Fence Installation in Alto, MI | Fence Brothers
West Michigan’s preferred fence installer
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Whether you’re planning a residential fence, or just exploring your options, we’ll help you understand what makes sense for your property, your goals, and your budget.
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Current Project Start
About 2 weeks
Next Available Estimate
Within 48 hours
Local Permit Wait Time
About 2 weeks (if necessary)
What Alto Homeowners Get With Fence Brothers
Family-owned fence contractor serving Bowne Township and the Alto area since 2013. True 2×4 rails, 11/16-inch thick pickets, and a 5-year workmanship warranty that covers wood, not just vinyl and aluminum. We haven’t built up an Alto-specific project count yet, so the numbers above reflect our full West Michigan service area rather than this township alone.
WHAT WE INSTALL
Our Fence Installation Services in Alto, MI
Wood Fence Installation
Bowne Township’s larger, unplatted parcels are where board-on-board and split-rail privacy fencing is used most, especially on properties large enough to qualify for the township’s rural height exemption. Cedar and pine are both stocked; pine tends to be the better-priced choice on long perimeter runs, and cedar holds up if you want the look or a shorter fence closer to the house. Every wood fence is built piece by piece on-site with true 2×4 rails and 11/16-inch pickets.
Best for: Acreage properties, perimeter runs, and privacy fencing close to the house.
Vinyl Fencing
A low-maintenance option for Alto homeowners who don’t want to stain or reseal a fence every few years. Holds its color through Michigan winters and doesn’t need annual upkeep.
Best for: Homeowners who want privacy fencing without ongoing maintenance.
Aluminum Fencing
Powder-coated panels for pool enclosures and decorative front-yard fencing. Handles Michigan’s freeze-thaw cycles without rusting or peeling.
Best for: Pool safety enclosures and decorative perimeters.
Chain Link Fencing
The practical choice for Bowne Township’s agricultural and larger-acreage lots, where long perimeter runs and livestock or pet containment matter more than appearance. Galvanized for longevity, with privacy slats or vinyl coating available.
Best for: Acreage perimeters, livestock and pet containment, and utility areas.
Your Alto Fence Estimate Is Free and Takes About 15 Minutes
We come to your property, walk the lot, and give you a written price before we leave. No pressure, no follow-up calls you didn’t ask for.
Call (616) 348-9988 or fill out the form below.
Building Fences in Bowne Township
- Kent County’s soil across this part of the county is dominated by Alfisols, a well-drained soil order with a clay-enriched subsoil, according to county-level NRCS survey data. That’s a general county character rather than a reading of your specific lot; we confirm actual soil conditions during the property walk. Alto sits far enough from Grand Rapids that most of what we build here is on larger, less-disturbed parcels than the tighter new-construction lots closer to the city.
- A shallow post won’t survive a Michigan winter
Michigan’s frost line sits at 42 inches under the Michigan Residential Code (R403.1.4), meaning the ground below that depth doesn’t freeze and thaw with the seasons. A post set above the frost line gets pushed on by frost heave every winter, and that’s what causes leaning and gate misalignment two or three years in, not a bad picket. Every post we set goes below 42 inches, evaluated for the specific soil at your property rather than a single depth applied everywhere. - Bowne Township’s larger lots change the math on a fence run
A lot of Bowne Township parcels sit outside a recorded plat, which means they’re larger than a typical subdivision lot and often haven’t had a fence on them before. That combination, long runs plus first-time digging, is exactly when MISS DIG matters most: nothing has been marked here before, so we’re not relying on an old locate from a previous project. - Why we check before we dig
On a rural Bowne Township lot, an older well or septic line that predates the county’s digital utility records is a real possibility worth planning for. MISS DIG marks public utilities; it doesn’t mark private lines like wells, septic laterals, or drainage tile. We ask about those directly during the property walk and look for physical clues (standpipes, drainfield mounding, grade changes) before we finalize where posts go.
Fence Permits in Bowne Township
A fence in Bowne Township needs a zoning permit before construction, since fences are classified as accessory structures under the township’s zoning ordinance. Bowne is unincorporated and covers the whole area around Alto, so there’s no separate village government to coordinate with, just the one township office.
