Austin City Code Chapter 25-2 allows residential fences up to 6 feet in side and rear yards and 4 feet in front yards without a permit. Corner visibility triangles, Heritage Tree protection zones, and HOA design rules impose additional limits.
Austin Land Development Code Chapter 25-2 Subchapter F permits fences up to 6 feet in height in side and rear yards and up to 4 feet in front yards (measured from natural grade) without a building permit. Fences over these heights require a permit and sometimes a zoning variance. At corner lots and driveway entrances, a visibility triangle (25 feet along each right-of-way from the intersection) limits fence height to 2-1/2 feet to preserve sight distance. Austin's landmark Heritage Tree Ordinance (Chapter 25-8) protects trees 24 inches DBH and larger — fence posts cannot be augered within the Critical Root Zone (1 foot radius per inch of trunk diameter) without an arborist permit. Barbed wire and razor wire are prohibited in residential zones. Fences in Hill Country Roadway corridors must use natural materials (cedar, steel, masonry) harmonizing with landscape. Electric fences require a permit and are generally limited to agricultural zones. Texas Property Code §202.007 allows HOA architectural restrictions but cannot ban xeriscape or block drought-tolerant landscape. Texas Civil Practice §15.018 allocates partition fence cost equally to adjoining owners when agreed.
Specific penalty amounts for this ordinance are not published in a publicly accessible fine schedule. Contact Austin code enforcement directly for current fines, enforcement procedures, and hearing options.
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