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

McKinney Zoning Ordinance allows 8 ft rear and side-yard fences and 4 ft front-yard fences in residential districts. Corner lots have sight-triangle restrictions limiting front/side height to 3 ft near intersections.

Swimming pools in McKinney must be enclosed by a minimum 48-inch fence with self-closing self-latching gates per 2021 IRC Appendix G adopted by the city. Pool barriers inspected before final CO issuance.

Fence permits are required in McKinney for all new fences and for replacement of more than 50 percent of an existing fence. Permit fee is approximately 50 plus contractor registration. HOA approval typically required in master-planned communities.

Texas has no Good Neighbor Fence Act; McKinney does not mandate shared fence costs. Each owner may build on their own property line, and adjoining owners are not required to share expense or maintenance absent written agreement.

Hot tubs and spas in McKinney require an electrical permit and must either be equipped with a lockable, ASTM F1346 safety cover or be enclosed within a pool-compliant barrier.

McKinney requires a building permit and multiple inspections for any in-ground pool or spa; permits cover structural, electrical, plumbing, and barrier compliance under the 2021 IRC as adopted by the city.

McKinney enforces 2021 IRC Appendix G pool barriers: minimum 48-inch fence, self-closing and self-latching gates opening outward, latch 54 inches high, and door alarms on any house opening into the pool area.

McKinney pools must comply with the Virginia Graeme Baker Pool and Spa Safety Act for drain covers, proper electrical bonding, and (for public/semi-public pools) lifeguard or warning signage requirements under TX DSHS rules.

Above-ground pools deeper than 24 inches in McKinney require a permit, barrier compliance, and electrical permits for pump wiring; inflatable pools under 24 inches and under 5,000 gallons are exempt.

McKinney generally does not permit accessory dwelling units (ADUs) as-of-right in single-family zoning districts. Guest quarters without cooking facilities allowed under Zoning Chapter 146 accessory use rules.

Garage conversions in McKinney require building permit, zoning verification, and replacement of required off-street parking. Conversions that create separate dwelling units are not allowed in SF districts.

Tiny homes on wheels (THOWs) treated as RVs in McKinney and cannot be used as permanent dwellings on single-family lots. Tiny homes on foundations must meet standard zoning minimum floor area, typically 1,000 sq ft or larger depending on district.

McKinney permits attached carports on residential lots subject to setbacks and building permit. Front-yard prefabricated metal carports generally prohibited in most single-family zoning districts.

McKinney sheds 200 square feet or smaller and under 8 ft tall do not require a building permit but must meet zoning setbacks (typically 3 ft side and rear). Larger sheds require permit.

McKinney permits gas and propane fire pits year-round. Wood-burning recreational fires allowed in approved containers with spark screens, minimum 25 ft from structures per IFC 307 as adopted by the city.

Outdoor burning of yard waste, trash, and debris is prohibited in McKinney under TCEQ 30 TAC Section 111.209 and city ordinance. Only approved recreational fires and cooking fires are allowed.

Removal of protected trees (6 inches DBH and larger) in McKinney requires a Tree Removal Permit under Chapter 146 Article V. Replacement or mitigation fee into Tree Fund required.

McKinney Tree Preservation Ordinance (Zoning Chapter 146 Article V) regulates trimming of protected trees over 6 inches DBH. Routine pruning allowed; topping or removing over 25 percent of canopy requires permit.

McKinney follows North Texas Municipal Water District (NTMWD) year-round outdoor watering schedule: twice weekly maximum, no watering 10 AM to 6 PM April through October. Stage restrictions tighten during drought.