Texas City, TX Fence Regulations: Height Limits (2026)

Section 161.005 of the Fence Ordinance sets height by yard. In any rear yard and any side yard, it is unlawful to erect a fence higher than eight feet. Rear and side fences go along the build line, and no part of the fence can extend outside the property line as shown by survey. Section 161.002 defines the property line as the build line for rear and side yards, and defines a survey as a report prepared and stamped by a duly licensed Texas surveyor.

The front yard is tighter. An opaque fence cannot extend more than 30 inches in height from grade beyond the front property line, and a non-opaque fence cannot exceed 30 inches above the finished lot grade. A non-opaque fence is one with gaps of two and one-quarter inch or more between vertical members. Section 161.005(C) also allows front yard fences of non-opaque construction with openings greater than two and one-quarter inch to reach a maximum of 48 inches above finished grade, without extending beyond the front property line. The front build line sits no closer to the front property line than the front of the primary structure or the front setback, whichever is further away. Under the same subsection, a fence cannot exceed the height of a line pulled like a string from the maximum build line height to the maximum front property line height, and no fence can sit within 66 inches of the edge of the street or curb.

Corners have their own limit. Section 161.005(E)(7) makes it unlawful to build a fence that does not afford proper view triangle clearance, meaning visual clearance for a distance of not less than 35 feet in either direction of the corner property line. Section 161.005(J) adds that a fence must be located 18 inches from a public sidewalk that is four feet wide or less, and can run up to the sidewalk if it is wider. Section 161.011 provides that the most restrictive provision governs a conflict, except that specific requirements in Chapter 159 or Chapter 160 prevail.