Bexar County, TX Fence Regulations: Material Restrictions (2026)
Key Facts
- Barbed wire in city
- Prohibited residentially
- Electrified fences
- Restricted in San Antonio
- Historic districts
- Design review required
- HOA override
- Commonly limits materials
Summary
Bexar County does not restrict fencing materials countywide. San Antonio prohibits barbed wire and razor wire on residential lots, and most area HOAs dictate acceptable materials such as cedar, wrought iron, or masonry.
Sec. 202.023. SECURITY MEASURES. (a) This section does not apply to:(1) a condominium as defined by Section 81.002 or 82.003; or(2) a master mixed-use property owners' association subject to Chapter 215.(b) Except as provided by Subsection (c), a property owners' association may not adopt or enforce a restrictive covenant that prevents a property owner from building or installing security measures, including but not limited to a security camera, motion detector, or perimeter fence.(c) This section does not prohibit a property owners' association from:(1) prohibiting the installation of a security camera by a property owner in a place other than the property owner's private property;(2) regulating the type of fencing that a property
Full Breakdown
Texas and Bexar County give property owners wide latitude on fencing materials in unincorporated areas, including the use of agricultural barbed wire on tracts that retain an agricultural character. Inside San Antonio, the Unified Development Code prohibits barbed wire, razor wire, and electrified fencing on residential and most commercial lots, with narrow exceptions for industrial zones and some institutional uses that meet a 6-foot solid fence base requirement. Chain-link is permitted but many subdivisions forbid it by covenant, and the UDC requires chain-link to be dark coated along certain corridors. Cedar picket, composite, masonry, and ornamental iron are the dominant HOA-approved materials in the San Antonio area. Temporary construction fencing must be removed when work is complete. The Edwards Aquifer contributing zone does not add material limits for fences themselves, but it does limit disturbance near recharge features. Historic districts such as King William and Monte Vista have additional design review for fence materials.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use corrugated metal panels?
Is barbed wire allowed on my acreage?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Bexar County
Texas rules heatmap·Compare Bexar County to another location·View the Texas fence regulations overview
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