Lubbock Fence Permits and Rules: What to Check Before You Build

Who to ask about a fence permit, the 25-foot corner rule, HOA limits, neighbor fences and the 48-hour 811 notice.

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Whether a Lubbock fence needs a permit depends on the project, so call City of Lubbock Building Safety at 806-775-2087 before you build.

Lubbock Fence Install is a referral website, not a fence company. We send your request to one independent local fence company. You never pay us; companies we refer you to may pay us for referrals. This page is general information, not legal advice. When a rule matters to your project, confirm it with the office named here.

Does a fence need a permit in Lubbock?

We couldn't open the city's fence-specific height and permit text on its website, so we won't guess at a number. Here's what the City of Lubbock's own pages do say:

The general rule. Building Safety's FAQ says building, altering or repairing a building or structure requires a permit before the work starts, when one of the city's adopted codes or ordinances regulates it. For specifics, it gives 806-775-2087 and 806-775-3155.
Fences with a new house. The city's residential permit application says fences built as part of new construction don't need a separate permit.
Which codes apply. The Building Safety page says Lubbock adopted the 2021 International Codes on March 26, 2024, and it cites the city's Unified Development Code (Chapter 39 of the city code) alongside those building codes.
Who can pull a permit. The FAQ says homeowners who own and live in a home as their homestead can get building permits for work they or an immediate family member do. Building and general contractors working in Lubbock must register with the city.

What to ask Building Safety: whether your fence needs a permit at its planned height, what the height limit is in your front yard and backyard, and whether your lot has any easement or setback that affects where the fence can go.

The 25-foot corner rule

The City of Lubbock's residential permit guidance says no fence may extend into the public right-of-way or the 25-foot vision-clearance triangle at roadway intersections. The triangle keeps drivers able to see cross traffic at a corner. If you're on a corner lot, ask Building Safety how the triangle is measured for your lot before the layout is staked. That's cheaper than moving a finished fence.

"What is the new law on fences in Texas?"

There isn't one statewide fence code for houses; most fence rules are city rules and HOA rules. One state law that changed in 2021 does affect fences in HOA neighborhoods:

Texas Property Code §202.023 says a property owners' association may not adopt or enforce a rule that stops an owner from installing security measures, including "a security camera, motion detector, or perimeter fence."
The HOA can still regulate the type of fencing. So it can't forbid a perimeter fence, but it can set the material, style and color.
Condominiums and certain master mixed-use associations are excluded.

Get HOA architectural approval in writing before you order materials.

Fences shared with a neighbor

Before you build. HomeAdvisor notes there's generally no legal requirement to tell your neighbors you're building a fence, but staying on your side of the line is a must. If you don't know exactly where the line is, a survey costs about $200 to $545 nationally (HomeAdvisor). Talking to the neighbor first can head off a dispute, and you may be able to split the cost.

Taking down a shared fence. Chapter 143 of the Texas Agriculture Code sets the rules for jointly owned and attached fences:

§143.121: you may not remove a dividing fence you jointly own, or a fence attached to someone else's, except as the law allows or by mutual consent.
§143.122: an owner of a fence attached to another person's fence may withdraw it after giving six months' written notice to the other owner (or their agent, attorney or lessee).
§143.123: if your fence is entirely on your land, you can require the owner of a fence attached to it to disconnect after six months' written notice.

They apply to any attached or jointly owned fence, in town or on rural land.

Call before you dig: the 48-hour rule

Fence posts mean holes, and Texas law covers them:

Who must call. Texas Utilities Code §251.151 requires anyone planning to excavate to notify a notification center at least 48 hours before digging, not counting Saturdays, Sundays and legal holidays, and no earlier than 14 days ahead.
What counts as excavating. Under §251.002, it means using powered or mechanized equipment, including augers, to disturb soil 16 inches or deeper. A power auger setting fence posts qualifies.
How to notify. Texas811 is the state's notification center. Its website, texas811.org, has a homeowner portal.
What doesn't get marked. §251.003 excludes underground lines that serve only the owner and sit only on the owner's property. Sprinkler lines, landscape lighting and a line to a shop building may not be marked. Flag them yourself.

Ask the fence company who places the locate request and wait until the marks are down.

Pools

The Texas Department of Insurance notes that many insurers and city ordinances require pools to be enclosed by a fence and a locking gate. Pool barrier details such as height, gaps and self-closing latches are code questions. Ask Building Safety and your insurer before you design a pool fence, and see wrought iron fences for common pool fence materials.

Wolfforth, Shallowater and Slaton

Each town sets its own rules. Start with the city office:

Town	What its permit page says	Who to call
Wolfforth	A permit is required before construction, alteration, remodel, repair or expansion of a structure; applications are online only	Building Permit Department, City Hall, 302 Main St, (806) 855-4134
Shallowater	Construction, alteration or repair of a building or structure regulated by its codes needs a permit first; applications are online	City Hall, (806) 696-4300
Slaton	Building Services handles residential and commercial building permits and lists the Public Works Director as its contact	City Hall, 130 S. 9th St, (806) 828-2000

None of the three pages we opened lists fence-specific heights or setbacks, so ask the office directly.

A pre-build checklist

Call the city about permits, height limits and setbacks for your address.
On a corner lot, confirm where the 25-foot vision-clearance triangle falls.
Get HOA approval in writing, if you have an HOA.
Confirm the property line, with a survey if needed.
Talk to the neighbor about any shared or attached fence.
Make sure someone has placed the 811 locate request, and flag private lines.

When you're ready for prices, see the Lubbock fence cost guide. To ask for a price from a local fence company, send a request with the form.

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Last updated 2026-10-23