City of Murphy fence permit
Do you need a fence permit in the City of Murphy? Yes. The City of Murphy requires a permit before you build a fence.
buildit.dog can turn a fence drawn on an aerial photo of your lot into a complete permit application package for the City of Murphy (site plan, aerial photo and filled-in details) in a few minutes. Start with your address.
Quick facts
- Permit required
- Yes source
- Fee
- Set by Code of Ordinances Article A9.000 source
- Side and rear yards
- 8 ft (residential) source
- Front (street) yard
- 4 ft, at least 50% open (no fence in the required front yard except on lots of 1.5 acres or more) source
- Distance from lot line
- No fence in an easement without written approval of the easement holders (utility and drainage easements need ornamental iron with removable sections); nothing on or over public property; back-to-back fences at least 5 ft apart. source
- Good side faces
- Where a privacy fence faces a public right-of-way, posts go on the inside. source
- Not allowed
- Barbed or razor wire, welded or woven wire (not chain link), used materials, electric fences, galvanized or corrugated metal, fiberglass, and materials not approved for exterior use (with exceptions). source
- How to apply
- Call 972-468-4100 source
Still being confirmed with Murphy: Are Murphy fence permits submitted online, by email or in person?
How to file for a fence permit in the City of Murphy
Steps based on murphytx.org — 4919
- Get a survey plat and mark the fence location, property lines, house, easements and nearby pools on two site plans.
- Submit them with the permit application to the City (Customer Service, 972-468-4100) and pay the fee.
- When the fence is complete, notify the permit department; the building official accepts or rejects it.
- Call 811 before digging.
- Paying
- Per Article A9.000 of the Code of Ordinances
- Review time
- Allow 4 business days for an initial response
- Inspections
- Notify the permit department on completion for acceptance; inspection line 972-468-4050
Who to contact
Customer Service / Building Inspection
City of Murphy
- Phone
- 972-468-4100
- [email protected]
- Address
- Customer Service, 206 North Murphy Road, Murphy, TX 75094
Contact from murphytx.org — 3089
What to submit
- Completed permit application
- Two site plans with a survey plat showing the fence, property lines, house, easements, and pools on the lot and adjacent lots
Other rules to know
- A repair permit is required to replace 15 or more linear feet of fence or 5 or more posts.
- Wood must be pressure-treated (ACQ, CA or MCQ), cedar or redwood; fences must withstand 70 mph wind loads; masonry columns over 4 ft need a stamped engineered design.
- Gates at least 3 ft wide with 6 ft 8 in headroom; post depth 3 ft for 8-ft fences, 2 ft for 6-ft, 18 in for 4-ft or less.
- Pool barriers must meet IRC AQ105 (top at least 48 inches above grade).
- City approval doesn't replace HOA approval.
- The City asks you to allow 4 business days for an initial response on permits.
Before you dig
Call 811 before digging post holes so underground utility lines are marked. Find your lot corner markers and keep the fence on your side of the line. Find your lot corner markers and keep the fence on your side of the line. County parcel maps can be off by several feet; if you're not sure where the line is, a licensed land surveyor can stake it.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a permit to build a fence in the City of Murphy, TX?
Yes. The City of Murphy requires a permit before you build a fence.
How tall can a fence be in the City of Murphy?
Side and rear yards: 8 ft (residential). Front (street) yard: 4 ft, at least 50% open (no fence in the required front yard except on lots of 1.5 acres or more).
How close to the property line can I put a fence in the City of Murphy?
No fence in an easement without written approval of the easement holders (utility and drainage easements need ornamental iron with removable sections); nothing on or over public property; back-to-back fences at least 5 ft apart.
Which side of the fence has to face the neighbor in the City of Murphy?
Where a privacy fence faces a public right-of-way, posts go on the inside.
How much is a fence permit in the City of Murphy?
Set by Code of Ordinances Article A9.000.
How do I apply for a fence permit in the City of Murphy?
Get a survey plat and mark the fence location, property lines, house, easements and nearby pools on two site plans. Submit them with the permit application to the City (Customer Service, 972-468-4100) and pay the fee. When the fence is complete, notify the permit department; the building official accepts or rejects it. Call 811 before digging. buildit.dog can turn a fence drawn on an aerial photo of your lot into a complete permit application package for the City of Murphy (site plan, aerial photo and filled-in details) in a few minutes.
Who do I contact about a fence permit in the City of Murphy?
Customer Service / Building Inspection, City of Murphy. Phone 972-468-4100, email [email protected].
Sources
Summarized from the City of Murphy's own ordinances, forms and permit pages. Each link opens the original.
Ordinance: Zoning Article 26.03 Fencing, Walls and Screening
Work for the City of Murphy? Help us keep this right
If anything on this page is wrong or out of date, tell us and we'll fix it. Municipal staff reports are reviewed first. Please include a link to the current ordinance, form or fee schedule if you can.