For most back yard fences in Lubbock, probably not, but the rules depend on the height and the lot. The City of Lubbock's Building Safety permit paperwork lists a building permit for fences taller than 7 feet. Zoning rules, corner lot rules and HOA rules apply at any height.
Do I need a permit to build or replace a fence?
Inside the city, permits come from the City of Lubbock Building Safety Department, and its permit paperwork calls for one when a fence is over 7 feet tall. A like-for-like replacement of a shorter fence still has to follow the zoning rules in the Unified Development Code. The towns around Lubbock differ. Ransom Canyon requires a permit for every fence, and Wolfforth has its own height and material rules. Our town pages name the office for each.
How tall can my fence be? Is 6 feet allowed?
Six feet is the standard back yard privacy height in Lubbock, and it sits below the 7 foot mark where the city's permit paperwork asks for a building permit. Front yards and corner lots are treated differently. The Unified Development Code keeps fences inside the corner visibility triangle to 3 feet so drivers can see. We confirm the limit for your lot with the city before building, because we could not verify one height table that covers every zoning district.
How close to the property line can I build? Do I need a survey?
Fences here usually go on the line or a few inches inside it, and the rear fence normally follows the alley line. Old fences are not proof of where the line is. When the boundary is not marked, or you and the neighbor remember it differently, order a plot plan or a survey before any posts are set. Keep the fence out of the alley right-of-way and clear of utility meters and easements.
I live in a historic district. What can I build?
Ask the City of Lubbock Planning Department first. Some older parts of town carry historic or design overlays, and those can add a review step or limit materials on the street side. We could not confirm the details for each district, so we check your address with the city before recommending a style.
Can my condo association or HOA restrict my fence?
Yes, within limits. Deed restrictions and HOA rules in the newer Lubbock and Wolfforth subdivisions often set the height, material and even the stain color. Texas Property Code section 202.023 stops a property owners association from banning a perimeter fence outright, but it still lets the association regulate the type of fencing. Get the approval in writing before materials are ordered.
We are adding a pool. What fence does code require?
Lubbock has adopted the 2021 International Swimming Pool and Spa Code. It calls for a barrier at least 48 inches high, openings too small for a 4 inch ball to pass, and gates that swing away from the pool and close and latch on their own. Lubbock's amendments allow an approved safety cover as an alternative at one and two family homes. The inspector has the final say, so confirm the current details with Building Safety.
The inspector failed my existing fence for the pool. Who brings it up to code?
That is fence work, and it is usually small. Typical corrections are new self-closing hinges, a latch moved higher, a gap under the fence filled where the ground dips, and a low or climbable section rebuilt. Send us the written correction list and we will quote each item on it.
My association only allows a 4-foot open fence, but I want privacy. What are my options?
Start with what the rules permit. A 4-foot open fence with shrubs or ornamental grass behind it gives screening over time. A taller screen close to the patio may be allowed if the rules treat it as a patio feature and not a boundary fence. Failing that, ask the board in writing for a variance. Also check your plat for utility easements along the back or side. A fence in an easement may have to come down when the utility needs access.
Who calls 811 before digging, me or the contractor?
The one doing the digging. Texas811 says to contact them at least two working days before you dig, and that when you hire a contractor it is the contractor's job to make the request. Weekends and holidays do not count toward the two days. The duty comes from the state's underground facility damage prevention law in the Texas Utilities Code. When we build the fence, we make the request. Texas811 members mark their own lines only. Sprinkler pipe, yard lighting and a gas or power line to a shop or pool are private and are not marked, so show us where they are.
My contractor wants to skip the permit and reuse the old holes. What is the risk?
The risk lands on you as the owner. If the job needed a permit or broke a zoning or HOA rule, you can be told to change or remove the fence, and it can surface again when the house is sold. Reusing old holes is its own problem: if the old posts worked loose in those holes, new posts set the same way will too.
The city says my existing fence breaks the current rules. Can I just repair it?
That is a question for the city. Older fences are often allowed to stay and be maintained, while a full rebuild must follow the rules in force today. Get the answer from Lubbock Building Safety or Planning before you decide how much to spend.
For a price on your own fence line, book a free on-site estimate. Call (806) 450-4251 or text us a photo of the yard.