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

Fort Worth requires swimming pools to have a 48-inch barrier with self-closing, self-latching gates, matching International Residential Code Appendix G as adopted by the city.

Fort Worth requires a building permit for retaining walls taller than 4 feet measured from the bottom of the footing, with engineered plans and drainage design required.

Fort Worth Zoning Ordinance §5.305 caps residential front-yard fences at 4 feet with open design (max 50% density), and behind the front building line allows solid fences up to 7 feet and open fences up to 8 feet without a permit. Corner-lot sight triangles cap fences at 2 feet within a 20-foot triangle, and the Texas Local Government Code Chapter 211 authorizes the city's zoning enforcement.

Fort Worth requires building permits for fences over 6 feet tall and for masonry fences. Standard wood or chain-link fences up to 6 feet (8 feet behind the front building line) generally do not require a permit, but all fences must comply with zoning Sec. 5.305.

Fort Worth has no city ordinance requiring neighbors to share fence costs or notify each other before building. The city only enforces fence height, location, and material standards under zoning Sec. 5.305. Cost-sharing is a private civil matter.

Hot tubs in Fort Worth require a building and electrical permit, must meet IRC Appendix G barrier rules if the water is over 24 inches deep, or a locking safety cover.

Fort Worth requires a barrier of at least 48 inches around any residential swimming pool, spa, or hot tub under Appendix Q of the adopted 2021 International Residential Code (Fort Worth Construction Code). Openings cannot allow a 4-inch sphere to pass; the gap below the barrier cannot exceed 2 inches; gates must open outward away from the pool and be self-closing and self-latching. Multifamily and HOA-owned pools are additionally subject to Texas Health & Safety Code Chapter 757.

Fort Worth requires a building permit before constructing any residential swimming pool, spa, or hot tub. Applications must be filed in person with Development Services, and pools must comply with Appendix Q of the 2021 International Residential Code (IRC) as locally amended in Chapter 7.

Fort Worth pools must have a continuous barrier around the pool with self-closing, self-latching gates that open outward. Lattice openings cannot exceed 1.75 inches and vertical pickets must be spaced no more than 1.75 to 4 inches apart depending on horizontal member spacing, per 2021 IRC Appendix Q as adopted in Chapter 7.

Above-ground pools in Fort Worth are treated as residential pools under Chapter 7 and 2021 IRC Appendix Q. A building permit is required when the pool exceeds 24 inches in water depth or contains 5,000+ gallons, and barrier and ladder-removal rules apply.

Yes — you need a building permit for any accessory dwelling unit in Fort Worth, whether it is a detached ADU, an attached ADU, or a garage conversion. Fort Worth regulates ADUs as 'Accessory Uses on Residential Lots' under §5.301 of the Zoning Ordinance (Appendix A to the City Code). In one-family ('A' through 'AR') districts, an ADU is permitted as an accessory dwelling but cannot be operated as a separate, independent residence. ADUs must observe the side and rear setbacks of the underlying zoning district and may not exceed the height of the primary residence.

Yes — you need a building permit to convert a garage into living space in Fort Worth. A converted garage is treated as an accessory dwelling unit (ADU) under §5.301 of the Fort Worth Zoning Ordinance. In one-family districts the converted space cannot be used as a separate, independent residence, must comply with the side and rear setbacks of the primary dwelling, and cannot exceed the height of the main house.

Fort Worth permits tiny homes on foundations meeting IRC Appendix Q, but prohibits tiny homes on wheels as permanent dwellings in most residential zones.

Fort Worth Zoning Ordinance Section 5.301 governs accessory uses on residential lots. Non-habitable accessory structures (sheds) are limited to 10 feet in height (up to 12 feet with additional setback) and must comply with side and rear setbacks for the primary structure. Sheds over 120 sq ft require a building permit.

Carports in Fort Worth require a building permit. Under zoning Sec. 5.301, rear-yard carports up to 400 sq ft may sit as close as 1.5 ft from the rear lot line on lots up to 7,500 sq ft, and side-yard carports up to 200 sq ft may sit 1.5 ft from the side lot line, subject to height and roof-pitch matching the main house. Front-yard carports are not allowed except by special exception.

Fort Worth Code Chapter 13 adopts the 2021 International Fire Code, which generally prohibits open burning of refuse and yard waste inside city limits. The Fire Marshal may also impose temporary burn bans during drought.

Fort Worth requires permanent fire pits of noncombustible materials, minimum 10 feet from structures. Must be constantly attended with 4-A rated extinguisher available. During burn bans, social gathering fire pits may be excluded but check current orders.

Fort Worth Water enforces a year-round twice-per-week watering schedule: odd addresses water Wednesday and Saturday, even addresses Thursday and Sunday. No sprinkler use is allowed between 10 AM and 6 PM. Violations are reported to 817-392-4477.

Fort Worth Zoning Sec. 6.302 (Urban Forestry), as amended in April 2025, requires permits to remove protected trees during development and preserves 50% of post oak and blackjack oak canopy. Criminal fines for unlawful removal are $2,000 per tree, with civil penalties up to $1,200 per diameter inch of canopy lost.

Routine trimming of trees on private property does not require a city permit under Fort Worth's urban forestry ordinance (Zoning Sec. 6.302) as long as the tree is not removed and protected post oak or blackjack oak species are not damaged. Trimming city street trees in the right-of-way requires coordination with the City Forester.