Driveway Gate Installation
Los Angeles
Driveway Gates increase the security and value of your home along with giving you the privacy you want. Using steel frames gives your gate the secure structure it needs to last a long time.
Automatic Driveway Gate Installation is a service we provide that give you the easy of opening your gate with out getting out of your car!
We specialize in electric-motorized driveway gates.
With over 38 years of experience, Harwell Fencing & Gates installs some of the best in the city. Horizontal Driveway Gates are a Modern design and is extremely popular here in Los Angeles, Venice and Santa Monica. The modern aesthetic is what most of our electric-motorized installations consist of. All of our automatic driveway gate frames are constructed out of steel, so it's built to last. In beach communities, wood-framed gates tend to warp and twist, while steel framed driveway gates remain far more durable over time.We also build craftsman style, arched top and custom stain finishes, to add a unique element to the wood. Most of our Los Angeles Driveway Gate installations allow for a built in pedestrian entry as well. Take a look at our gallery to get some ideas of how you'd like to update your Los Angeles yard or home.
Also feel free to view our Fences, Wall Extensions, Entry Gates, Refinishing pages.
We offer driveway gate and wood gate designs for mid range prices as well. See the vertical options in the gallery below. This wood type is known as common redwood. It has a rougher final finish compared the the clear redwood that we mostly use. Also, our wood framed gates are very nice, but the steel frames you see here are longer lasting.
310-736-2674
Custom Driveway Gates
Starting Price = $4500
(Price applies to Single Swing, Square Top, Steel Frame Gate - UP TO 10’ wide) Wood and Steel installations
*Side sections, Double Swing Option, Round top, Locks - Gate Motors are an extra fee
FOR MOTORIZED, SLIDING / ROLLING GATE INSTALLATIONS - $$$ave…Please watch this video
We love building these unique wooden driveway gates all over LA and Santa Monica areas. The Hollywood Hills love our gates and the unique styles compliment any yard or home. Some people Do Not want to have the same idea or curb appeal that their neighbor's do. We are a resource for providing you with a gate that will set you apart from the rest of LA. Our creativity and experience will assist you in the decision of what to do next in your beautiful LA yard.
This project below, showcases the semi-transparent stain.
(Stunning finish! - Requires a Price increase of 12%-15%)
In order to achieve a professional finish with this type of stain, it requires double the labor.
Driveway Gate Questions
Cost, automation, permits, and maintenance — answered by a father-and-son team building driveway gates across Los Angeles since 1986.
How much does a driveway gate cost in Los Angeles?
Driveway gates run $4,500 to $6,500 without a motor, and start at $8,000 with a LiftMaster automatic opener installed.
Where you land depends on span, wood grade, frame material, and site conditions. Slope, access, and what we find once we start digging all affect the final number, so we quote each property individually. Request a free estimate.
Swing, slide, or roll — which is right for my driveway?
Your driveway decides, not your preference:
- Swing: works when the ground is level and there's clearance for the gate to open inward. The most common residential configuration and typically the least expensive.
- Slide or roll: the answer when the driveway slopes up from the street or there's no room to swing. Requires open run along the fence line for the gate to retract into.
- Cantilever roll: carries the gate on overhead rollers instead of a ground track, which avoids problems on uneven or cracked paving.
We measure slope, turning radius, and available side clearance before recommending a configuration.
Can my driveway gate be automated?
Most can, but the gate has to be built for it. Automation adds constant load to the hinges and frame, so a gate designed only to be pushed by hand will loosen and sag under a motor.
Retrofitting an opener onto a gate that wasn't engineered for automation is the single most common source of ongoing maintenance calls we get. If you think you may automate later, tell us at the design stage — building the frame for it now costs far less than rebuilding it later.
What happens if the power goes out?
Every automated opener has a manual release that disengages the motor so the gate can be moved by hand. You're never locked in or out.
If outages are a regular problem where you live, ask about adding a backup battery when we spec the opener — it keeps the gate cycling normally through a power loss instead of leaving you to open it manually.
How wide does my driveway opening need to be?
Your existing driveway usually sets the width. The more important question is how we span it.
Past a certain width, a single gate leaf puts too much leverage on the hinges and posts, so we split it into a dual-swing pair or move to a slide configuration. Wider spans also need steel framing to stay square, particularly with an opener carrying the load. We measure the opening and the approach angle on site and tell you which configurations your driveway will actually support.
Do I need a permit for a driveway gate in Los Angeles?
It depends on the gate and your city. A gate built within your area's height limits generally doesn't require a building permit on its own, but running power to an automatic opener is electrical work, and that typically does.
Rules also differ between the City of Los Angeles and surrounding municipalities on setbacks and gates at the property line. We confirm the requirements for your address before finalizing a design.
What materials do you use for driveway gates?
Most of our driveway gates are wood on a steel frame. The steel keeps the gate square over a long span and under the load of an opener; the wood gives you the finish and the look.
For the wood itself we work in pressure-treated lumber, common and clear redwood, and conheart redwood. Every project gets two coats of stain, which adds significant life regardless of species. See our recent gate projects.
How long does installation take?
The gate is built and framed before we're on site, so installation itself is the shorter part of the project.
Digging is what moves the schedule. Concrete, tree roots, sprinkler lines, plumbing, gas lines, or old footings can all slow excavation, and automated gates add time for running power and setting the opener and safety sensors. We give you a schedule with your bid and contact you immediately if anything unexpected surfaces.
How much maintenance does a driveway gate need?
Less than most people expect, but it isn't zero. Two things need attention:
- Finish: solid stain typically lasts 5 to 7 years, transparent 2 to 4 depending on sun exposure. Closer to the coast, expect a shorter cycle.
- Hardware: hinges, rollers, and safety sensors should be checked periodically. Automated gates cycle thousands of times a year and the moving parts wear.
Corrosion-resistant hardware and a solid stain are the two decisions that most reduce long-term maintenance.
Do you repair or service existing driveway gates?
Yes. We handle hinge, lock, sensor, and motor problems, along with sagging gates and failed footings, through our repair service — including gates we didn't originally build.
If a gate is sagging, the cause is usually the frame or the posts rather than the hardware, and we'll tell you honestly whether a repair will hold or whether you're better off rebuilding.
Still have a question? See our full FAQ or request a free estimate — 310-736-2674