Before You Build in Arlington, TX: Permit & Rule Checklist (2026)

Retaining walls over 4 feet in height (measured from bottom of footing to top of wall) require a building permit and engineered plans sealed by a Texas-licensed professional engineer. Walls under 4 feet typically do not require a permit but must comply with drainage and setback standards. Tiered walls may be treated as a single wall if spaced too closely.

Texas Health & Safety Code Chapter 757 and Arlington's adopted pool code require all residential swimming pools and spas deeper than 18 inches to be enclosed by a barrier at least 48 inches tall with self-closing, self-latching gates. Barriers must be completed and inspected before the pool can be filled with water.

Texas Civil Practice & Remedies Code Chapter 841 governs partition fences between adjoining landowners, but Arlington does not mandate shared cost or construction of boundary fences. Disputes between neighbors are generally civil matters. The city encourages written agreements and enforces only zoning, height, and nuisance standards, not cost-sharing between private property owners.

Arlington caps residential fences at 4 feet in front yards and 8 feet in side and rear yards under the Unified Development Code. Fences over 7 feet require a building permit, and corner-lot sight triangles restrict fence height near intersections to preserve driver visibility.

Arlington requires a building permit for most fence construction, replacement, or repair that exceeds 50% of the existing fence length. Fences 8 feet and under in residential zones generally do not require a separate permit, but must comply with zoning setback, height, and location standards. Permits are issued through the Community Development and Planning Department.

Arlington requires building permits for in-ground and above-ground pools exceeding 24 inches in depth, along with separate electrical and plumbing permits. The city enforces the International Residential Code with Texas amendments, and pools must comply with setback, barrier, and equipment placement standards set in the Unified Development Code.

Arlington requires all residential swimming pools capable of holding water 24 inches deep or more to be enclosed by a barrier at least 48 inches high with self-closing, self-latching gates. Requirements follow IRC Appendix G and the International Swimming Pool and Spa Code as amended by Texas, with additional rules for doors leading directly from the home to the pool.

Hot tubs and spas in Arlington require building and electrical permits when installed, and must meet pool barrier rules unless fitted with an approved locking safety cover meeting ASTM F1346. Electrical hookups require GFCI protection and proper bonding, and hard-wired spas must be installed by licensed electricians.

Above-ground pools in Arlington capable of holding water deeper than 24 inches require a building permit and must meet the same barrier, electrical, and setback standards as in-ground pools. Ladders must be removable or securable to prevent unsupervised child access when the pool is not in use.

Arlington residential pools must comply with federal anti-entrapment drain requirements, pool barrier and alarm standards, and electrical bonding rules. Public and semi-public pools face stricter oversight under Texas Health & Safety Code Chapter 757, including lifeguard, signage, and water quality requirements enforced by the Texas Department of State Health Services.

Arlington allows accessory dwelling units in limited residential zoning districts subject to Unified Development Code standards covering size, owner-occupancy, setbacks, and parking. Unlike California or Oregon, Texas has no statewide ADU mandate, so Arlington's local zoning controls whether, where, and how an ADU can be built.

Converting a garage into living space in Arlington requires a building permit, full compliance with the International Residential Code for habitable rooms, and replacement of required off-street parking. Conversions that create a second dwelling unit must also meet ADU zoning standards and are often restricted by HOA covenants.

Carports in Arlington require building permits and must meet setback, height, and lot coverage rules in the Unified Development Code. Attached carports follow main-structure setbacks, while detached carports follow accessory structure rules. Fabric or metal 'portable' carports are generally not allowed as permanent front-yard structures.

Arlington regulates tiny homes based on whether they are built on permanent foundations as single-family dwellings or on wheels as RVs. Foundation-built tiny homes must meet the full International Residential Code and minimum dwelling size standards, while tiny homes on wheels are treated as recreational vehicles and cannot be used as permanent residences in residential zones.

Arlington requires building permits for storage sheds and accessory buildings larger than 200 square feet, while smaller sheds are exempt from permits but must still meet setback, height, and zoning standards. All sheds must be placed in side or rear yards and typically kept 3 feet from property lines.

Arlington bans most outdoor burning within city limits. Authorized burns require a $1,000 permit and Fire Prevention inspection. Wind speed must be 5–16 mph, relative humidity above 35%, and burning during daylight only. No burning on ozone alert days.

Gas and propane fire pits are generally allowed in Arlington for recreational use. Wood-burning fire pits and bonfires are restricted under the Fire Prevention Chapter. Recreational fires must use approved containers and maintain clearance from structures.

Arlington's tree preservation ordinance regulates removal of protected trees on non-single-family development sites. Single-family homeowners generally may remove trees on their own property without a permit. Removal of trees in street rights-of-way or on commercial, multifamily, and new-construction sites requires approval and may trigger mitigation plantings.

Arlington enforces year-round twice-per-week outdoor watering limits, with additional Stage 1 through Stage 4 drought restrictions triggered by Tarrant Regional Water District conditions at Lake Arlington and other regional reservoirs. Watering is prohibited between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. from April through October to reduce evaporation in the North Texas heat.

Arlington requires property owners to trim trees so that branches clear public sidewalks by at least 8 feet and public streets by at least 14 feet. Trees overhanging alleys must not obstruct solid waste trucks. Trimming of trees on private property generally does not require a permit, but protected and heritage trees on development sites are regulated.