Reno Solid Fence passes gate projects, from a single side-yard walk gate to an automatic driveway gate on acreage, to independent Nevada-licensed contractors. Gates are where most fence problems start, because they are the only part of the fence that moves.
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Types of gates
- Walk gates, 3 to 4 ft wide, for side yards and trash-can access. Wide enough for a wheelbarrow and a mower matters more than it seems.
- Double drive gates for RV, trailer or vehicle access to a backyard, usually two leaves meeting at a drop rod.
- Swing driveway gates across a front or ranch driveway, manual or automatic.
- Sliding gates that roll along the fence line, useful where the drive slopes up or there is no room for a swing.
Posts, frames and hardware
A gate is a lever pulling on its hinge post every time it opens, and the Washoe Zephyr adds a push of its own on a solid gate. Gate posts should be larger and set deeper than line posts, comfortably below the 24-inch frost depth Washoe County uses, so frost heave does not knock the latch out of line in January. Wood gates need a steel frame or an anti-sag cable and turnbuckle; vinyl gates use an aluminum frame inside.
Ask for heavy-duty hinges rated for the gate's weight, a latch that can be locked, and a cane bolt or drop rod for double gates. Self-closing hinges and self-latching hardware are required on pool gates. See pool fences.
Automatic driveway gates
Automatic gates add an operator, power (line or solar), safety sensors, a keypad or remote and sometimes an intercom. On a long rural driveway, solar operators avoid trenching power down a long driveway; on a city lot, line power is usually close. Ask who handles the electrical connection and whether it needs a separate electrical permit.
Height and placement rules for gates
In unincorporated Washoe County, entry gates and their columns may be 18 inches taller than the fence limit as an entry statement, and nothing over 18 inches may sit in the visibility triangle for the first 10 feet of a residential driveway next to the street. In the City of Reno, gates appear on the fence permit plot plan with their location and width, and a clear vision triangle applies. Placing a gate across an access easement is not allowed in Washoe County.
What gates cost
| Gate | Typical national range |
|---|---|
| Driveway gate, installed (average) | About $2,337 (range about $875–$3,823) |
| Manual driveway gate | About $300–$1,200 |
| Automatic driveway gate | About $1,900–$6,000; most $2,500–$5,000 |
| Chain-link gate | About $200–$1,000 |
Walk gates are often priced as a line item in a fence quote. Custom steel and automated gates are quoted by the job.
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