Selecting a fence installer in Davidson County is a layered decision. Buyers weigh material longevity, Metro Nashville permit handling under Title 17 zoning code (which governs setback, height by district, and corner-lot sight triangles), Tennessee Board for Licensing Contractors thresholds (a BC license is required when a single project meets or exceeds the statutory dollar limit), pool-fence compliance under ASTM F2200, and Davidson County HOA aesthetic guidelines. The three Nashville-area firms profiled below have each cleared the basic filters of decade-plus tenure, public licensing posture, and verifiable street address, and each brings a distinct material focus to the table.
Quick Comparison #
| Firm | Credentials | Focus |
|---|---|---|
| Rio Grande Fence Co. of Nashville | Founded 1958 by Lee Roy and Virgil Smith; founding chapter leadership in the Tennessee chapter of the American Fence Association; five-time National Fence Contractor of the Year under AFA judging. | Chain link, wood, vinyl, ornamental aluminum and steel including Ameristar, Trex composite privacy, gates with operators, temporary fencing and rental, guard railings, and dumpster enclosures. |
| Superior Fence & Rail of Nashville | Parent brand reports more than 25 years in fencing; La Vergne franchise publishes a 98.5% on-time installation rate and a three-year workmanship warranty as standard. | Wood, vinyl, aluminum, chain link, composite, pool fencing engineered to ASTM F2200 gate criteria, dog fencing, decorative railing, gates, and entry systems for residential and commercial sites. |
| Music City Fence Company | Greenbrier-headquartered design-build contractor operating since 2007; ownership cites more than thirty years of cumulative fence sales and installation experience. | Wood, vinyl, aluminum and other metal, chain link, plus gate fabrication and adjacent landscape integration for hillside lots in Joelton, Goodlettsville, and Whites Creek. |
1. Rio Grande Fence Co. of Nashville #
Founded in 1958 by brothers Lee Roy Smith and Virgil Smith, Rio Grande Fence Co. has built a multi-generation presence across Tennessee, with a flagship Nashville yard at 1410 Lebanon Pike, Nashville, TN 37210, and branches in Knoxville and Chattanooga. Lee Roy Smith served as a founding member and the first president of the Tennessee Chapter of the American Fence Association, anchoring the company’s reputation inside the trade body that publishes the AFA Certified Fence Professional credential. The company is a five-time National Fence Contractor of the Year recipient under AFA judging.
Material range and commercial depth #
This contractor runs a full residential and commercial catalog: chain link, wood, vinyl (PVC), ornamental aluminum and steel including the Ameristar line, Trex composite privacy fence, gates with gate operators, temporary fencing and rental, guard railings, and dumpster enclosures. The commercial-grade chain link product line is well suited to industrial perimeters and athletic facilities, while Ameristar ornamental panels meet residential aesthetic codes common in Belle Meade and Forest Hills. The Trex composite system addresses HOA boards that disallow chain link but accept manufactured-wood substitutes.
Permit handling and project intake #
Rio Grande’s Nashville office routinely files Metro Nashville fence permits and coordinates utility locates through Tennessee 811 before excavation, a workflow this firm has refined over decades of in-county installs. Buyers can reach the Nashville desk at (615) 244-4766.
2. Superior Fence & Rail of Nashville #
Operating from 100 LaSalle Court, La Vergne, TN 37086, Superior Fence & Rail of Nashville serves the full Davidson County market and surrounding Rutherford and Williamson counties. The parent brand reports more than 25 years in fencing, with the Nashville franchise location publishing a 98.5% on-time installation rate and a three-year workmanship warranty as standard. The office number is (615) 988-4455.
Pool fencing and ASTM F2200 posture #
Pool barrier work in Davidson County must satisfy both Metro Nashville residential pool barrier code (which references the International Residential Code Appendix G) and, where automated gates are involved, the dimensional and self-closing/self-latching criteria common to ASTM F2200-spec gates. Superior Fence & Rail of Nashville handles aluminum pool fence systems engineered to those clearance and picket-spacing constraints, which is the typical specification for backyard pools in Brentwood, Franklin, and Green Hills.
Material catalog and gate work #
The shop installs wood, vinyl, aluminum, chain link, composite, pool fencing, dog fencing, decorative railing, gates, and entry systems for residential and commercial sites. The franchise format gives this provider a national supply chain for vinyl extrusions and ornamental aluminum panels, which holds standard color and height SKUs in stock for short lead times.
https://www.superiorfenceandrail.com/nashville/
3. Music City Fence Company #
Music City Fence Company is a Greenbrier-headquartered design-build fence contractor operating since 2007 at 724 Main St., Greenbrier, TN 37073, serving Nashville and the northern Davidson County corridor. The phone line is (615) 512-7500. Ownership has cited more than thirty years of cumulative fence sales and installation experience, with a large portion of work coming from repeat clients and direct referrals.
