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Fence Regulations in Fort Worth, TX (2026)

7 verified fence regulations for Fort Worth, Texas, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.

Verified from official government sources

Height Limits

Fort Worth Zoning Ordinance §5.305 caps residential front-yard fences at 4 feet with open design (max 50% density), and behind the front building line allows solid fences up to 7 feet and open fences up to 8 feet without a permit. Corner-lot sight triangles cap fences at 2 feet within a 20-foot triangle, and the Texas Local Government Code Chapter 211 authorizes the city's zoning enforcement.

Fort Worth Fence Height Limits

Some Restrictions

Tex. Prop. Code Sec. 202.023(c)

Sec. 202.023. SECURITY MEASURES. ... (c) This section does not prohibit a property owners' association from: ... (2) regulating the type of fencing that a property owner may install;(3) prohibiting the placement of fencing that obstructs:(A) a license area, as defined by a written license agreement or plat; (B) a sidewalk in the public right-of-way or otherwise installed for public or co...

Permit Requirements

Fort Worth requires building permits for fences over 6 feet tall and for masonry fences. Standard wood or chain-link fences up to 6 feet (8 feet behind the front building line) generally do not require a permit, but all fences must comply with zoning Sec. 5.305.

Fort Worth Fence Permit Requirements

Some Restrictions

Neighbor Fence Rules

Fort Worth has no city ordinance requiring neighbors to share fence costs or notify each other before building. The city only enforces fence height, location, and material standards under zoning Sec. 5.305. Cost-sharing is a private civil matter.

Fort Worth Fence Neighbor Rules

Few Restrictions

Tex. Agric. Code Sec. 143.028

Sec. 143.028. FENCES. (a) A person is not required to fence against animals that are not permitted to run at large. Except as otherwise provided by this section, a fence is sufficient for purposes of this chapter if it is sufficient to keep out ordinary livestock permitted to run at large.(b) In order to be sufficient, a fence must be at least four feet high and comply with the following r...

Retaining Walls

Fort Worth requires a building permit for retaining walls taller than 4 feet measured from the bottom of the footing, with engineered plans and drainage design required.

Fort Worth Retaining Walls

Some Restrictions

Pool Barriers

Fort Worth requires swimming pools to have a 48-inch barrier with self-closing, self-latching gates, matching International Residential Code Appendix G as adopted by the city.

Fort Worth Pool Barrier Requirements

Heavy Restrictions

Tex. Health & Safety Code Sec. 757.003

Sec. 757.003. ENCLOSURE FOR POOL YARD. (a) ... the owner of a multiunit rental complex with a pool or a property owners association that owns, controls, or maintains a pool shall completely enclose the pool yard with a pool yard enclosure.(b) The height of the pool yard enclosure must be at least 48 inches as measured from the ground on the side away from the pool.(c) Openings under the poo...

Fence Requirements

Fort Worth generally allows residential fences up to 4 feet in front yards and 8 feet in side and rear yards without a building permit, subject to zoning and corner visibility rules.

Fort Worth Fence Requirements

Some Restrictions

Tex. Agric. Code Sec. 143.028

Sec. 143.028. FENCES. (a) A person is not required to fence against animals that are not permitted to run at large. Except as otherwise provided by this section, a fence is sufficient for purposes of this chapter if it is sufficient to keep out ordinary livestock permitted to run at large.(b) In order to be sufficient, a fence must be at least four feet high and comply with the following r...

Material Restrictions

Fort Worth Zoning Sec. 5.305 limits front-yard fences to open designs with at least 50% transparency, effectively barring solid wood, masonry, or vinyl panels in the front yard of one- and two-family lots. Barbed wire and electric fences are restricted in residential districts.

Fort Worth Fence Material Restrictions

Some Restrictions

Tex. Prop. Code Sec. 202.023

Sec. 202.023. SECURITY MEASURES. ... (b) Except as provided by Subsection (c), a property owners' association may not adopt or enforce a restrictive covenant that prevents a property owner from building or installing security measures, including but not limited to a security camera, motion detector, or perimeter fence.(c) This section does not prohibit a property owners' association from: ....

Looking for Tarrant County county-wide rules?

County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Fort Worth city rules.

Fence Regulations in Tarrant County