← Dallas permit guide
Fence Permit Requirements in Dallas, TX
Based on City of Dallas published sources. Confirm with Planning & Development before you build.
Do you need a permit?
Only for taller fences. Dallas requires a fence permit for fences over 4 feet in a front yard or over 6 feet anywhere else. The maximum height allowed is 9 feet.
What to know
- Fences over 9 feet require Board of Adjustment approval, a building permit and engineer-sealed plans.
- In residential districts (except multifamily), fences in the required front yard generally may not exceed 4 feet.
- In single-family districts, a fence panel less than 50% open may not be closer than 5 feet to the front lot line.
- Prohibited materials include sheet or corrugated metal, fiberglass panels, plywood, most plastics, and barbed or razor wire (except where specifically allowed).
- Fences in historic or conservation districts need a Certificate of Appropriateness; floodplain areas may need extra approval.
- Pool-barrier fences always need a permit. Retaining walls over 4 feet need a permit.
Typical documents
- Site plan to scale showing the fence, gates, easements, driveways, sidewalks, alleys and visibility triangles
- Plat map (City of Dallas Survey and Records Library)
- Written authorization from the utility company if the fence is in an easement
- Detailed fence elevation drawing
Who can apply & how
- Permit applications are submitted online through the city's DallasNow portal, where you also pay fees, upload documents and schedule inspections.
- Plumbing and mechanical (HVAC) work on a home must be done by a state-licensed contractor.
- Historic districts, conservation districts and planned development (PD) districts can have extra requirements — even for work that is otherwise exempt.
Practical tips
- Fences must keep firefighter access to side and rear yards.
- Call 811 before digging post holes.
Contact & sources
City of Dallas Planning & Development · 320 E. Jefferson Blvd., Dallas, TX 75203 · (214) 948-4480
- City of Dallas – Fence / Pool Barrier / Retaining Wall Permit Checklist (PDF) →
- Dallas Development Code §51A-4.602 – Fence Regulations →
- City of Dallas – Construction Permits Introduction (PDF) →
- City of Dallas – Building Inspection FAQs →
Only applies inside Dallas city limits. Neighboring cities and unincorporated Dallas County have their own rules.
