Temporary fencing is free-standing, movable fencing that isn’t permanently anchored into the ground — panels stand in weighted bases and connect together to enclose or block off an area for as long as a project or event needs. It secures construction sites, controls crowds, and adds privacy or dust containment, then comes down when the job is done. On Call offers it in three main configurations: chain-link, barricade, and privacy.
What Is Temporary Fencing?
Temporary fencing is fencing that stands on its own without being permanently set into the ground, held upright by weighted bases and joined panel-to-panel to form a continuous barrier. It’s designed to be installed quickly, moved or reconfigured as needs change, and removed entirely once the project or event is over.
The defining feature is that nothing is dug in or cemented. A permanent fence has posts set in concrete footings; a temporary fence sits on the surface in movable bases, which is what makes it fast to deploy and just as fast to take down. That portability is the whole point — it gives a site security, containment, or crowd control for a defined window without the cost or commitment of a permanent installation.
What Are the Types of Temporary Fencing?
There are three main types of temporary fencing, each built for a different job: chain-link for site security, barricade for crowd control, and privacy fencing for blocking sightlines and containing debris.
Chain-Link Temporary Fencing
Galvanized chain-link mesh in a steel frame, set into weighted bases. This is the standard for job site security — it’s tall, durable, hard to get through, and clearly marks a controlled area while still letting workers and supervisors see in and out. The most common choice for construction sites and equipment storage.
Barricade Fencing
Interlocking steel barriers — the bike-rack style panels you see lining parade routes and race courses. Barricade fencing is built for pedestrian crowd control: directing foot traffic, holding a perimeter at events, and keeping people out of restricted zones. It’s fast to set up, links together in long runs, and moves easily as an event’s needs change.
Privacy Fencing
Chain-link panels fitted with privacy screen, or solid panels, that block the view into a site. Privacy fencing does the security job of standard chain-link while also cutting sightlines, reducing blowing dust and debris, and keeping a work area from becoming a distraction to neighbors or passing traffic.
What Is Temporary Fencing Used For?
Temporary fencing is used anywhere an area needs to be secured, contained, or controlled for a limited time. The most common applications are construction site security, crowd control at events, hazard cordoning, and privacy or debris containment.
Construction Site Security
Enclosing an active job site keeps out trespassers, protects equipment and materials overnight, and limits liability by marking the site as a controlled area.
Crowd Control at Events
Festivals, fairs, races, parades, and concerts use barricade fencing to direct foot traffic, define entrances and exits, and keep crowds clear of stages, streets, and restricted zones.
Public Safety and Hazard Cordoning
Blocking off a hazard, a work zone, or a damaged area keeps the public at a safe distance while work is underway.
Privacy and Debris Containment
Screened fencing hides an unsightly work area, cuts down on blowing dust and debris leaving the site, and reduces the visual disruption to neighbors and passersby.
How Is Temporary Fencing Installed?
Temporary fencing installs in a simple sequence: the weighted bases are set along the fence line, panels are stood up in the bases, and adjacent panels are clamped together to form a continuous run. Because nothing is dug or cemented in, a full perimeter goes up in a fraction of the time a permanent fence takes.
Plan the line
Mark where the fencing needs to run, noting gates, access points, and any corners.
Set the bases
Place the weighted bases along the line at panel-width spacing.
Stand the panels
Insert each panel into its bases so it stands upright on its own.
Connect and secure
Clamp adjacent panels together so the run is continuous and stable, adding gates or access points where needed.
Takedown reverses the process, and because the components are reusable, the same fencing moves on to the next job.
How Does Temporary Fencing Compare to Permanent Fencing?
Temporary fencing is surface-mounted, movable, and meant to come down; permanent fencing is anchored in the ground and meant to stay. The right choice comes down to whether you need security for a defined period or a lasting boundary.
| Factor | Temporary Fencing | Permanent Fencing |
|---|---|---|
| Installation | Weighted bases on the surface, no digging | Posts set in concrete footings |
| Setup time | Hours | Days |
| Movable | Yes — reconfigured or relocated as needed | No — fixed in place |
| Best for | Job sites, events, short-term needs | Property lines, long-term security |
| Cost model | Rental for a defined period | One-time installation |
| Removal | Taken down and reused | Stays in place |
How Do You Choose the Right Temporary Fencing?
Choosing the right temporary fencing comes down to what you’re protecting or controlling, the conditions at your site, and how long you need it. Run through these factors before you book:
When the situation isn’t obvious, describe the site and what you’re trying to accomplish to your rental provider, and let them help match the right fencing to the job.
When You Need a Fence That Stays
Temporary fencing is the answer for a defined window — a build, an event, a hazard that will be cleared. When the need is a lasting boundary instead, like a secured yard or a marked property line, permanent fencing is the better fit, with posts set in the ground to stay. The two solve different problems, and matching the fence to the timeline is most of the decision.
Get Temporary Fencing for Your Site or Event
On Call provides temporary fencing — chain-link, barricade, and privacy — for job sites and events across the Tulsa and Oklahoma City metro areas. Give us a call or request a quote online and we’ll help you get the right setup in place. Make On Call your one call for complete site services.
