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Fence Inspection Checklist: Posts Panels and Gates (Free Printable PDF)

Fillable visual property-fence form for posts, panels, rails, gates, hardware, grade, and vegetation. Print blank or save a filled PDF.

Inspections Fillable form · 9 sections · 52 checks Download filled or blank PDF and CSV Cross-checked against IRC, CPSC, ISPSC, and InterNACHI SOP · Last verified Sep 16, 2026

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Fill this on screen, then download a PDF or CSV. Download a blank copy to complete by hand. Answers stay in this tab only. The next visitor sees a blank form. This is a visual walk of property fencing on a US house lot: posts, panels, rails, gates, hardware, grade, and vegetation. It is not a CPSC or ISPSC pool-barrier exam. Mark the pool-fence station N/A if there is no pool or spa.

  • 9 sections
  • 52 checks
  • Blank for each visitor

Form details

Property

This is a visual template, not a licensed home inspection report, not a survey of property lines, and not a municipal code inspection. InterNACHI 3.2 and ASHI section 4 are not required to inspect fences or boundary walls. Adopted codes and fence-height zoning vary by city. There is no federal height Pass/Fail for ordinary yard fences.

10 fields
Property

Describe mixed runs in Notes on the stations. Mark material-specific lines N/A when that product is not present.

Write the height you measured, and where. Home Depot: backyard fence height is often limited locally to 6 feet or 8 feet, and you will likely need a permit. That is local zoning or a building department rule, not a federal yard-fence Pass/Fail. Do not copy pool-barrier 48 inches onto an ordinary lot line.

InterNACHI is not required to inspect items that are not visible or readily accessible from the ground. Record blocked neighbor-side faces here.

Dry, raining, or recent freeze. Soft wood after a wet week is easier to find. Heave shows more after a thaw.

If there is no pool or spa, mark every line on the pool-fence station N/A. CPSC Pub. 362 and ISPSC 305 apply only to that station.

Inspection station

Posts

Walk line, corner, end, and gate posts. Do not invent a frost-depth or hole-size Pass/Fail. You cannot see buried footings. InterNACHI is not required to inspect underground items.

8 items
Posts

Line posts reasonably plumb along the run you walked

Sight down the line. Home Depot sets posts plumb in concrete and braces them until the mix sets. A single post out of plumb with sound wood can still be a defect if the run is leaning. Write which bays.

Line posts reasonably plumb along the run you walked: OK, Defect, or N/A

Posts do not rock or lean when pushed at waist height

Push each post you can reach. Movement at grade, a hollow sound, or soil that has washed from the crown is a defect. Do not dig to prove footing depth.

Posts do not rock or lean when pushed at waist height: OK, Defect, or N/A

Wood posts not soft, crumbling, or hollow at and just above grade

Probe suspect faces with a screwdriver if the owner allows. USDA FPL: the ground-line is the high-decay zone for fence posts. Mark N/A on metal or vinyl posts.

Wood posts not soft, crumbling, or hollow at and just above grade: OK, Defect, or N/A

Visible concrete at the post slopes away and does not hold water

Home Depot: slope the concrete away from the post and fill the remaining hole with dirt after the mix sets. A dish that ponds at the wood is a defect. Mark N/A if there is no visible concrete.

Visible concrete at the post slopes away and does not hold water: OK, Defect, or N/A

Posts not obviously lifted, tilted, or heaved from freeze-thaw

Home Depot install text: in colder climates, dig below the local frost line or posts can heave. That depth is install advice, not a number you can verify on a finished fence. Report only what you see at grade. Do not invent a frost-depth Pass/Fail.

Posts not obviously lifted, tilted, or heaved from freeze-thaw: OK, Defect, or N/A

Post tops capped or otherwise shedding water

Home Depot finishes wood posts with a cap, tapped on and tacked with a galvanized finish nail. Open end grain that stays wet is a decay path (USDA FPL). Vinyl and metal post caps belong here too. Cosmetic missing caps on otherwise sound posts can stay OK with a note.

