Lubbock, about 120 miles south of Amarillo on I-27, sets its fence rules in two places: the building code, which says when you need a permit, and the Unified Development Code (UDC), which sets height, material and corner-lot rules. Here is a plain-English summary with links to the code sections themselves. Codes change, so confirm anything that matters with the City of Lubbock before you build.
Do you need a permit?
Not for most backyard fences. Section 28.05.062 of the Lubbock code lists "fences not over 7 feet" high among the building work exempt from a permit. A fence taller than 7 feet is not on that list, so plan on a building permit for it. The code also says an exemption from the permit doesn't authorize work that breaks any other rule, so a permit-free fence still has to meet the height, material and corner-lot rules below.
How tall can a residential fence be?
Under UDC Section 39.02.020(b)(5)(E):
- Inside a required front setback: no more than 48 inches.
- Any other residential fence or wall: no more than 10 feet.
- Apartments may have an ornamental metal fence up to 6 feet tall in the required front or side street setback, if it is less than 50 percent opaque.
Fences and walls are allowed in any required setback, subject to those heights and the corner visibility triangle. Section 39.02.023 measures a fence's height from the grade right next to it to its highest point.
Corner lots: the visibility triangle
Section 39.02.023 defines the visibility triangle on a corner lot by a diagonal line through points on the two property lines 25 feet from the corner where they meet (10 feet from the back of curb in the MU mixed-use districts). Fences and shrubs may sit inside that triangle only when their overall height is 3 feet or less. In practice, a privacy fence on a corner lot has to step down or angle away from the corner.
Which materials are allowed?
The UDC lists approved residential fence materials:
- Masonry (brick, stone, reinforced concrete) or another sustainable material with more than a 30-year life expectancy
- Ornamental metal
- Cedar or whitewood
- Composite
- Vinyl
- Chain link
- Wooden split-rail or painted pipe rail, on parcels of one acre or larger
- Sheet, roll or corrugated metal, only with metal posts, frames, brackets and caps
- Other wooden picket fences, only with metal posts, brackets and caps, and wooden horizontal members at least 2 x 4 inches
For homes not keeping livestock, the code bans plywood or particleboard, rope or string, fiberglass panels and other cast-off items, barbed wire or concertina, razor wire, electrified parts, embedded glass, and damaged, deteriorated or unsafe materials. Where livestock are permitted, woven or welded wire fabric and electrified fencing (with warning signs posted) may also be used. Our fence material comparison covers how these hold up on the High Plains.
Before you build
- Check with the City of Lubbock's Building Safety department if your fence is over 7 feet, sits in a front setback or is near a corner.
- Call 811 before setting posts; Texas law requires it before digging.
- Check HOA covenants or deed restrictions, which can be stricter than the city's rules.
- Confirm the property line before building along it, and read who pays for a fence between neighbors in Texas.
- Lubbock gets the same strong South Plains winds as Amarillo, so read building a fence that stands up to wind before choosing posts and panels.
- Outside Lubbock city limits, the county and smaller towns set their own rules; ask before you build.
What to ask a fence company
Ask how they will keep the front-setback section at 48 inches or less, how they handle the corner triangle, which approved material and post type they plan to use (metal posts are required for wooden picket and sheet metal fences), who places the 811 request, and whether your fence needs a permit. Our hiring checklist covers insurance, written estimates and warranties. Building closer to Amarillo? See Plainview, Canyon or Amarillo.
Getting quotes in Lubbock
This website is a free referral service run by Statecraft Systems LLC, not a fence company. Requests from Lubbock are welcome: if you send a request, we pass it to one independent fence contractor, who confirms they serve your address, looks at the property and quotes you 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
- City of Lubbock Code ch. 39 (Unified Development Code), Sec. 39.02.020(b)(5): residential and agricultural fences and walls (ecode360)
- City of Lubbock Code Sec. 39.02.023: Measurements (fence height and visibility triangle) (ecode360)
- City of Lubbock Code Sec. 28.05.062: building work exempt from permit (ecode360)
- Texas811: Homeowner / DIYer
Last reviewed: October 2026.
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