Arlington, TX Fence Regulations: Material Restrictions (2026)
Key Facts
- Electric-fence district
- IM (Industrial Manufacturing) only
- Electric fence bans
- DT-FBZD and EDO overlay
- Chain-link ban location
- Downtown Form-Based Zoning District
- DT-FBZD residential fence height cap
- 4 feet
- Front-yard openness rule
- At least 50% open
- Max fine
- $2,000 per offense per day
Summary
Arlington restricts electric fences to the IM Industrial Manufacturing district and bans them outright in the Downtown Form-Based Zoning District and Entertainment District overlay, under UDC Sec. 5.3.4.B.3. Within the Downtown Form-Based Zoning District, chain-link fencing is separately prohibited outright under Article 13.1's fence standard, which also caps most fences at four feet and requires front-yard fences to stay at least half open.
3. Electric fences shall conform to the following minimum standards:
a. Electric fences are permitted only in the IM zoning district, except that electric fences are prohibited in DT-FBZD and EDO district.
... Fences in the front, side, and rear yards are permitted. Fences, when provided shall meet the following: a. Must be constructed of high-quality materials including; wood, wrought iron; composite fencing; aluminum; metal; or other material approved by the Administrator. b. Chain link fences are prohibited c. Height shall be no more than 4 feet. d. Front yard fences must be at least 50% open.
Full Breakdown
UDC Sec. 5.3.4, Fences, Subsection B, Fencing in Non-Residential and Mixed-Use Districts, Subsection 3, revised by Ordinance No. 26-019, sets the citywide electric-fence rule: "Electric fences are permitted only in the IM zoning district, except that electric fences are prohibited in DT-FBZD and EDO district." Because Subsection B only authorizes electric fencing in a non-residential district, and the ordinance did not add a parallel authorization under the residential fence standard in Sec. 5.3.4.A, an electric fence has no separate residential authorization in the amended code.
Chain-link is addressed twice in Arlington's Form-Based Zoning standards, Article 13.1. The Ground Floor Residential Frontage Treatment standard for lots fronting an Arterial or Urban Arterial Roadway requires a metal picket fence with 3-to-6-inch picket spacing, on an optional masonry base up to 18 inches, or a masonry wall at least 24 inches tall, and states flatly: "Chain link fences are not permitted." Separately, Article 13.1's general residential fence standard for the Downtown Form-Based Zoning District requires fences to be "wood, wrought iron, composite fencing, aluminum, metal, or other material approved by the Administrator," states that "chain link fences are prohibited," caps height at 4 feet, and requires front-yard fences to be at least 50 percent open.
Violations & Fines
An electric fence installed outside the IM district, or a chain-link fence built in the Downtown Form-Based Zoning District where Article 13.1 or the arterial-frontage standard prohibits it, is a Unified Development Code violation. Ordinance No. 26-019's general penalty clause treats any violation of its provisions as a misdemeanor with a fine of up to $2,000 per offense, and each day the violation continues is a separate offense.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I put up an electric fence around my Arlington property?
Is chain-link fencing banned in Arlington?
How tall can a fence be in Arlington's Downtown Form-Based Zoning District?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Arlington
Texas rules heatmap·Compare Arlington to another location·View the Texas fence regulations overview
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Material Restrictions in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Tarrant County handle material restrictions.