What's Required in Dallas
- No permit is needed for non-pool fences up to 4 feet in a front yard or 6 feet elsewhere.
- Fences above those heights need a Residential Accessory Structure Permit, and 9 feet is the maximum height.
- A front-yard fence over 4 feet needs a Board of Adjustment special exception first in districts such as R-10(A).
- Fences over 9 feet need Board approval, a building permit and engineer-sealed plans.
- Submit a scaled site plan showing the fence, gates, easements, driveways, sidewalks, alleys and visibility triangles.
- Include an elevation drawing showing fence height, grade, panel materials and openness.
- Get written utility authorization before building a fence inside an easement.
- Historic and conservation district fences need a Certificate of Appropriateness.
- Sheet metal, plywood, fiberglass panels and barbed or razor wire are prohibited in most cases.
How tall can a fence be without a permit in Dallas?
Four feet in a front yard and six feet everywhere else. Chapter 52 Section 301.2.1 of the Dallas City Code lists fences up to those heights as work that needs no permit, as long as the fence does not serve as a pool enclosure. The Planning & Development fence checklist says the same thing from the other side: a fence permit is required above 4 feet in a front yard or 6 feet in all other locations, and the maximum allowable fence height is 9 feet. A pool fence needs a permit at any height, and historic districts, conservation districts and planned development districts can add their own requirements even for a short fence.
Can I build a fence taller than 4 feet in my front yard?
Not without the Board of Adjustment. Board case files describe single-family districts such as R-10(A) as limiting the height of a fence in the front yard to 4 feet, so a taller front fence needs a special exception before a permit can issue. The same files cite two more front-yard rules: a fence panel that is less than 50 percent open may not sit closer than five feet to the front lot line, and a 20-foot visibility triangle must stay clear at the driveway approach. The fee schedule lists Board of Adjustment filing fees of $600 for single-family special exceptions and variances and $900 for other non-sign appeals; confirm which applies to your case. Any fence over 9 feet needs Board approval, a building permit and plans sealed by a licensed engineer.
How much does a fence permit cost in Dallas?
Dallas does not publish a separate fence fee. Chapter 52 lists fences as a separate trade permit and prices single-family alterations and repairs at $181 per dwelling unit (Table B-II); the fee schedule effective July 1, 2025 adds a $125 inspection fee per trade and a $15 technology fee. A side-yard fence of 8 feet works out to about $181 + $125 + $15 = $321. The checklist asks for a scaled site plan and elevation drawing, and if the department charges its residential plan review fee ($0.046 per square foot or $577 minimum) on that review, the total would be $898. Editing an application after you submit it costs $30 each time.
| What you are doing | City filing | Rule |
|---|---|---|
| Backyard or side fence up to 6 ft | No permit | Chapter 52 Sec. 301.2.1, item 6 |
| Front-yard fence up to 4 ft | No permit | Chapter 52 Sec. 301.2.1, item 6 |
| Side or rear fence over 6 ft, up to 9 ft | Residential Accessory Structure Permit | Fence checklist; 9 ft is the maximum |
| Front-yard fence over 4 ft | Board of Adjustment, then permit | Front-yard 4 ft limit in districts such as R-10(A) |
| Fence over 9 ft | Board of Adjustment and building permit | Plans sealed by a licensed professional engineer |
| Fence that is part of a pool barrier | Pool barrier permit | The no-permit heights exclude pool enclosures |
| Fence in a historic or conservation district | Certificate of Appropriateness | Approval needed even where height would be exempt |
Who can pull a fence permit?
Fence contractors must be registered with the city before they can obtain a permit. A homeowner who lives in the house as a homestead can act as the contractor for fence construction and repair by signing the city’s homeowner affidavit, which says no one else is paid to do any part of the work.
How to Get a Fence Permit in Dallas
Check height and location
Measure the planned height in the front yard and elsewhere; fences within 4 and 6 feet that are not pool barriers need no permit.
Clear zoning first
For a front-yard fence over 4 feet or any fence over 9 feet, apply to the Board of Adjustment before filing the permit.
Prepare the drawings
Gather a scaled site plan, the plat, an elevation of a typical fence panel, and utility authorization if you are in an easement.
Apply in DallasNow
Choose Residential Accessory Structure Permit, list a registered contractor or file as a homestead owner, upload documents, and pay the technology fee.
Pay fees and get inspected
Pay the permit fees DallasNow invoices after review, then schedule the final inspection when the fence is up.