Arlington, TX Fence Regulations: Height Limits (2026)

Arlington Unified Development Code §5.4.5 establishes residential fence standards. In the required front yard — the area between the front property line and the front building line of the principal structure — fences, walls, and hedges may not exceed four feet in height, and solid (opaque) fences are prohibited in front yards entirely; only open-design fences such as wrought iron, split rail, or picket allowing 50% visibility are permitted. In side and rear yards, fences may reach a maximum height of eight feet measured from the higher adjacent grade. Any fence over seven feet requires a building permit with engineering details for wind loads. On corner lots, a sight triangle at the intersection of the two street right-of-ways prohibits any fence, wall, hedge, or landscaping over 30 inches tall within a 25-foot triangle measured from the curb corner, ensuring driver sight distance. Fences adjacent to alleys must be set back at least one foot from the alley right-of-way to allow for sanitation and utility access. Electrified fences, barbed wire, and razor wire are prohibited in residential zoning districts except for confined livestock on parcels of two acres or more. Shared fences on property lines are a civil matter between neighbors; Texas Property Code §202 prevents HOAs from prohibiting standard fence types outright but allows reasonable aesthetic rules.