Fence Regulations in Tarrant County, TX (2026)

7 county-level rules, plus city-specific rules for 8 cities in Tarrant County, Texas.

Verified from official government sources

Note: These county rules apply to unincorporated areas of Tarrant County. If you live within an incorporated city, that city's own rules apply — see the city list below.

Height Limits

Tarrant County does not regulate residential fence heights in unincorporated areas. Texas counties lack general zoning and police power (Local Gov Code Ch. 233 covers building lines, fire code, and substantial improvements but not fence height). Cities — Fort Worth, Arlington, Grand Prairie, North Richland Hills — are the primary fence regulators inside their limits.

fences/height-limits

Few Restrictions

Tex. Prop. Code Sec. 202.023(a)

Sec. 202.023. FENCES. (a) Except as provided by Subsection (b), a property owners' association may not adopt or enforce a restrictive covenant that prevents a property owner from constructing or installing a perimeter fencing enclosing the owner's property as long as the fencing meets any height, aesthetic, or other requirement in the restrictive covenants or other rules of the property owners'...

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

Permit Requirements

Tarrant County does not require permits for residential fences in unincorporated areas. Texas counties lack zoning authority. HOA deed restrictions and easements are the main constraints.

Tarrant County Fence Permits

Few Restrictions

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

Neighbor Fence Rules

Tarrant County has no good-neighbor fence ordinance. Disputes are governed by Texas common law. Boundary fences on the property line are typically jointly owned with cost sharing negotiated between neighbors.

Tarrant County Fence Neighbor Rules

Few Restrictions

Tex. Agriculture Code Sec. 143.028(a), (b)

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 requi...

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

Retaining Walls

Tarrant County does not issue retaining wall permits for unincorporated areas. Walls over 4 feet tall typically need engineered design under IRC standards, but counties cannot enforce zoning rules on private lots.

Tarrant County Retaining Wall Rules

Some Restrictions

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

Pool Barriers

Pool barriers in unincorporated Tarrant County follow Texas HSC Chapter 757, which requires enclosures at least 48 inches tall with self-closing gates. The state mandate applies without county inspection.

Tarrant County Pool Barrier Requirements

Heavy Restrictions

Tex. Health & Safety Code Sec. 757.003(a), (b), (c), (f)

Sec. 757.003. ENCLOSURE FOR POOL YARD. (a) Except as otherwise provided by Section 757.005, 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 awa...

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

Fence Requirements

Tarrant County imposes no fence design, setback, or material requirements for unincorporated residential lots. Texas counties lack zoning authority. Fence rules typically come from HOA deed restrictions.

Tarrant County Fence Requirements

Few Restrictions

Tex. Agric. Code Sec. 143.028(a), (b)

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 requi...

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

Material Restrictions

Tarrant County does not restrict fence materials for unincorporated residential areas. Chain link, barbed wire, wood, masonry, and electric fencing are all allowed. HOA deed restrictions commonly limit materials.

Tarrant County Fence Material Rules

Few Restrictions

Tex. Agriculture Code Sec. 143.028(b)

Sec. 143.028. FENCES. ... (b) In order to be sufficient, a fence must be at least four feet high and comply with the following requirements: (1) a barbed wire fence must consist of three wires on posts no more than 30 feet apart, with one or more stays between every two posts; (2) a picket fence must consist of pickets that are not more than six inches apart; (3) a board fence must consist of t...

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