Lubbock Fence Permit Rules & Requirements

Do You Need a Permit for a Fence in Lubbock?

Usually not, for a standard backyard fence. Section 28.05.062 of the Lubbock Code exempts "fences not over 7 feet high" from a building permit. A typical 6 ft cedar, vinyl or iron fence inside city limits goes in without one. You do need a building permit for:

• Fences taller than 7 ft
• Retaining walls over 4 ft from the bottom of the footing, or any retaining wall holding back a surcharge
• Masonry screening walls the zoning code requires between different land uses, which may need engineer-sealed plans

No permit doesn't mean no rules. Zoning, HOA covenants and property lines still apply, and we lay out every fence to meet them.

Corner Lots: The Visibility Triangle

Lubbock's Unified Development Code keeps a visibility triangle clear at street corners. It's formed by a diagonal line through points on the two property lines 25 ft back from the corner. Fences and shrubs inside it can't be taller than 3 ft. In practice, a corner-lot fence steps down or angles in near the intersection.

Front Yards and Setbacks

In Lubbock's main single-family district, homes sit at least 25 ft from the front line and 20 ft from a side street. Front-yard fences are checked against zoning and the visibility triangle, and many HOAs limit front fences to short, open styles. Call the Planning Department at 806-775-2108 for setbacks on your lot, or let us check it.

How Height Is Measured

The code measures fence height from the ground right beside the fence to its highest point. On sloped lots, we step panels so no section goes over the limit.

Alleys and Property Lines

Your fence goes on your side of the line. Along alleys, we leave room around utility poles and keep gates swinging inward or clear so carts and dumpsters stay reachable.

HOA Approval

Many south and west Lubbock neighborhoods have an HOA or architectural committee with rules on height, material, color and stain. We prepare the drawing and specs your committee asks for.

Outside Lubbock City Limits

• Wolfforth: permits through the city's online portal; some neighborhoods need architectural review first. Building permits: (806) 855-4134. See Wolfforth.
• Shallowater: City Hall, (806) 696-4300. See Shallowater.
• Idalou: City Hall, (806) 892-2531. See Idalou.
• Slaton: city hall and code enforcement. See Slaton.
• Ransom Canyon: Town Hall and the Building Review Committee, (806) 810-2736. See Ransom Canyon.
• Unincorporated Lubbock County: the county doesn't require or issue building permits. See Lubbock-Cooper & Woodrow.

Retaining Walls and Sloped Lots

Most of Lubbock is flat, but lots near playas, canyon edges and in Ransom Canyon and Buffalo Springs can need a short retaining wall under a fence line. The city exempts retaining walls up to 4 ft, measured from the bottom of the footing to the top of the wall, unless the wall holds back a surcharge such as a driveway or a slope above it. Taller walls need a permit. We'll tell you at the estimate whether your lot falls under that rule.

Building around a pool? Pool barriers have their own rules. See our pool fence guide.