Tarrant County, TX Fence Regulations: Material Restrictions (2026)
Key Facts
- Chain Link
- Allowed countywide
- Barbed Wire
- Allowed (rural/agricultural)
- Electric Fences
- Allowed
- HOA Limits
- Commonly apply
Summary
Tarrant County does not restrict fence materials for unincorporated residential areas. Chain link, barbed wire, wood, masonry, and electric fencing are all allowed. HOA deed restrictions commonly limit materials.
Sec. 143.028. FENCES. ... (b) In order to be sufficient, a fence must be at least four feet high and comply with the following requirements: (1) a barbed wire fence must consist of three wires on posts no more than 30 feet apart, with one or more stays between every two posts; (2) a picket fence must consist of pickets that are not more than six inches apart; (3) a board fence must consist of three boards not less than five inches wide and one inch thick; and (4) a rail fence must consist of four rails.
Full Breakdown
Unincorporated Tarrant County places no material restrictions on residential or agricultural fencing. Barbed wire and electric fencing are explicitly legal in rural areas under Texas Agriculture Code Chapter 143, and the county does not prohibit them in residential subdivisions either. Chain link, vinyl, wrought iron, composite, masonry, and wood are all permitted. Tarrant County is a closed-range county for livestock, meaning livestock owners must fence in their animals but may use any fence type adequate for the animal. The incorporated cities of Fort Worth, Arlington, Grapevine, and others impose their own material restrictions. Most HOA deed restrictions in master-planned communities limit materials to wood, wrought iron, or masonry and explicitly prohibit chain link and barbed wire.
Violations & Fines
No county material violations exist. HOA violations are enforced civilly through deed restriction lawsuits. City ordinances apply only within incorporated boundaries.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use barbed wire in unincorporated Tarrant County?
Is chain link fencing allowed in Tarrant County?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Tarrant County
Texas rules heatmap·Compare Tarrant County to another location·View the Texas fence regulations overview
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