Do you need a permit for a fence in Dallas?
It depends on the project. Dallas exempts some fences from a building permit and requires one for the rest1; the exemption's limit is 6 feet, with the conditions in the city's wording below.
On this page
Depends on size or scope
Dallas's rule“Erection of fences not serving as a pool enclosure not over four feet high in a front yard, nor over six feet high elsewhere.”1
City of Dallas, Planning & Development Department, Sec. 301.2.1 item 6
Which permits you need
| Permit | Required when | The city’s wording |
|---|---|---|
| Fence permit | Over 4 ft in a front yard, over 6 ft elsewhere, or any pool barrier fence | A Fence Permit is required to erect a fence that is over four feet high in a front yard, or over six feet high elsewhere.2 |
| Pool barrier permit | Any swimming pool barrier fence | A Fence Permit is required to erect a Swimming Pool Barrier fence.2 |
| Building permit | Fence over 9 ft | Fences over 9 feet in height require a building permit and must be sealed by licensed professional engineer.2 |
Limits and conditions in Dallas's rule
Each limit sits next to the sentence it comes from; the conditions in that sentence are part of the rule.
| Rule | Value | The city’s wording |
|---|---|---|
| Exempt up to this height | 6 feet | Erection of fences not serving as a pool enclosure not over four feet high in a front yard, nor over six feet high elsewhere.1 |
| Exempt height, front yard | 4 feet | Erection of fences not serving as a pool enclosure not over four feet high in a front yard, nor over six feet high elsewhere.1 |
Zoning rules: separate from the building permit
A project can be exempt from one and still need the other (zoning vs building permits).
| Zoning rule | Value | The city’s wording |
|---|---|---|
| Maximum height in side and rear yards | 9 feet | NOTE that the maximum height of any fence is 9 feet.2 |
| Over 9 feet: Board of Adjustment | Yes | Fences over 9 feet in height must have Dallas Board of Adjustment approval for location in a set back.2 |
What to submit
- Two copies of scaled site plan showing fence location, gates, easements, etc.2
- Utility permission for fence in an easement2
- Prohibited materials list (sheet metal, corrugated metal, fiberglass panels, plywood, etc.)2
Who can apply
- Homeowner may act as contractor on homestead for fence construction and repair3
Special areas and extra reviews
- Conservation District work permit2
- Floodplain review2
- Exemption does not cover work needing a conservation district work authorization or historic certificate of appropriateness1
Who to ask
City of Dallas Planning & Development Department (Permitting & Inspections)8
Building permits
- Website
- dallascityhall.com4
- Apply online
- aca-prod.accela.com5
- Phone
- (214) 948-44806
- Address
- Oak Cliff Municipal Center, 320 E. Jefferson Blvd., Dallas, Texas 752036
- Hours
- Monday-Friday 8:00am - 4:30pm6
- Inspections
- Online via DallasNow, or IVR phone 214.670.53137
Fence permit rules in other cities
Rules differ from city to city. Compare Dallas with 18 other cities on the national fence permit guide, or go straight to one:
- New York City, NY
- Los Angeles, CA
- Chicago, IL
- Houston, TX
- Phoenix, AZ
- San Antonio, TX
- San Diego, CA
- Fort Worth, TX
- San Jose, CA
- Charlotte, NC
- Columbus, OH
- Indianapolis, IN
- San Francisco, CA
- Seattle, WA
- Denver, CO
- Oklahoma City, OK
- Philadelphia, PA
- Austin, TX
Sources
- Chapter 52: Administrative Procedures for the Construction Codes (City of Dallas booklet, current through April 23,…City of Dallas, Planning & Development DepartmentLast updated April 23, 2025Checked November 7, 2026
- Fence Permit/Pool Barrier Permits checklistCity of Dallas, Building Inspection Division (now Planning & Development)Revised August 29, 2017Checked November 7, 2026
- Homeowner's Exemption from Registration as a ContractorCity of Dallas, Building Inspection Division (now Planning & Development)Revised January 1, 2018Checked November 7, 2026
- Permitting & InspectionsCity of Dallas, Planning & Development DepartmentChecked November 7, 2026
- DallasNowCity of Dallas, Planning & Development DepartmentChecked November 7, 2026
- Frequently Asked Questions - Permitting & InspectionsCity of Dallas, Planning & Development DepartmentChecked November 7, 2026
- InspectionsCity of Dallas, Planning & Development DepartmentChecked November 7, 2026
- Planning & Development - Permits and InspectionsCity of Dallas, Planning & Development DepartmentChecked November 6, 2026