Chain link is a common choice in Amarillo for backyards, dogs, commercial lots and equipment yards. It's open, so wind passes through it, and it goes up faster than most other fences. Here is what to know before you ask for a chain link quote, including the city's permit rules and the questions people most often search for.
Do you need a permit for a chain link fence in Amarillo?
Usually not. The City of Amarillo's Building Safety page says that most residential fence projects do not require a permit if the fence is 8 feet tall or less. The material doesn't change that, so a typical 4-foot or 6-foot chain link fence around a backyard falls under the same rule as a wood fence. The fence must still meet the city's zoning rules, including height limits that differ between front and rear yards and special rules for corner lots.
The exception is a pool or spa. Regardless of height, the city requires a permit to build, alter or repair the barrier around a swimming pool or spa, residential or commercial. If your chain link fence will serve as a pool barrier, plan for a permit. To confirm the rules for your lot, call Amarillo Building Safety at 806-378-3041 (the number on the city's page). Outside city limits, see our guides for Canyon, Hereford, Dumas, Borger, Pampa and Plainview.
Are chain link fences expensive?
Chain link is generally one of the lower-cost fence types per foot, but we don't publish prices, because they depend on your property. What drives a chain link quote:
- Length and height: the number of feet of fence and whether it's 4, 5 or 6 feet tall.
- Fabric and frame: heavier wire (a lower gauge number means thicker wire), the post and top rail sizes, and whether the fabric is plain galvanized or vinyl-coated (often black or green).
- Gates: walk gates cost less than wide drive gates or rolling gates, and every gate needs stout terminal posts.
- Ground and access: rocky or caliche soil, slopes and tight side yards take more labor.
- Removal: taking out and hauling off an old fence adds to the job.
- Extras: privacy slats, a bottom tension wire for dogs, or barbed wire on commercial fences.
Ask for a written quote that lists footage, height, wire gauge, post sizes and spacing, gates, removal and cleanup, so you can compare quotes line by line. Our material comparison covers how chain link stacks up against wood, vinyl and metal.
Privacy slats and Panhandle wind
The National Weather Service office in Amarillo describes the city as one of the windiest in the United States. Open chain link lets wind pass through, which is one reason it holds up well here. Privacy slats or windscreen fabric change that: they close the mesh, so the fence catches much more wind, much like a solid fence. If you want slats, tell the contractor up front and ask whether the posts, post depth and concrete are sized for a slatted fence rather than open mesh. Our guide to fences that stand up to Amarillo wind covers posts and footings in more detail.
Dogs, gates and repairs
- Dogs: a bottom tension wire or a buried barrier helps stop digging and pushing under the fence. Ask about it if you have a dog that tests fences.
- Gates: wider gates need heavier frames and posts. Ask how the gate is braced and latched, and whether a drive gate needs a center stop.
- Repairs: bent top rails, loose fabric and leaning posts can often be fixed without replacing the whole run. See repair or replace for how to decide.
Before the posts go in
Setting chain link posts means digging, and Texas law requires notice to Texas811 before you dig. Most contractors make the call; ask yours to confirm (see call 811 before setting fence posts). Confirm your property line before you build, especially on a shared fence (see neighbor fence law).
Getting a chain link quote
This site is a free referral service, not a fence company. If you send a request and choose "Chain Link Fences", we pass it to one independent local fence contractor, who measures your property and quotes you directly. Texas has no statewide license for fence contractors, so check reviews and proof of insurance before you hire (see our hiring checklist).
General information only, not legal or engineering advice. Rules change, so confirm with the agency linked below or a licensed professional before you start work.
Sources
- City of Amarillo Building Safety: Work Exempt From Permit
- National Weather Service Amarillo: Climate Narrative for Amarillo
- Texas811: Homeowner / DIYer
Last reviewed: October 2026.
Related: Chain link fence installation · Amarillo fence permits · Wind-resistant fences · All guides