Systems
Hockessin’s large residential lots and close-set neighborhoods both have demand for privacy fencing. Solid panels carry significantly more wind load than picket styles — which is exactly why privacy posts need to be set to the full 32–40-inch frost depth, not the minimum permitted.
Engineered for Hockessin, DE: Why Depth Matters for New Castle County Soil
The wooded rolling hills around Delcastle Recreational Park and the neighborhoods near Hoopes Reservoir sit on a mix of silt loam, loamy sand, and poorly drained soils in the lower areas. Some properties near the region’s karst geology encounter rocky substrate. Others deal with heavy clay that holds water in the post hole.
The frost line for New Castle County runs 32 to 40 inches. We set posts to the correct depth for the specific site conditions. In poorly drained areas, we account for drainage before the concrete goes in. In rocky areas, we use hydraulic augers. Hand digging to frost depth in its substrate is not a realistic approach.

How a J&A Fence Project Works: Estimate, Install, Walk-Through
No project managers relaying messages. Your crew lead reports directly to Joe Giunta — here’s how a job runs:
1
On-Site Estimate &
Layout Planning
We visit your property to review boundaries, discuss styles, and confirm measurements. We handle the permit process and coordinate site details in advance.
2
Professional
Installation
Our trained field crews execute the build.
3
Final Walkthrough &
Warranty
We walk the fence line with you before we leave — gates swing true, posts are plumb, panels are flush. If anything’s off, it gets fixed that day. All work is backed by our 5-Year Workmanship Warranty.
Fence Codes & Etiquette: Navigating Permits, Property Lines, & Zoning
We submit to the New Castle County Department of Land Use and track the review.
Quick Guide to New Castle County Regulations for Hockessin
Front Yard Limit
New Castle County Fences FAQ suggests a 6-foot maximum, but front yard specifics need verification for its residential zoning. Contact our team or the Department of Land Use for current specific requirements; we verify all dimensions prior to permitting.
Rear & Side Yard Limit
Rear and side yard fences are typically permitted up to 6 feet in height, as per the New Castle County Fences FAQ.
Permit Processing
A permit is required for fence installation in New Castle County. Delaware state law suggests a maximum of 15 business days for permit processing; actual timing varies based on application completeness and inspector availability.
Zoning Office
New Castle County Department of Land Use, 87 Reads Way, New Castle, DE 19720.
What Your Neighbors Are Saying
Why New Castle County Homeowners Book Us
J&A Fence has been recognized by the Daily Local News as a Best of Chester County contractor every year since 2021 — a Pennsylvania award that signals consistent quality across the region we serve. We hold HomeAdvisor’s Elite Service designation, their highest-tier rating. Licensed and insured for Delaware projects.
We have installed near Swift Memorial Park, in Wellington Hills, and on the wooded properties along Lancaster Pike. If something’s wrong, Joe’s on your property the same day — not rerouted through a service ticket. We back all work with a 5-year workmanship warranty.





Recent Fence Installations in Hockessin: Real-World Results






Proudly Serving Hockessin, Wilmington, Newark, and Greater New Castle County
We run crews across New Castle County. Our crews know the grade changes on Lancaster Pike, the tight setbacks in Wellington Hills, and the rocky lots near Delcastle.
Ready to Build Your Fence?
We know the rolling terrain here in Hockessin. We know the clay and rocky soils. We set the depth. We offer flexible financing options and back all our work with a 5-year workmanship warranty.
J&A Fence | 8097 Gap Newport Pike, Avondale, PA 19311 | (484) 202-7149
Request an Estimate






Frequently Asked Questions about Fence Installation in Hockessin
What are the zoning requirements for fences in Hockessin?
New Castle County requires permits for fence installation. Rear and side yard fences are typically permitted up to 6 feet in height. We verify all current dimensions with the Department of Land Use prior to permitting.
How do the varied terrain and soil conditions impact fence installation?
Hockessin features rolling hills, wooded areas, and some flat sections, with soil types ranging from silt loam to poorly drained clay and rocky substrate. A post set shallow in the frost cycle will lean by spring. We’ve fixed enough of those to set them right the first time — 32–40 inches, no shortcuts.
Is a permit required for fence installation in Hockessin, DE?
Yes. We handle the application at 87 Reads Way and track the process on your behalf.
What is the typical frost line depth, and why is it important?
New Castle County building code specifies 32–40 inches. Posts set shallower will heave as the ground freezes and thaws. On a sloped lot, a heaved post compromises the entire run.
How does J&A Fence address potential drainage issues or heavy clay soils?
Heavy clay and poor drainage are common. We assess each site and set posts accordingly — gravel collar drainage, proper concrete backfill, and, when needed, post sleeves to manage water movement.
What fence styles work best on large residential lots?
Colonials and stone ranch homes in Hockessin tend to suit board-on-board wood, vinyl privacy panels, or racked aluminum, depending on the lot. We’ll recommend based on grade, setback, and what your neighbors are running — not just what photographs well.
