By law, all electric fences must carry an approved warning sign, when they are installed in proximity to the general public, for example footpaths, public roads. Signs should be fixed to the fence posts, or to the fence line.

Signs should be placed at the start and at the end of the fence if for example, the fence runs alongside a public footpath and then at regular intervals along the fence line. Under new EU legislation (BSEN 60335, March 2011 revision) warning signs must be placed at the beginning and end of the fence and every 10m in between for security fencing and 50-100m for stock fencing.