Garland, TX Fence Regulations: Fence Permit Requirements (2026)
Key Facts
- Permit required
- Before building any fence
- No-permit exception
- In-kind replacement fence
- Exception excludes
- Pool fences, street-adjacent yards
- Enforcement
- Misdemeanor under GDC § 5.24
- Max fine
- Up to $2,000 (zoning-related)
- Applies
- Citywide, all zoning districts
Summary
No one may build a fence in Garland without first applying for and getting a City permit, under the Garland Development Code. A narrow exception lets homeowners replace an existing, compliant fence in-kind, same location, materials and height, without a new permit, as long as it isn't a required pool fence or in a street-adjacent yard.
No person may build a fence without having first applied for and obtained a permit from the City, except as provided in Subsection (B) below. (B) A permit is not required to replace an existing fence that: (1) Is otherwise in compliance with the provisions of this Article 8; (2) Is not located within a yard adjacent to a street or at a street and alley intersection; (3) Is not a required swimming pool fence; and (4) Is in the same location, constructed of similar materials, and is of similar height as the fence it is replacing.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4862189; v40 updated 2026-05-19).
Full Breakdown
101(A) of the Garland Development Code states plainly that no person may build a fence without having first applied for and obtained a permit from the City. Subsection (B) carves out one exception: a permit isn't required to replace an existing fence if the replacement is otherwise compliant with Article 8, isn't located in a yard adjacent to a street or at a street-and-alley intersection, isn't a required swimming-pool fence, and matches the existing fence's location, materials, and height. 100 makes the permit and material rules apply to every fence in the City regardless of zoning district unless the Code says otherwise, requires compliance with the sight-line standards in Chapter 33 (Transportation), and grandfathers a fence that predates the current GDC while still subjecting any rebuild or expansion of it to Article 8. 107.
Violations & Fines
Building a fence without the required permit, or otherwise failing to comply with Article 8's fencing requirements, is a misdemeanor under section 5.24 of the Garland Development Code, punishable in accordance with Title 1, Chapter 10, Article 1 of the City Code, the citywide general penalty (up to $2,000 for zoning-related violations, up to $500 otherwise). An owner, contractor, or anyone who assists in maintaining a noncompliant fence can each be cited separately for the same violation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit to replace my old fence?
What happens if I build a fence without a permit?
Does the permit rule apply to a fence around my pool?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Garland
Texas rules heatmap·Compare Garland to another location·View the Texas fence regulations overview
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Fence Permit Requirements in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Dallas County handle fence permit requirements.