Post tops capped or otherwise shedding water: OK, Defect, or N/A

Corner, end, and gate posts present and not failing on their own

USDA FPL: gate and corner posts are often a larger 6x6. A line post can look fine while a gate post has rotated. Mark Defect if the hinge or latch post has moved even when the rest of the run is OK.

Corner, end, and gate posts present and not failing on their own: OK, Defect, or N/A

If an end tag is visible, it is ground-contact treatment, or the post is not wood

USDA FPL: residential sawn fence posts in soil, gravel, or concrete are typically AWPA UC4A (UC4B in high-decay climates), shown on the end tag. IRC R317.1.2 requires ground-contact treated wood for members that support permanent structures intended for human occupancy. A yard fence is not that occupancy case. Do not fail a fence solely because a tag is missing or unreadable. Mark N/A on metal, vinyl, or masonry posts.

If an end tag is visible, it is ground-contact treatment, or the post is not wood: OK, Defect, or N/A

Inspection station

Panels and pickets

Walk boards, pickets, vinyl slats, or chain-link fabric. Do not reuse post-rot or rail-sag lines here. Mark material lines N/A when that product is not on this fence.

8 items
Panels and pickets

Panel or picket type identified for the runs you walked

Wood privacy, picket, split-rail, vinyl kit, chain-link fabric, or ornamental metal. Mixed lots get a note on where the type changes.

Panel or picket type identified for the runs you walked: OK, Defect, or N/A

Panels or pickets still fastened to the rails or posts

Home Depot: plumb the first picket, use a spacer, and drive No. 8 screws or galvanized nails so they do not come through the rail. Hanging, swinging, or detached boards are a defect.

Panels or pickets still fastened to the rails or posts: OK, Defect, or N/A

No large missing, broken, or hanging boards or slats

A privacy or security run with a person-sized hole is a defect. Split-rail with an intended opening is not. Write the bay.

No large missing, broken, or hanging boards or slats: OK, Defect, or N/A

Bottom of wood boards not decayed from soil or splash

USDA FPL: durability is better when space is left between the bottom rail or boards and the ground. Soil or mulch against pickets is a common decay trap. Mark N/A on vinyl, metal, or masonry faces.

Bottom of wood boards not decayed from soil or splash: OK, Defect, or N/A

Boards not heavily warped, bowed, or sprung off the rails

Cupping that still holds fasteners can stay OK with a note. Boards that have pulled the nails and leave a gap you can see through on a privacy fence are a defect.

Boards not heavily warped, bowed, or sprung off the rails: OK, Defect, or N/A

Pickets have fasteners at the rails you can see

Home Depot: two or three fasteners per rail depending on picket width, length matched to thickness. Missing fasteners at mid-rail on a tall privacy picket is a defect. Mark N/A on welded metal or molded vinyl kits with hidden clips if you cannot see the connection.

Pickets have fasteners at the rails you can see: OK, Defect, or N/A

Chain-link fabric taut and tied, or vinyl slats not cracked off the rails

Cut fabric, missing ties, or a rolled-up bottom are defects on chain-link. Cracked or dropped vinyl infill belongs here. Mark N/A on wood privacy or picket runs.

Chain-link fabric taut and tied, or vinyl slats not cracked off the rails: OK, Defect, or N/A

Whole panels not racked or leaning as a unit from a failed post

If the posts already failed, the panel will follow. Record the bay here so Findings lists the lean, then point to the post station. Do not copy every post line onto this table.

Whole panels not racked or leaning as a unit from a failed post: OK, Defect, or N/A

Inspection station

Rails

Horizontal members between posts. Mark every line N/A on masonry-only walls with no rails. Chain-link top rail or tension bar still belongs here.

