A leaning section, a snapped post or a gate that won't latch is a common sight in Amarillo after a windy spell. Whether to fix it or start over usually comes down to the condition of the posts, how much of the fence is affected, and what your insurance and the city's rules say. Here is a practical way to decide, with links to the official sources we used.
Why Amarillo fences need repairs
The National Weather Service office in Amarillo describes the Texas Panhandle as one of the windiest regions in the United States. Winds of 50 mph or more occur each year, most often in winter and spring, and strong cold fronts can bring northerly winds of 40 mph or more in winter. Spring thunderstorms can add hail and damaging wind. A solid privacy fence takes that load on its full face, and the force ends up at the posts. If you are planning a new fence, read building a fence that stands up to Amarillo wind.
Check the posts first
The USDA Forest Products Laboratory calls the post the critical link in a wood fence, and says the principal cause of post failure is decay. Decay fungi need moisture and oxygen, so rot is most severe at the groundline, where soil moisture meets air. That's why a post that looks fine above ground can snap at ground level in the next strong wind.
Things the same publication points to when you inspect a fence:
- Groundline rot. Look and probe where each post enters the soil. Soft or crumbling wood there is the usual reason a post fails.
- Concrete collars. A concrete jacket that comes up to the surface traps and holds water next to the post, which promotes decay. The publication recommends keeping concrete anchorage at least 6 inches below the groundline.
- Rails and board ends. Water is absorbed through the ends of boards faster than through the sides, and water trapped between a rail and a board, or seeping into rail joints over a post, can rot the wood from the inside.
- Boards touching soil. Soil in contact with fence boards supplies moisture for decay.
- The wrong treated wood. Lumber marked "for above ground use only" contains less preservative than posts treated for ground contact and should not be used in the ground. Check the stamp or tag on any replacement post.
How long posts last depends on the wood and the climate. In that 1979 publication, the Forest Products Laboratory estimated that untreated pine posts last about 6 to 12 years in the dry regions of the West, and that pine posts pressure-treated for ground contact should last 30 to 40 years anywhere in the United States. Treat those as rough guides, not a promise for any particular fence.
Repair or replace?
- Repair usually makes sense when the damage is limited: a few broken pickets or rails, one or two snapped or loose posts, a blown-down panel or a sagging gate, while the rest of the posts are sound at the groundline.
- Replace is usually the better call when many posts are rotted or loose at the groundline, long runs lean, or each storm takes out a new section. Patching a fence with failing posts tends to mean paying for repairs again after the next windstorm.
- Mixed fences. If the pickets and rails are still good but the posts are failing, ask a contractor whether re-setting or replacing posts under the existing panels is practical, and what post material they would use.
For upkeep such as staining and sealing, see how long a wood fence lasts.
Do you need a permit to repair a fence in Amarillo?
For most residential fences, no. City of Amarillo Building Safety says most residential fence projects don't require a permit if the fence is 8 feet tall or less, but all fences must still comply with building and zoning codes, including height limits in front and rear yards and special rules for corner lots. If you are replacing a fence rather than repairing it, that is a good moment to check that the new one meets those limits. See Amarillo fence permits.
Pool and spa barriers are different. Regardless of height, the city requires a permit for the construction, alteration or repair of the mandatory barrier or enclosure around a swimming pool or spa. The same city page warns that work done without a required permit is treated as "Work Started Without Permit", with a $250 late fee plus the permit fee for a first occurrence. If the damaged fence is part of your pool enclosure, call Building Safety at 806-378-3041 before work starts.
Will insurance pay for a fence blown down by wind?
According to the Texas Department of Insurance:
- If your fence was damaged by wind and your policy includes wind coverage, it will probably pay for the damage. TDI says that if you live anywhere in Texas except along the coast, you probably have wind and hail coverage in your home policy.
- Policies usually pay actual cash value for fences, meaning the company deducts depreciation, and you also pay your deductible.
- Most policies don't pay for fence damage caused by ice or snow unless your house collapses on the fence.
- Most home policies cover other structures, such as fences, at 10% of the house's insured value.
- It's generally OK to make temporary repairs, but don't make permanent repairs until you've talked to your insurance company, and take pictures of the damage before doing any work.
Check your own policy, because coverage varies. Because of depreciation and the deductible, a small repair may cost less than your deductible, while a full replacement of an older fence may be only partly covered.
After a windstorm: a short checklist
- Photograph the damage, including the base of any broken posts, before anything is moved.
- Make it safe: prop or remove leaning panels and secure gates if pets or children use the yard.
- Call your insurance company if you plan to file a claim, before permanent repairs.
- Get a written estimate that lists which posts, rails and pickets will be replaced, the post material, and haul-off of debris. Our hiring checklist covers what else to ask, including how to handle door-to-door contractors after storms.
- Re-setting or adding posts means digging, so call 811 first or confirm your contractor has.
Where we fit in
This website is a free referral service, not a fence company. If you send a request and choose "Fence Repair & Wind Damage", we pass it to one independent local fence contractor, who looks at the fence and quotes the repair or replacement directly.
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
- National Weather Service Amarillo: Climate Narrative for Amarillo
- USDA Forest Products Laboratory / University of Wisconsin-Extension: Protecting Wood Fences for Yard and Garden (A3052, 1979, PDF)
- City of Amarillo Building Safety: Work Exempt From Permit
- Texas Department of Insurance: Home insurance, what structures are covered? (Are fences covered?)
- Texas Department of Insurance: FAQ, homeowners insurance and disaster claims
Last reviewed: October 2026.
Related: Fence repair & wind damage · Wind-resistant fences · Wood fence care · All guides