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What Technical Documents Does a Fence System Need for HOA or Project Approval?

  • May 24
  • 4 min read

HOA submissions and commercial project approvals ask for different things. An HOA review typically wants to see material specifications, dimensions, color, and site placement. A commercial project or permit application may require engineering drawings, load ratings, and test reports. Most fence brands provide installation guides. Fewer provide the documentation package that approval processes actually require. 


Knowing which documents are needed before specifying a fence system saves the project from a revision request at the wrong stage. This guide breaks down what HOA and project approval processes typically ask for, and what Modern Yard's documentation covers.


At a glance


Modern Yard publishes downloadable technical drawings, test reports, and warranty documentation for all three fence systems at the technical drawings page and warranty and test reports page. Drawings include both profile views and exploded assembly views for each system. The FireGuard system also has a third-party ASTM E84-24 Class A test report available for download, relevant for fire zone project submissions.


HOA approval vs. project permit: different documents for different processes


These two processes are often conflated, but they require different documentation.

HOA approval is an architectural review, not a structural one. HOA boards typically evaluate fence submissions against community standards for appearance, materials, height, and sometimes color. The documents that move an HOA submission forward are:


  • Material description and product name

  • Fence height and post spacing dimensions

  • Color or finish specification

  • Site plan or property line diagram showing fence placement

  • Photos or renderings of the finished appearance


HOA reviews rarely require engineering drawings or structural load data. What they need is clear, accessible product information that lets a volunteer review board verify the fence meets the community's standards.


Project permits and commercial approvals are a different category. A permit application submitted to a local building department, or a specification package for a commercial or multi-family project, may ask for:


  • Dimensioned structural drawings showing post depth, spacing, and footing requirements

  • Material specifications with confirmed load ratings

  • Test reports for fire resistance, wind load, or other performance parameters

  • Warranty documentation confirming product longevity standards


A technical drawing is not the same as a sealed engineering drawing. 

Most fence brands provide technical drawings showing dimensions and assembly details. A sealed or stamped engineering drawing, signed by a licensed structural engineer, is a different document that most residential fence systems don't provide and most HOA or residential permit processes don't require. For projects that do require sealed drawings, a structural engineer typically reviews the fence system specifications and prepares the stamped documentation separately.


Worth knowing. 

If a project specification requires sealed engineering drawings, contact the fence manufacturer for structural specifications and load data, then engage a licensed structural engineer to prepare the stamped documentation using those specs. This is the standard process for commercial fence projects.


What to ask a fence brand before specifying for an approval project


Are technical drawings available for download before purchase? 

Profile drawings and exploded assembly views that show component dimensions and relationships. These are the most commonly needed documents for both HOA and permit submissions.


Is a third-party test report available for fire resistance or other performance ratings? 

For projects in fire zones, WUI areas, or where materials must meet specific performance standards, a test report from an accredited laboratory is required documentation. A product page claim is not a substitute.


Are warranty documents downloadable?

 HOA boards and project managers increasingly ask for warranty documentation as a condition of approval. A downloadable warranty document, not just a statement on a product page, is what's needed.


What material specifications are published? 

Dimensions, composition, finish type, and load ratings should be available in a format that can be included in a project specification package.


Does the brand have a support contact for documentation requests?

 For commercial projects with specific documentation requirements, being able to contact the manufacturer directly for additional specs or letters of certification matters.


What Modern Yard provides for approval documentation


All documents are publicly available for download before purchase at the Modern Yard technical drawings page and warranty and test reports page.


Technical drawings.

Modern Yard publishes both Profile and Exploded views for each fence system. Profile drawings show the cross-sectional dimensions of the fence at standard height. Exploded drawings show the component assembly relationships and individual part dimensions.


Wood-look composite fence:

Fire-resistant steel fence:

Modern aluminum fence:

Test reports.

The FireGuard steel fence system has a third-party Flame Spread Index test report confirming ASTM E84-24 Class A classification. This document is available for download at the warranty and test reports page and is the relevant document for fire zone project submissions, HOA material requirements in fire-sensitive areas, and insurance documentation.


Warranty documentation.

Three warranty documents are available for download, covering metal products, myRedwood composite boards, and the myLock-Combination lock. These documents are formatted for inclusion in project specification packages.


What Modern Yard does not currently provide. Sealed or stamped engineering drawings signed by a licensed structural engineer are not part of the standard documentation package. For projects requiring sealed drawings, use the technical drawings and product specifications as the basis for engaging a structural engineer. The support contact service@mymodernyard.com can provide additional specification data for this purpose.


Pull the documents before the specification is finalized


The most common documentation gap in fence project approvals is discovering that a needed document doesn't exist after the product has been specified. Checking the manufacturer's documentation before finalizing the spec takes a few minutes and prevents a much longer revision process. Modern Yard's technical drawings, test reports, and warranty documents are all at the technical drawings page and warranty and test reports page, organized by product and available without account registration.


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