East Bako tenant wants fence in front

[Jonathan Vince]

My tenant in East Bakersfield (family with 2 kids) is asking for a fence around the front yard, due to recent thefts as well as unwanted pitbull incursions. Most houses in that neighborhood have front fences, the majority of which are simple chain link. Here are my questions (for Bakersfield realtors especially, and even MORE especially, for those who are familiar with the 93307 zip code):

*Does installing a fence in the front increase the home's value such that it at least offsets the cost?

*What is the ideal type of fence for this area, and for maximizing the return on the investment of money into that fence when it comes time to sell (which I may do soon)?

*Do I need any kind of permits to install a fence?