What's Required in Fort Worth
- No building permit is required for fences up to 7 feet, or open wire fences without slats up to 8 feet.
- Solid fences above 7 feet and open fences above 8 feet need a building permit.
- Front yard and projected front yard fences are limited to 4 feet and must be open design.
- Chain link is prohibited in the front yard and the projected front yard.
- A solid fence in the front yard needs a Board of Adjustment special exception ($866 for an owner-occupied home).
- A fence may not be placed on a lot without a primary use.
- Retaining walls over 4 feet, measured from the bottom of the footing, require a permit.
- Fences in historic districts may need additional design approval.
Do you need a permit to build a fence in Fort Worth?
Usually not. Section 105.2 of the Fort Worth Administrative Code lists work that does not need a permit. It includes fences not over 7 feet high, and open wire fences without slats up to 8 feet high. The city's residential permitting page says the same thing: building permits are required for solid fences above 7 feet and for open fences above 8 feet. A typical 6-foot cedar privacy fence in the back yard needs no building permit. Retaining walls are different. One taller than 4 feet, measured from the bottom of the footing to the top of the wall, needs a permit.
No permit does not mean no rules. Zoning still controls where a fence can go and how it looks, and fences in historic districts may need extra approval.
How tall can a front yard fence be?
In the front yard and the projected front yard (the street side of a corner lot), a fence can be no more than 4 feet tall and must be an open, picket-style design. The Nuts & Bolts brochure describes that as 50 percent density, such as wrought iron or picket. Chain link is prohibited in the front yard and the projected front yard. A solid front-yard fence up to 4 feet takes a special exception from the Board of Adjustment. Board agendas also show special exceptions for open wrought-iron fences with columns up to 5 feet 6 inches. Anything beyond that is a variance.
How much does a fence permit cost in Fort Worth?
Most fences cost nothing because they are exempt. For a fence that does need a permit, Fort Worth does not charge by square footage. A fence has none, and Texas law bars value-based residential fees. The city's Accela tutorial says fences, retaining walls and pools are charged by the trade work involved. Under Fee Ordinance 26-28781, effective October 1, 2026, one trade costs $119.00. Add the $33.08 application fee and the $16.87 technology fee, and an 8-foot solid wood fence comes to about $168.95. Front-yard relief is far more expensive. For an owner-occupied home, a special exception costs $866 and a variance costs $591.
| What you are doing | City filing | Rule |
|---|---|---|
| 6-foot wood privacy fence in the back yard | No building permit | Fences not over 7 feet are exempt |
| 7-foot solid fence along a side or rear line | No building permit | Exempt up to and including 7 feet |
| 8-foot solid wood or masonry fence | Building permit, about $168.95 | Solid fences above 7 feet need a permit |
| 8-foot open wire fence without slats | No building permit | Open wire fences without slats are exempt up to 8 feet |
| 4-foot picket or wrought-iron fence in the front yard | No building permit | Front yard limit is 4 feet, open design |
| Solid 4-foot fence in the front yard | Special exception, $866 | Board of Adjustment approval required |
| Chain link in the front or projected front yard | Not allowed | Chain link is prohibited there |
What else limits a fence in Fort Worth?
A fence is an accessory structure, so it cannot go up on a lot that has no primary use. That rule matters if you own the empty lot next door. Board of Adjustment agendas also show that no fence or wall may be built within the required projected front yard without relief. Variance cases list back yard fence height as a regulated item. The exact maximum is set in Zoning Ordinance Section 5.305, which we could not open, so confirm the limit with zoning staff before ordering materials taller than 7 feet. A variance hearing takes about 1.5 months to process.
Who can pull a fence permit?
A building contractor registered with the city can pull it, or an owner-occupant with a homestead permit. Apply in Accela Citizen Access.
How to Get a Fence Permit in Fort Worth
Measure the planned height
Decide the finished height and style. At 7 feet or less, or for an open wire fence up to 8 feet, no building permit is needed.
Check the yard you are fencing
Front yards and corner-lot projected front yards are limited to 4-foot open-design fences, and chain link is not allowed there.
Apply if the fence is taller
For a solid fence above 7 feet, a registered building contractor or a homestead owner applies in Accela Citizen Access with a site plan.
Seek Board of Adjustment relief if needed
A solid front fence needs a special exception, and other departures need a variance. Variances take about 1.5 months to process.
Build and pass inspection
Schedule any required inspection in Accela. A permit expires after 180 days without an approved inspection.