2026 Guide to Fence Laws in San Antonio, Texas

If you're looking to build a new fence in the city of San Antonio, there are local regulations you need to be aware of before starting your project. San Antonio includes protected historic districts, zoning overlays, and safety rules that can impact fence height, materials, and placement. Below is a clear, up-to-date overview of the most common fence laws that apply within city limits.

Front-Yard Fence Height

San Antonio’s Unified Development Code (Section 35-514) establishes fence height limits based on yard location, fence design (solid vs. open), and property conditions.

Front Yard

Front yard fences have the most restrictive limits.

• Solid fences (wood privacy fences, masonry, precast concrete):
  Maximum height of 3 feet
• Predominantly open fences (chain link, decorative wrought iron):
  Maximum height of 4 feet

A combined fence that includes both solid and open sections may reach the four-foot maximum allowed for open fences, but the solid portion may not exceed three feet in height.

Large lot exception:
If a residential lot has at least 20,000 square feet of area and a minimum of 100 feet of street frontage, a predominantly open fence up to 6 feet tall may be installed in the front yard by right, provided the primary structure meets the minimum zoning setback requirements.

Side Yard

Side yard height limits depend on whether the fence faces a street.

• Side street (corner lot): Maximum height of 3 feet
• Interior side yard (not facing a street): Maximum height of 6 feet

Rear Yard

The standard maximum fence height in rear yards is 6 feet.

Under specific conditions, fences up to 8 feet may be permitted. These exceptions are outlined below.

When Can You Build an Eight-Foot Fence?

San Antonio allows residential fences up to 8 feet in the following situations:

• Engineered permit:
  An engineered permit under Information Bulletin 223 Section V is required when wind-load design must be verified to meet International Building Code standards.
• Slope adjustment:
  In a side or rear yard where a slope exists, the fence height may exceed six feet so the top of the fence remains level, as long as the highest point does not exceed eight feet.
• Elevation difference:
  When the ground floor elevation of the primary dwelling on either property is at least four feet higher than the elevation at the shared lot line.
• Abutting higher-intensity uses:
  When the fence is located along a side or rear lot line that abuts multi-family residential, commercial, industrial, or park use.

In all cases, eight feet is the maximum allowed height for residential fences. No special exception may be granted for fences exceeding this limit.

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Authorized Materials

Permitted materials must be of similar durability to wood or masonry; prohibited materials include cast-off items or those not originally intended for fencing.

Fence Materials

San Antonio regulates fence materials for single-family and mixed-residential lots to ensure durability and safety.

Permitted materials include:

• Wood
• Chain link
• Stone or rock
• Concrete block
• Brick or masonry brick
• Decorative wrought iron
• Other materials of similar durability

Prohibited materials include:

• Barbed wire and razor wire
• Sheet, roll, or corrugated metal
• Particle board or low-grade plywood
• Plastic sheeting or tarps
• Cast-off or secondhand materials
• Any item not originally intended for fencing use

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Shared Ownership & Placement

• Location: Fences may be built on or inside your property line
• Cost & Maintenance: Under Texas neighbor-law, co-owners have no legal obligation to share in the cost or upkeep of a fence erected by the adjoining landowner on the common line

Property Line and Setback Rules

San Antonio does not require fence setbacks for standard residential fences. Fences may be built directly on the property line.

However:

• Fences may not be built within recorded easements without permission.
• Property owners are responsible for confirming legal boundary lines before construction.

Before building or removing a boundary fence:

• Check your Assessor’s Parcel Number (APN) with the City to confirm recorded property lines.
• Hire a licensed surveyor if boundaries are unclear.

Talking with your neighbor ahead of time is strongly recommended. Discuss fence style, height, and maintenance responsibilities in advance. While Texas neighbor law does not require adjacent owners to share fence costs or upkeep, early communication can prevent disputes. Many homeowners opt for a “good neighbor” fence design that looks the same on both sides.

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Distance (Setback) from Neighbor

• Standard: No minimum lateral setback for residential fences built to the heights above—they may sit directly on the property line
• Accessory Structure Rule: Any fence (as an accessory structure) exceeding 30in (2.5 ft) in height must be located at least 5 ft from any side or rear property line per Unified Development Code, Division 7

Regulations and requirements governing fence permitting vary from city to city and between residential property and nonresidential areas.

In San Antonio, residential fence permits may be required. Since some rules vary by county, and San Antonio covers three different counties - Bexar, Comal and Medina - you should consult your county authorities to see what permit rules apply for your property. There are permit fees for your fence permit application, which you can find out more about here.