Permit basics
- Zoning permit required before construction (fences are accessory structures, Article 20.01)
- Height limits: 6 ft side/rear yards; 4 ft front yard, or 3 ft if the fence is more than 25 percent solid (Zoning Ordinance No. 2010-06, Section 3.37.C)
- No barbed wire, razor wire, spikes, or electrified fencing on residential fences
- Permit fee and processing time aren’t published on the township’s site; we confirm both when we file, so you’re not guessing
- Filed through Bowne Township
The rural acreage exemption
- Parcels larger than 4 acres outside a recorded plat or site condo are exempt from the standard height caps (Section 3.37.B)
- Those lots only need to meet the general provisions plus a road-right-of-way setback
- This is the main reason taller perimeter and agricultural-style fencing shows up on Bowne Township’s larger properties
MISS DIG, every time
- Michigan law requires MISS DIG 811 notice at least 3 full business days before digging, up to 14 calendar days
- On unplatted rural lots, private lines (wells, septic, drainage tile) aren’t part of that locate
- We handle the MISS DIG call and check for private-line clues before staking
What Your Neighbors Are Saying
HOW IT WORKS
How Your Fence Gets Built — From Estimate to Warranty
1
Free On-Site Estimate
Alec or a crew lead walks your property, measures the runs, and gives you a written estimate. We review property lines, talk through materials, and flag anything relevant, grade changes, root systems, an HOA restriction if one applies, or a boundary question, before you sign anything.
2
Permits, HOA, and MISS DIG
We handle the paperwork: the Bowne Township zoning permit, an HOA application if your property has one, and the MISS DIG utility locate. Permit and HOA review run at the same time where possible, so they don’t stack into a longer wait before we can start.
3
Installation
Posts go in below the frost line, set in concrete, and the fence goes up piece by piece on-site. We address grade changes, material specs, and anything flagged during the estimate as we go, so installation day doesn’t turn up surprises.
4
Final Walkthrough and 5-Year Warranty
We check every gate latch, verify every post is plumb, and hand you the warranty before we leave. Our 5-year workmanship warranty covers post movement, picket separation, and structural issues from installation, including on wood.
RECENT WORK
Recent Fence Projects Near Alto, MI
WHERE WE WORK
Fence Installation in Alto and Surrounding Areas
- Caledonia, the nearest neighboring service area
- Cascade Township
- Lowell, the closest township to Alto and not yet a dedicated service-area page
- Kent County hub for the full list of communities we cover
- Alto, Bowne Township, and ZIP 49302.
Get Your Free Fence Estimate in Alto
Fence Brothers has been building fences in Kent County since 2013. Whether it’s a perimeter run on a Bowne Township acreage lot or a privacy fence closer to town, we walk the property and give you a written number before we leave. Angi 5.0 rated. Super Service Award 2025. 5-year workmanship warranty covering post movement, picket separation, and structural issues, including on wood.
Call (616) 348-9988 or fill out the form.
Request a Free Estimate
Frequently Asked Questions
Common Questions About Our Fencing Services, Pricing, and Process.
Do I need a permit to install a fence in Alto?
Yes. Alto is in Bowne Township, and the township requires a zoning permit for fences as accessory structures before construction starts. We handle the filing as part of every project.
What types of fences do you install in Alto?
Wood (cedar and pine, board-on-board, split rail, privacy), vinyl, aluminum, and chain link. Chain link and split rail wood see the most use on Bowne Township’s larger acreage lots; vinyl and aluminum are common on smaller in-town lots.
How much does a fence cost in Alto, MI, and how long does it take?
We give a written estimate on-site during the free property walk, since cost depends on material, linear footage, and terrain. Most residential installs take a few days once the permit clears and MISS DIG has marked the lines; longer perimeter runs on acreage lots take longer.
Can a larger rural property in Alto get a taller fence?
Often, yes. Bowne Township exempts parcels over 4 acres outside a recorded plat from the standard height caps, which opens up taller perimeter and agricultural-style fencing that wouldn’t be allowed on a standard in-town lot.
How deep do fence posts need to be in Alto?
Below Michigan’s 42-inch frost line at minimum, and deeper where the site calls for it. We evaluate post depth for the specific property rather than applying one depth everywhere.
Do you handle all the permits and paperwork, or do I have to?
We handle everything: the Bowne Township permit, the MISS DIG utility locate, and a check for private lines like wells or septic on unplatted lots. You sign the estimate; we take care of the rest.