Plano, TX Fence Regulations: Fence Permit Requirements (2026)
Key Facts
- Permitting agency
- Building Inspections Department
- Repair exemption
- under 25% of fence area/12 mo.
- New-fence rule
- remove old fence if within 3 ft
- Post-completion step
- inspection + card of acceptance
- Maximum fine
- $2,000 per Sec. 6-176
Summary
Plano requires a permit from the building inspections department before anyone builds, alters, or adds to a fence, with an exception for repairs under 25 percent of the fence's area in a 12-month span. Building a new fence within three feet of an existing one on the same lot requires removing the old fence first.
(a)It shall be an offense for an owner, owner's representative, occupant or person with care, custody, or control of a property to construct or cause to be constructed, or to permit any person to construct fences, or to make any alterations, additions, or changes to fences, without first having procured a permit to do so from the building inspections department. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a permit shall not be required for alterations, additions, or changes if repairs do not exceed twenty-five (25) percent of the area of fences over a twelve-month period.(b)When constructing new fences parallel to and within three (3) feet of existing fences on the same lot, existing fences shall be removed. The term "parallel" is defined as corresponding fences that run in the same direction as existing fences, but do not have to maintain a precise, constant distance from one another.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 153).
Full Breakdown
Sec. ' The only built-in exception covers alterations, additions, or changes where the repaired area does not exceed 25 percent of the fence over a rolling 12-month period, per Sec. 6-179(a). Sec. 6-179(b) adds a separate rule for replacement fencing: when a new fence is built parallel to and within three feet of an existing fence on the same lot, the existing fence must be removed, with 'parallel' defined as fences running in the same direction without needing to hold a constant distance apart. Once a permitted fence is finished, Sec.
6-185 requires the owner to notify the chief building official's office, which will inspect the work and issue a card of acceptance if the fence complies, or reject it if it does not. All fences and fence locations must also conform to the zoning ordinance under Sec. 6-181, and no privately owned fence, guy wire, or brace may be built on or protrude over city-owned property under Sec. 6-182. Fences enclosing a pool, hot tub, or spa must meet the enclosure standards found elsewhere in the same article, and fence posts anchored to retaining walls need their own foundation under Sec. 6-178(g).
Violations & Fines
Sec. 6-176 sets the penalty for any violation of the fences article, including building without the required Sec. 6-179 permit, at a fine of not more than $2,000 upon conviction. Failing to maintain a completed fence, for example letting it fall more than ten degrees out of vertical or leaving 20+ square feet of broken or missing fence parts unrepaired, is a separate offense under Sec. 6-186(b).
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit to build a fence in Plano?
Can I build a new fence right next to my old one?
What happens after my fence permit work is done?
What's the penalty for building a fence without a Plano permit?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Plano
Texas rules heatmap·Compare Plano to another location·View the Texas fence regulations overview
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Fence Permit Requirements in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Collin County handle fence permit requirements.