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's zoning ordinance, Appendix A of the City Code, controls fences on residential property. Front-yard fences are capped at 4 feet in most residential districts, measured from natural grade, with open-pattern designs (wrought iron, picket, ornamental metal) generally preferred over solid panels in the front setback. Side and rear-yard fences may rise to 8 feet without a building permit; fences above 8 feet require a permit and engineering. Corner lots must maintain a sight-distance triangle at intersections, generally 15 feet by 15 feet, where no fence, wall, or dense planting may exceed 3 feet. Finished sides typically face outward toward neighbors and the street, and barbed wire is prohibited in residential zones. Historic districts like Fairmount, Ryan Place, and the Southside have additional Historic Preservation Commission review for visible-from-street fencing.
Non-compliant fences draw code violations up to $500 per offense and an order to remove or modify. Corner-visibility violations can trigger immediate abatement. Historic district violations add Preservation Commission review and potential fines up to $1,000.
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Fort Worth, TX
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Fort Worth, TX
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Fort Worth, TX
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Fort Worth, TX
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Fort Worth, TX
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Fort Worth, TX
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Side-by-side rule comparisons with other cities in Tarrant County.
See how other cities in Tarrant County handle fence requirements.
See how Fort Worth's fence requirements rules stack up against other locations.
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