Below are a few examples of laws you need to be aware of for your fence project within they city limits of  San Antonio, Texas.

Fence Height

Here is an overview of the maximum fence heights allowed in different areas of San Antonio, including front yards and backyards, helping you navigate the guidelines and make informed decisions for your fencing project.

Front yards

San Antonio's rules for front-yard maximum fence height vary slightly by county and below is a quick-reference table summarizing the differing front-yard fence height limits in the San Antonio area’s three main counties, based on available county regulations. Unfortunately, county-level ordinances aren’t centrally posted online, so you’ll often need to verify directly with each county’s or zoning district's permitting office. Please make sure you verify this information directly with us or your local fence contractor before beginning any fence installation project. For absolute certainty, always check each county’s permitting office or the official county code document before you build.

Back yards

For the backyard, there is a maximum fence height of six feet for a regular permit. However, you can build up to eight feet if you get a special, engineered permit. That's to confirm that the foundation and support structure are designed to sustain wind loads in accordance with the International Building Code.

There are some exceptions in which you can build a fence up to a height of eight feet, including:

• in a side or rear yard where a slope is present, the height of a fence can be adjusted so that the top of the fence is level and perpendicular to the support posts at a height greater than six feet as long as the height of the fence at its greatest elevation doesn't exceed eight feet.
• the ground floor elevation of the principal dwelling on either the property obtaining the permit or the next door neighbor is at least four feet higher than the elevation at the shared lot line
• the fence is on a side or rear lot line of a home that abuts a multi-family residential, commercial, industrial or park use

Side fences

For a fence on your side yard, you can build up to three feet on a side street and six feet on an interior side fence.

Retaining walls

Retaining walls less than four feet tall do not require a permit. 

Property Line Regulations

Fence setbacks are not needed in San Antonio. 

• That means you can build your fence directly on the property line. 
• Easements would require your neighbor's permission. 

Before you construct a new boundary line fence or remove an existing fence, it's advisable to make sure you have evidence of the legal property lines.

• Check your Assessor’s Parcel Number (APN) with the City to see if property lines are on record.
• If not, hire a land surveyor to mark your boundary accurately.

Talk to Your Neighbor

• Discuss your site plans and agree on style, height, and cost sharing before construction.
• Prevent disputes over who maintains or pays for the fence.
• Decide in advance who will contribute to materials and labor.
• Opt for a “good neighbor” design—both sides look the same, so no one ends up with the “back” side.

Special Considerations

Historic districts

If your property is within a historic district, the historic preservation officer will need to review your fence plan in order to determine whether it is compatible with the district' provisions before a permit is issued for your fence.

Clear vision areas

San Antonio also regulates certain areas as "fence clear vision areas." These include:

• street intersections on residential corner lots where no fence higher than three feet can be constructed within the area formed by measuring twenty-five feet in each direction from the street curb
• driveway, accessway or alley intersections on residential lots where no fence higher than three feet can be constructed within the triangle formed by measuring fifteen feet in each direction from the point where a driveway, accessway, or alley intersects with the street curb

If you think your project could be built differently without impacting safety, and you can demonstrate that, you may be able to get an administrative exception from the development services department.

Neighborhood rules

If you belong to an HOA, contact them for their fence regulations, which could be different from those of the municipality.

Safety

State law in Texas requires you to contact Texas 811 before starting your fence project. 

• Mandatory 2-Business-Day Notice: Texas law requires homeowners (or contractors) to contact Texas 811 at least two business days (excluding weekends and holidays) before any digging, even in your own backyard
  
  
• Free Utility-Marking Service: This service locates and marks underground water, gas, electric, communication, and irrigation lines—preventing costly damage and dangerous accidents. 

While calling 811 addresses underground hazards, fence construction itself poses other risks, especially for inexperienced homeowners:

• Power Tools & Equipment: Nail guns, power saws, and post-hole diggers can cause injuries if not handled correctly.
• Heavy Panels & Posts: Fence panels can tip or fall during installation; removing old posts requires leverage and care to avoid strains or crush injuries.  
• Professional vs. DIY: If you lack experience with permits, utility marking, and safe equipment use, consider hiring a qualified fence contractor. Pros bring specialized tools, city code knowledge, and liability coverage

Next Steps

Before starting your fence project, make sure to review your city, state and neighborhood rules governing fence construction. Each city can have different regulations, and every HOA has the potential to have their own specific rules about fences. You'll need to be familiar with these to find out if the fence you want to build is allowed, or requires a permit or special review.

Check out Ergeon‚'s San Antonio page for how to get started! Interested in learning about North Texas fence laws? Discover our 2025 guide to laws and regulations in the region.