7 items
Rails

Horizontal rails or a top rail present for the fence type

Home Depot: a top and bottom rail for fences up to 4 feet, and a third rail in the middle for taller wood fences, with rails about 6 inches from the top and 6 inches from the bottom. That is retailer install practice, not a model-code Pass/Fail. Record what is built. Mark N/A if the product has no rails.

Horizontal rails or a top rail present for the fence type: OK, Defect, or N/A

Rails still attached to the posts

A rail that has pulled off the post face, dropped out of a bracket, or split through the fastener is a defect. Vinyl and metal clips belong here when they are the rail connection.

Rails still attached to the posts: OK, Defect, or N/A

Rail-to-post connections look complete, not hanging on one nail

Home Depot: two fasteners per post (No. 8 3-inch deck screws or galvanized 10d by 3-inch nails), and pre-drill rail ends to avoid splitting. Count what you can see. Do not fail a hidden-bracket vinyl kit for not showing two screws.

Rail-to-post connections look complete, not hanging on one nail: OK, Defect, or N/A

Rails not sagging or rolling between posts

A belly in the mid rail often means a failed fastener or a rotten section. Sight along the run. Write the bay.

Rails not sagging or rolling between posts: OK, Defect, or N/A

Rails not split at the ends or decayed, especially the bottom rail

End splits at the post are common where fasteners were not pre-drilled (Home Depot). Soft bottom-rail faces next to wet soil are USDA FPL's decay case. Mark N/A on metal top rails with no wood.

Rails not split at the ends or decayed, especially the bottom rail: OK, Defect, or N/A

Bottom rail not buried in soil or sitting in wet debris

USDA FPL: leave clearance between the bottom rail and the ground. If the bottom rail is in contact with soil or organic debris, treat it as a ground-contact decay hazard (UC4A for that member on a new build). For this visual form, buried or wet-packed rails are a defect. Mark N/A if there is no bottom rail.

Bottom rail not buried in soil or sitting in wet debris: OK, Defect, or N/A

Rail joints land on posts and are not all stacked on one post if you can see them

Home Depot: rails should start and end in the middle of posts, and joints should be staggered so they are not on the same post. That is strength practice, not IRC. A butt joint in midspan with no block is a defect. Mark N/A on continuous metal rail or kit panels.

Rail joints land on posts and are not all stacked on one post if you can see them: OK, Defect, or N/A

Inspection station

Gates

Operate every pedestrian and vehicle gate you can reach. Yard-fence gates do not have to self-close. Self-close, self-latch, and swing-away-from-pool belong only on the pool-fence station. Mark every line N/A if the property has no gate.

8 items
Gates

Each pedestrian or vehicle gate identified, or N/A if none

Home Depot: locate gates during layout and document sizes. Write how many gates and which are vehicle openings.

Each pedestrian or vehicle gate identified, or N/A if none: OK, Defect, or N/A

Gates open and close without binding on the ground

Drag on grade, a catch on a raised concrete, or a swing into a bush that stops the leaf is a defect. Note which way it swings. Do not require outward swing on a yard gate.

Gates open and close without binding on the ground: OK, Defect, or N/A

Gate frames reasonably square, not dropped at the latch

A latch that misses because the leaf has dropped is usually a hinge post, a bent hinge, or a racked frame. Record the gap. A diagonal cable or no-sag kit, if present, belongs on Hardware if it is loose.

Gate frames reasonably square, not dropped at the latch: OK, Defect, or N/A

Hinges attached, not bent, and not pulling out of the post

Look at screw heads into the hinge post. Stripped holes and bent leaves are defects. Operate the gate through a full swing.

Hinges attached, not bent, and not pulling out of the post: OK, Defect, or N/A

Latch, cane bolt, or drop rod engages the post or keeper

A yard gate only needs to latch if that is how it was built. A missing keeper, a bolt that does not reach, or a double-gate leaf that is not secured is a defect. Pool self-latch height is not this line.

