Americans Put More Weight on Backyard Privacy as Fencing Concerns Grow

A new DeerBusters survey finds Americans are treating outdoor space more like part of the home, with privacy, safety and property boundaries driving demand for fences and other barriers. The study also shows rising concern about neighbors, inflation and how outdoor spaces are used.

Why it matters: - Outdoor space is becoming a more important part of daily life for many Americans, changing expectations around privacy, security and property boundaries. - The shift is especially pronounced among younger adults, which could shape future demand for fencing, landscaping and other backyard upgrades. - Economic pressure is adding to the push for practical home improvements that protect people, pets and property.

What happened: - DeerBusters surveyed 1,000 U.S. adults about backyard privacy, neighbor relationships, property boundaries, fencing preferences, security concerns and economic pressure. - 70% of Americans with access to outdoor space say the area around their home matters more now than it did two years ago. - 43% say outdoor space is much more important than it was two years ago. - Among Generation Z respondents, 51% say outdoor space is much more important. - The survey found 87% would feel exposed without fencing, trees, hedges or another barrier between their yard and neighboring homes.

The details: - Privacy matters most during ordinary backyard uses, not unusual ones. - 54% say privacy is essential while relaxing outdoors. - 41% want personal conversations to stay private. - 42% say privacy matters when hosting friends or family. - 34% say privacy matters while exercising. - 33% say privacy matters while letting pets roam. - 29% say privacy matters while gardening or working on yard projects. - 28% say privacy matters while children play outside. - 28% say privacy matters while listening to music outdoors. - 23% say privacy matters while swimming or using a hot tub. - Only 14% say they are comfortable doing all of those activities in plain view of neighbors. - 55% say they would be open to installing new fencing to feel safer and more secure at home. - 47% say the main benefit of fencing is keeping children or pets safely contained. - 47% say tall, solid privacy fences provide the strongest sense of privacy and security. - 29% say a fence clearly defines property boundaries. - 24% say fencing keeps wildlife out. - 20% say fencing protects landscaping or garden projects. - 21% say fencing can increase property value. - 16% say fencing reduces tension over property lines. - 16% say fencing improves curb appeal. - 43% say they like the neighbors living nearby, and 18% say they love them. - 30% say they feel neutral about neighbors. - 7% say they merely tolerate their neighbors. - 3% say they dislike their neighbors. - 44% say they worry at least sometimes that neighbors may be watching them outside. - 20% say they have had a disagreement involving property lines, fencing or yard boundaries. - 38% say tall, fully enclosed fences make a home feel peaceful and private. - 24% say those fences make a property feel safer. - 7% say fencing makes a home feel unwelcoming. - 5% say fencing suggests the resident is hiding something. - 77% say a well-maintained lawn makes a home feel welcoming. - 72% say seasonal or friendly decorations make a home feel welcoming. - 56% say concern about neighbors has not stopped them from adding privacy or security features. - 16% say they have skipped a tall or solid fence because of how it might be received. - 15% say they have avoided security cameras or a video doorbell for the same reason. - 54% say inflation or financial uncertainty has made them more concerned about protecting their home or outdoor space. - 21% say they are much more concerned because of inflation or financial uncertainty. - 33% say they are somewhat more concerned. - 68% of Gen Z say inflation or financial uncertainty has increased those concerns. - 46% of Gen X say the same. - 50% of Millennials and 50% of Baby Boomers say the same. - Mark Dayhoff, chief operating officer of Trident Enterprises International, the parent company of DeerBusters, said privacy is about control over how people use their property. - Dayhoff said people often want a fence because they need to contain pets, keep deer out or clarify property lines. - Dayhoff said tighter budgets make people focus on one improvement that solves several problems at once. - Dayhoff said good fences and good neighbors are not opposites.

Between the lines: - The findings suggest backyard privacy is shifting from a preference to a baseline expectation. - The survey also points to a social reset: many people want stronger boundaries even when they feel positively about the neighbors next door. - Fencing appears to be read less as a sign of conflict and more as a practical tool for safety, order and comfort. - The data suggests maintenance and landscaping may signal hospitality, while enclosure signals privacy without necessarily signaling hostility.

What's next: - DeerBusters is directing readers to the full study for more detail. - Homeowners weighing backyard upgrades may continue prioritizing solutions that combine privacy, safety and property-line clarity. - If inflation and uncertainty persist, practical outdoor improvements could remain a higher priority than decorative ones.

The bottom line: - Americans are treating the backyard more like an essential room in the house, and they want it protected, private and clearly theirs. - More information