City of Austin fence permit
Do you need a fence permit in the City of Austin? Not confirmed. Contact the City of Austin before you build; the rules below are what we found in the ordinance.
buildit.dog can turn a fence drawn on an aerial photo of your lot into a complete permit application package for the City of Austin (site plan, aerial photo and filled-in details) in a few minutes. Start with your address.
Quick facts
- Permit required
- Not confirmed source
- Side and rear yards
- Solid fence on a property line: max 6 ft (up to 7 ft where grade changes at least 1 ft along the line) source
- Corner lots
- Solid fences on corner lots need Transportation and Public Works approval to avoid blocking traffic views source
- Distance from lot line
- Building setback lines referenced; no distances given on the page. source
- Not allowed
- Spiked pickets/bars above top rail; vertical pickets spaced more than 2 in but less than 9 in apart; razor-like wire; barbed wire at or above 6 ft; designs creating substantial entrapment or impalement risk. source
- How to apply
- Online portal source
Still being confirmed with Austin: Is a building permit needed for a fence under 7 ft outside a floodplain and not on the right-of-way (no), and what is the fee?
How to file for a fence permit in the City of Austin
Steps based on austintexas.gov — fencing regulations
- Check whether a permit is required (floodplain, over 7 ft, or over 6 ft along the right-of-way).
- Gather the Fence Permit Application, plot plan survey and fence design image.
- Submit the Residential Fence Permit App web form (AB+C account required).
- Pay plan review fees in the AB+C portal.
- After approval the contractor pays for and activates the building permit; schedule inspections.
- Call 811 before digging.
- Paying
- Plan review fees invoiced after intake, paid in AB+C portal; permit fees paid when contractor activates permit
- Inspections
- Permit expires on day 181 without an inspection; each inspection extends it 180 days
- Permit good for
- 180 days per inspection
Who to contact
Development Services (via Austin 3-1-1)
- Phone
- 3-1-1
Contact from austintexas.gov — fencing regulations
What to submit
- Fence Permit Application (PDF)
- Plot plan survey
- Fence design image
- Adjoining owner consent letters (if fence deviates from standards)
Other rules to know
- Permit required if fence is in a floodplain (any height), more than 7 ft high at any point, or more than 6 ft high along the public right-of-way on residential property (needs Board of Adjustment variance).
- Building permit exemption page: residential fence not over 7 ft is exempt unless in a flood hazard area.
- City does not regulate fence materials except in the Wildland-Urban Interface.
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 Austin, TX?
Not confirmed. Contact the City of Austin before you build; the rules below are what we found in the ordinance.
How tall can a fence be in the City of Austin?
Side and rear yards: Solid fence on a property line: max 6 ft (up to 7 ft where grade changes at least 1 ft along the line). Corner lots: Solid fences on corner lots need Transportation and Public Works approval to avoid blocking traffic views.
How close to the property line can I put a fence in the City of Austin?
Building setback lines referenced; no distances given on the page.
How do I apply for a fence permit in the City of Austin?
Check whether a permit is required (floodplain, over 7 ft, or over 6 ft along the right-of-way). Gather the Fence Permit Application, plot plan survey and fence design image. Submit the Residential Fence Permit App web form (AB+C account required). Pay plan review fees in the AB+C portal. After approval the contractor pays for and activates the building permit; schedule inspections. buildit.dog can turn a fence drawn on an aerial photo of your lot into a complete permit application package for the City of Austin (site plan, aerial photo and filled-in details) in a few minutes.
Who do I contact about a fence permit in the City of Austin?
Development Services (via Austin 3-1-1). Phone 3-1-1.
Sources
Summarized from the City of Austin's own ordinances, forms and permit pages. Each link opens the original.
Work for the City of Austin? 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.