Latch, cane bolt, or drop rod engages the post or keeper: OK, Defect, or N/A

Hinge and latch posts plumb and not the cause of misalignment

If the gate post has rotated, adjusting the latch will not last. USDA FPL notes larger posts at gates. Point back to Posts for rot at this same post. Do not duplicate the whole post list.

Hinge and latch posts plumb and not the cause of misalignment: OK, Defect, or N/A

Gate bottom clears grade; soil and debris not piled in the swing path

A built-up lawn edge or gravel ridge under a gate is a common bind. Clearance here is function, not the pool-barrier 2-inch or 4-inch numbers. Those numbers stay on the pool station.

Gate bottom clears grade; soil and debris not piled in the swing path: OK, Defect, or N/A

Double-gate inactive leaf has a drop rod or other hold-down if the opening is a pair

ISPSC 305.3.2 (pool model): one leaf secured, the adjacent leaf self-latching. For a yard driveway pair, a missing drop rod that lets both leaves swing is a defect. Mark N/A on a single leaf.

Double-gate inactive leaf has a drop rod or other hold-down if the opening is a pair: OK, Defect, or N/A

Inspection station

Hardware

Fasteners, hinges, latches, brackets, tension bands, and post caps. Do not repeat gate swing or rail sag here. Mark kit clips N/A on a nailed wood fence.

6 items
Hardware

Visible nails or screws not heavily rusted through or backing out

Proud nails, missing heads, and rusted-through shanks that no longer hold a board are defects. Spot rust on galvanized heads can stay OK with a note.

Visible nails or screws not heavily rusted through or backing out: OK, Defect, or N/A

Visible hardware looks exterior-rated, not bright common nails failing in treated wood

Home Depot specifies galvanized nails or deck screws for rails and pickets. Bright interior nails that have rusted off in treated lumber are a defect. You cannot see coating on every hidden fastener. Report what is visible.

Visible hardware looks exterior-rated, not bright common nails failing in treated wood: OK, Defect, or N/A

Hinge pins and leaves not seized, broken, or missing

Operate each gate. A seized pin you forced is a note. A broken leaf is a defect. Mark N/A if there is no gate.

Hinge pins and leaves not seized, broken, or missing: OK, Defect, or N/A

Latch springs, bars, keepers, and drop rods operate

Lubrication is owner maintenance (retailer how-to). A latch that will not engage, a missing spring, or a bent bar is a defect. Pool latch height stays on the pool station.

Latch springs, bars, keepers, and drop rods operate: OK, Defect, or N/A

Post caps, finials, and trim still attached where they were installed

Home Depot tacks wood caps with a galvanized finish nail. Missing caps that leave end grain open also show on Posts. Use this line for the hardware itself.

Post caps, finials, and trim still attached where they were installed: OK, Defect, or N/A

Vinyl or metal brackets, tension bands, and rail clips not cracked or missing

Chain-link tension bands and vinyl rail brackets fail while the post still looks straight. Mark N/A on wood fences fastened only with nails or screws through the rail.

Vinyl or metal brackets, tension bands, and rail clips not cracked or missing: OK, Defect, or N/A

Inspection station

Grade and vegetation

InterNACHI 3.2 and ASHI 4.1 require looking at vegetation, surface drainage, retaining walls, and grading where they may adversely affect the building. This station also covers soil and plants that are rotting the fence itself. It is not a survey and not a geotechnical review.

7 items
Grade and vegetation

Soil, mulch, and debris not piled against wood posts or the bottom of boards

USDA FPL: keep space under the bottom rail. Home Depot applies preservative around post bases because that is where rot starts. A buried gravel board or picket line is a defect on wood. Mark N/A on metal fabric well above grade.

Soil, mulch, and debris not piled against wood posts or the bottom of boards: OK, Defect, or N/A

Water is not undermining post bases or washing soil from visible footings

A downspout, swale, or slope that has opened a hole at a post is a defect. InterNACHI is not required to inspect underground drains. Report only what you see.

