7 county-level rules, plus city-specific rules for 4 cities in Hidalgo County, Texas.
Verified from official government sources
Texas counties have no general zoning authority, so Hidalgo County sets no fence-height limit in unincorporated areas. There is no county-wide maximum fence height. If your property lies inside a city (McAllen, Edinburg, Pharr, Mission, etc.), that city's zoning code controls; recorded plats or deed restrictions may also cap height.
Tex. Prop. Code Sec. 202.023 (Perimeter Fencing)
Sec. 202.023. SECURITY MEASURES. (a) This section does not apply to:(1) a condominium as defined by Section 81.002 or 82.003; or(2) a master mixed-use property owners' association subject to Chapter 215.(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...
Hidalgo County issues no zoning or building permit for a stand-alone fence in unincorporated areas; with no zoning power, there is no county fence permit. County permitting covers subdivision platting, floodplain, and septic. A fence inside a city needs that city's permit, and HOA covenants may require approval.
Hidalgo County has no zoning, so it sets no neighbor or boundary-fence rules in unincorporated areas. Shared-fence rights come from Texas common law and deed restrictions, not county code. Under Texas Property Code Chapter 202, a subdivision's restrictive covenants govern many fences and are liberally construed.
Texas Property Code § 202.003(a)
A restrictive covenant shall be liberally construed to give effect to its purposes and intent.
Hidalgo County has no zoning and adopts no county building code, so it sets no county retaining-wall height or permit rule in unincorporated areas. Structural safety is governed by engineering practice and, in mapped floodplains, by county floodplain rules. Inside a city, that city's building code and permit apply.
Hidalgo County imposes no general fence-construction requirements in unincorporated areas because Texas counties have no zoning authority. There is no county rule on fence style, setback, or design. Requirements come only from a plat, deed restrictions, or HOA covenants, and from a city if your land is inside city limits.
Hidalgo County restricts no fence materials in unincorporated areas because Texas counties have no zoning authority; barbed wire, chain-link, and similar materials are not county-prohibited. Material limits can come only from recorded deed restrictions or HOA covenants, or from a city's code if your property is inside city limits.
Hidalgo County sets no approved or prohibited fence-material list for unincorporated areas because it has no zoning authority. Owners may use wood, masonry, wrought iron, chain-link, or farm wire freely on their own land, subject only to deed restrictions or HOA covenants, and to a city's code inside city limits.
4 cities in Hidalgo County have their own fence regulations rules. Each link goes to that city's dedicated page with code citations.
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Hidalgo County Ordinance Hub →