How Arlington Handles Fence Regulations: A Practical Guide
Arlington maintains 108 local ordinances across all categories, and 3 of those deal specifically with fence regulations. Here is a breakdown of what the city actually requires, what is prohibited, and where Arlington falls on the strict-to-permissive spectrum compared to other cities.
Height Limits
Arlington's Unified Development Code limits residential fences to 4 feet in front yards and 8 feet in side and rear yards. Fences cannot obstruct corner visibility triangles, drainage easements, or sightlines at driveways. Commercial and industrial properties have separate standards and often require screening fences along residential boundaries.
Key details: Front Yard 4foot: Front yard: 4-foot maximum, 50% open if over 3 feet. Side And Rear: Side and rear yards: 8-foot maximum. Corner Visibility Triangle: Corner visibility triangle: 2.5-foot maximum within 25 feet of intersection. Barbedrazor Wire Prohibited: Barbed/razor wire prohibited in residential zones. Commercial Adjacent To: Commercial adjacent to residential: 8-foot solid screening required.
Material Restrictions
Arlington restricts electric fences to the IM Industrial Manufacturing district and bans them outright in the Downtown Form-Based Zoning District and Entertainment District overlay, under UDC Sec. 5.3.4.B.3. Within the Downtown Form-Based Zoning District, chain-link fencing is separately prohibited outright under Article 13.1's fence standard, which also caps most fences at four feet and requires front-yard fences to stay at least half open.
Key details: Electric-fence district: IM (Industrial Manufacturing) only. Electric fence bans: DT-FBZD and EDO overlay. Chain-link ban location: Downtown Form-Based Zoning District. DT-FBZD residential fence height cap: 4 feet. Front-yard openness rule: At least 50% open.
An electric fence installed outside the IM district, or a chain-link fence built in the Downtown Form-Based Zoning District where Article 13.1 or the arterial-frontage standard prohibits it, is a Unified Development Code violation. Ordinance No. 26-019's general penalty clause treats any violation of its provisions as a misdemeanor with a fine of up to $2,000 per offense, and each day the violation continues is a separate offense.
Compared to other cities, Arlington takes a harder line on material restrictions. The enforcement and penalty structure reflects that.
Fence Permit Requirements
Arlington reviews every fence permit application against UDC Sec. 5.3.4.A.1, Single-Family and Two-Family Residential Fencing, revised by Ordinance No. 26-019. The standards apply in all zoning districts except Planned Development districts with their own fence design rules, the Entertainment District and Village on the Green at Tierra Verde overlays, the Downtown Form-Based Zoning District, and Conservation District overlays that carry their own fence design standards.
Key details: Governing section: UDC Sec. 5.3.4.A.1. Reviewed with: Each fence permit application. Exempt overlays: EDO, VG, DT-FBZD, CDO, PD districts. Term "fence" covers: Any enclosure, barrier, or boundary structure. Max fine: $2,000 per offense per day.
Fences reviewed and permitted outside the Sec. 5.3.4 standards, or built without the required fence permit, are a Unified Development Code violation. Ordinance No. 26-019's general penalty clause makes any violation of its provisions a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of up to $2,000 per offense, with each day the violation continues counted as a separate offense.
The Bottom Line
Arlington's fence regulations rules are a mixed bag. Some areas are strict, others are relaxed, and the details matter. The best approach is to check the specific rule that applies to your situation rather than assuming Arlington is broadly strict or permissive.
All of the above reflects Arlington's municipal code as of our last review. If you need specifics on fines, exemptions, or filing requirements, the detailed ordinance pages linked above have the full breakdown.