What Is a Geofence?
A geofence is a virtual boundary placed on a map that tells Workyard where your job site begins and ends. When workers enter or exit a geofence, Workyard uses that location data to:
Auto clock team members in (if enabled)
Tag time to the correct project automatically (for enterprise subscribers)
Track mileage and travel time
Trigger smart alerts for project visibility
Improve payroll accuracy and job costing
Polygon Geofence vs. Regular (Circular) Geofence
Feature | Regular Geofence | Polygon Geofence |
Shape | Fixed-radius circle | Custom shape with multiple corners |
Editing | Resize/move circle, click & drag to move | Add, move, or delete points, click & drag to move |
Ideal For | Simple, compact job sites | Irregular or large properties |
Precision | May include nearby roads | Very precise site boundaries |
Multiple per Project | ✅ | ✅ |
How to Add a Geofence to a Project
Go to the Project Hub on desktop
Select an existing project or click + New Project
Scroll to the Project Geofences section
To Add a Regular (Circular) Geofence:
On the map, click the Location or Drop Pin button
Click to drop the center of your geofence
Move the circle by dragging it from the center
Click Save and name your geofence (e.g., “Main Site”)
To Add a Polygon Geofence:
Click the Draw Geofence button on the map
Click to drop multiple points around your job site
Close the shape by clicking your starting point again
Drag points to adjust or right-click to delete
Click Save and name your geofence (e.g., “Back Lot – Loading Zone”)
How to Edit or Delete a Geofence
Log in to Workyard on your desktop
Navigate to the Projects tab and locate the project you want to update
Click the three dots (⋯) on the far right of the project row
Select “Edit Geofence” from the dropdown menu
From here, you can:
Adjust the shape
Delete the geofence
Click Save to apply your changes
Tip: You can also rename the geofence while editing, or add additional geofences to the same project if needed.
Add Multiple Geofences Per Project
You can add more than one geofence per project. This is useful when:
You have multiple site entrances
You want to separate zones or buildings
You need more precise control over tracking
Best Practices
Draw geofences tightly to avoid capturing nearby roads
Use polygon geofences for large or irregular sites
When creating a polygon geofence, avoid adding too many points. A clean, minimal shape improves performance and accuracy.
Give each geofence a clear, specific name
Check the Activity Feed for team member geofence entries/exits
Notes
Auto clock-in only works if enabled in Time Clock Rules
Ensure team members have “Always Allow” location permissions
You can update or remove geofences anytime