Water is not undermining post bases or washing soil from visible footings: OK, Defect, or N/A

Fence and nearby grade are not directing water at the house foundation

InterNACHI 3.2.I.10 and ASHI 4.1: vegetation, surface drainage, retaining walls, and grading where they may wet the structure. A fence on the downhill side of the house is not automatically a defect. A solid fence that dams roof water against the wall is. Mark N/A if no fence is near the house.

Fence and nearby grade are not directing water at the house foundation: OK, Defect, or N/A

Shrubs and vines not holding the fence wet or pulling it out of line

Dense ivy that you cannot see through hides rot and adds wind load. Pulling vines that have racked a bay are a defect. Light contact with dry plants can stay OK with a note.

Shrubs and vines not holding the fence wet or pulling it out of line: OK, Defect, or N/A

Trees, trunks, or obvious roots not pushing the fence out of line

A trunk grown through a bay, or a heaved section next to a tree, is a defect. InterNACHI is not required to identify soil or root conditions. Describe the lean. This is not a tree-risk assessment.

Trees, trunks, or obvious roots not pushing the fence out of line: OK, Defect, or N/A

Stored items and dense growth not hiding a failed run you could otherwise walk

InterNACHI is not required to inspect what is not visible. If brush or stacked lumber blocked a face, say so in Property access and mark hidden lines N/A rather than OK.

Stored items and dense growth not hiding a failed run you could otherwise walk: OK, Defect, or N/A

Retaining walls or steep banks along the fence not collapsing into the run

InterNACHI and ASHI include retaining walls that can affect the building. A failing bank that is taking the fence with it belongs here even if the house is distant. Mark N/A if there is no wall or bank on the line. This is not a geotechnical review.

Retaining walls or steep banks along the fence not collapsing into the run: OK, Defect, or N/A

Inspection station

Pool fence (N/A if no pool)

Mark every line N/A if there is no pool or spa. Do not copy these numbers onto ordinary yard fences. CPSC Pub. 362 is guidance, not a mandatory CPSC standard. ISPSC 305 is a model code where adopted. InterNACHI is not required to inspect fences or swimming pools.

8 items
Pool fence (N/A if no pool)

Pool barrier at least 48 inches above grade on the outside, if you measured

CPSC: fences should be a minimum of 4 feet (48 inches) high, with 5 feet or higher preferable. Some localities require 60 inches. ISPSC 305.2.1: top of the barrier not less than 48 inches above grade on the side facing away from the pool, for the full perimeter and for 3 feet measured horizontally outside the barrier. Write the measured height. Do not use 48 inches as a Pass/Fail on a yard fence that is not a pool barrier.

Pool barrier at least 48 inches above grade on the outside, if you measured: OK, Defect, or N/A

Openings in the pool barrier do not pass a 4-inch sphere, if you checked

CPSC and ISPSC 305.2.2 both use a 4-inch-diameter sphere. That size is a child-torso rule for pool barriers, not a privacy-fence board-gap rule. Mark N/A on a non-pool fence.

Openings in the pool barrier do not pass a 4-inch sphere, if you checked: OK, Defect, or N/A

Bottom clearance measured: 2 inches over grass or gravel, 4 inches over solid paving

ISPSC 305.2.1: not more than 2 inches from grade on non-solid surfaces (grass or gravel), and not more than 4 inches above a solid surface, measured on the outside. CPSC: maximum clearance at the bottom should not exceed 4 inches, and industry recommends 2 inches on grass or gravel. Use the ISPSC pair if you measured. Do not apply these gaps to an ordinary yard fence.

Bottom clearance measured: 2 inches over grass or gravel, 4 inches over solid paving: OK, Defect, or N/A

Pedestrian pool gates self-close, self-latch, and open away from the pool

CPSC: pedestrian gates should open out from the pool and be self-closing and self-latching. ISPSC 305.3: pedestrian access gates shall open outward away from the pool or spa, shall be self-closing, and shall have a self-latching device, and shall accommodate a lock. Yard gates without a pool are not this line. Mark N/A if there is no pool gate.