Design-build workflow #
The team handles all phases of new fence construction, including site walk and architecture/design input, fabrication and installation, and adjacent landscape work to integrate the finished fence line into the yard. The full-service design-build model is well suited to custom residential builds where the fence interacts with retaining walls, garden beds, and grade changes, conditions common on hillside lots in Joelton, Goodlettsville, and Whites Creek.
Material focus #
This installer carries wood, vinyl, aluminum and other metal, and chain link, plus gate fabrication. The shop’s metal fence portfolio covers properties of all sizes around Nashville, with profiles ranging from residential pet enclosures to long agricultural perimeters in the rural pockets of north Davidson and Robertson counties. Standard business hours run Monday through Friday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
https://www.musiccityfenceco.com/
Reference Notes #
- AFA Certified Fence Professional (CFP) is the American Fence Association’s individual-installer credential covering material standards, installation practice, and code awareness; AFA also issues chapter-level membership at the company level.
- Metro Nashville fence permits are processed by the Metropolitan Department of Codes and Building Safety; Title 17 of the Metropolitan Code of Laws governs zoning, including residential fence height limits (commonly 8 feet in rear/side yards and lower in front yards) and corner-lot sight-triangle setbacks.
- The Tennessee Board for Licensing Contractors requires a BC (Building Contractor) license when the total project value meets or exceeds the statutory threshold; smaller residential fence jobs may fall under the Home Improvement (HI) registration tier where applicable in Davidson County.
- Pool fences are commonly specified to ASTM F2200 for automated vehicular gate dimensional and safety criteria, in conjunction with Metro Nashville residential pool barrier rules referencing IRC Appendix G picket spacing and self-latching gate hardware.
- Davidson County HOA compatibility varies by subdivision; vinyl and ornamental aluminum are widely accepted, chain link is frequently restricted in front and side yards, and stained or pre-finished wood is the most common approved privacy material.
Selection Methodology #
Sorting the Nashville fence installation market started with Davidson County setback and height rules, because Metro zoning treats front-yard fencing, rear privacy panels, and pool perimeter enclosure under different ordinances. The three firms above each publish a Nashville-area service address on their own domain, hold the appropriate Tennessee contractor registration under TCA 62-6 where the project value triggers the threshold, carry general liability records visible on request, and scope their material lineup around fence-specific work (wood privacy in cedar and pine, ornamental aluminum, chain link, vinyl, pool-code-compliant four-foot minimums under the 2018 IRC). Firms that exist only as franchise satellites, lead-resale brokers without an install crew, and operators with no verifiable street address on the site were not considered.
Frequently Asked Questions #
Q: How deep are the posts set and what concrete spec is used at the footing?
A: A standard six-foot privacy fence in Nashville-area soils calls for posts buried roughly one-third of the above-grade height (24 to 36 inches deep) and set in 2500-to-3000 psi concrete that fills the hole around the post and crowns slightly above grade to shed water. Ask the installer to confirm post hole diameter (typically 10 to 12 inches), the depth target, and whether gate and corner posts go deeper than line posts to handle the higher pull load.
Q: For a pool fence, what gate hardware satisfies the self-closing and self-latching rule?
A: Metro Nashville residential pool barrier code references IRC Appendix G, which requires a minimum 48-inch fence height, picket spacing under 4 inches, and gates that swing outward from the pool with self-closing hinges and a self-latching device whose release is at least 54 inches above grade. Ask the installer to specify the hinge brand (D&D MagnaLatch and TruClose are the common references), the latch model, and the post and gate hardware schedule before the order is placed.
Q: How is HOA approval and Tennessee 811 utility locate handled before installation?
A: Davidson County HOAs frequently require approval of material, color, and height before any post hole is dug, and Tennessee state law requires a 811 utility locate ticket placed at minimum three business days before digging. Ask whether the installer will submit the HOA architectural review packet on the homeowner’s behalf, place the 811 call, and wait the full locate window before crews break ground.
Q: Are any of the three firms paid placements?
A: No. The three profiles above are editorial selections drawn from publicly verifiable sources. No firm sponsored placement.
Editorial Note #
This guide was published on 2026-05-11 and reflects research current as of that date. Verify licenses, phone numbers, and current business status before engaging any firm.