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Bexar County, TX Fence Regulations: Neighbor Fence Rules (2026)

Few Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified September 2026

Key Facts

Cost sharing
Voluntary, not required by law
Boundary survey
Strongly recommended before building
Dispute venue
Justice of the Peace small claims
HOA control
Covenants can dictate style and upkeep

Summary

Texas treats boundary fences as private matters between neighbors. Bexar County does not mediate disputes, and shared costs require written agreement. HOA covenants and surveys usually control.

City-specific rules exist: Converse, Universal City, and Live Oak have their own neighbor fence rules rules that differ from Bexar County's county-level regulations. If you live in one of those cities, check the city-specific page instead.

Sec. 143.028. FENCES. (a) A person is not required to fence against animals that are not permitted to run at large. Except as otherwise provided by this section, a fence is sufficient for purposes of this chapter if it is sufficient to keep out ordinary livestock permitted to run at large.(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

Source: Texas Property Code Chapter 202View official code

Full Breakdown

There is no Texas statewide partition-fence statute that forces a neighbor to share the cost of a residential boundary fence, and Bexar County has not adopted a local ordinance to change that. Any cost-sharing arrangement should be put in writing and ideally recorded. Before building, homeowners should obtain a boundary survey so the fence sits entirely on their own land or directly on the line with written consent. The Texas common-law rule of acquiescence means a long-standing fence accepted by both owners can sometimes become the recognized boundary, which is why many San Antonio title companies recommend surveys before fence replacement. Disputes about damage to an existing fence are typically resolved through Bexar County Justice of the Peace small claims courts, which handle claims up to 20,000 dollars. HOAs in master-planned communities such as Stone Oak, Alamo Ranch, and Cibolo Canyons frequently require matching fence styles and shared maintenance obligations that override neighbor preference.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I force my neighbor to split the cost of a shared fence?
No. Texas does not require cost sharing for residential fences. You need a voluntary written agreement, or you must pay and build it yourself on your side of the line.
What if my neighbor damages my fence?
Document the damage and file a claim in the appropriate Bexar County Justice of the Peace court, which hears property claims up to 20,000 dollars.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Bexar County

All Bexar County rules

Texas rules heatmap·Compare Bexar County to another location·View the Texas fence regulations overview

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Neighbor Fence Rules in Cities Across Bexar County