Pedestrian pool gates self-close, self-latch, and open away from the pool: OK, Defect, or N/A

Pool-gate latch location recorded; CPSC and ISPSC numbers are not the same

CPSC: if the release is less than 54 inches from the bottom of the gate, put it on the pool side at least 3 inches below the top, with no opening greater than 1/2 inch within 18 inches of the release. ISPSC 305.3.3 for residential pools: a non-self-locking latch accessed from outside the barrier shall be not less than 54 inches above grade; a pool-side-only release shall be at least 3 inches below the top of the gate. Write height and side. Do not merge those texts into one Pass/Fail.

Pool-gate latch location recorded; CPSC and ISPSC numbers are not the same: OK, Defect, or N/A

No permanent structures or stored objects that make the pool barrier easy to climb from outside

CPSC: locate barriers so children cannot use permanent structures, equipment, or similar objects to climb. ISPSC 305.2.1 also keeps the 48-inch height for 3 feet outside the barrier. A bench, AC unit, or stacked wood against the outside face is a defect on a pool barrier. Mark N/A if there is no pool.

No permanent structures or stored objects that make the pool barrier easy to climb from outside: OK, Defect, or N/A

If rails are less than 45 inches apart, they face the pool and vertical gaps are not more than 1 3/4 inches

CPSC and ISPSC 305.2.5: when the distance between the tops of horizontal members is less than 45 inches, put those members on the pool side and keep vertical spacing to 1 3/4 inches. If horizontals are 45 inches or more apart, CPSC allows up to 4 inches between verticals. Mark N/A on masonry, solid vinyl, or a yard fence that is not a pool barrier.

If rails are less than 45 inches apart, they face the pool and vertical gaps are not more than 1 3/4 inches: OK, Defect, or N/A

If the house is a barrier side, doors to the pool have alarms or self-closing hardware, or the fence isolates the water

CPSC: a fence that surrounds the pool is better than using the house as the fourth side. If a house wall is used, install door alarms on doors to the pool, and self-closing and self-latching devices or locks beyond a child's reach. InterNACHI is not required to inspect pools. Mark N/A on a four-sided isolation fence or when there is no pool.

If the house is a barrier side, doors to the pool have alarms or self-closing hardware, or the fence isolates the water: OK, Defect, or N/A

Form details

Findings and sign-off

List every Defect line here. This worksheet is not a licensed inspection report, not a survey, not a structural-engineer letter, and not an official code or CPSC inspection.

5 fields
Findings and sign-off

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References

  1. InterNACHI Home Inspection Standards of Practice, section 3.2 Exterior (vegetation, grading, drainage; fences and pools not required)
  2. ASHI Standard of Practice, section 4 Exterior (vegetation and grading that affect the building; fences and boundary walls not required)
  3. International Residential Code, R317 Protection of Wood and Wood-Based Products Against Decay (R317.1 locations, R317.1.1 field treatment, R317.1.2 ground contact for occupancy structures)
  4. USDA Forest Products Laboratory, Guidelines for Selection and Use of Pressure-Treated Wood (FPL-GTR-275): residential fence posts UC4A, rails, and ground clearance
  5. The Home Depot, How to Build a Fence (posts, concrete crown, rails, pickets, post caps, local height limits)
  6. CPSC, Safety Barrier Guidelines for Residential Pools (Pub. 362): 48-inch barrier, openings, gates, latch. Guidelines are not a CPSC standard and are not mandatory
  7. CPSC, Safety Barrier Guidelines for Home Pools (landing page for Pub. 362)
  8. ICC International Swimming Pool and Spa Code section 305 Barrier Requirements (York County reprint of ISPSC 305: 48-inch height, clearances, 4-inch sphere, gates)

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These checklists are provided for general reference only. Always verify the steps against local codes, a licensed inspector or a qualified contractor before relying on them, especially for safety-critical work.