Usually yes for a full replacement, and often no for a small repair. Every city draws that line in a different place. Plano lets you repair up to 25% of a fence in any 12 months without a permit. Frisco allows 2 sections or 16 feet. Carrollton allows 20 feet in six months, and Melissa 24 linear feet. McKinney treats replacing up to half the fence as a repair, as long as the height, location and material stay the same.
We are Wood Wonders Fence & Repair, a family-run fence company based in Plano since 2004. After every spring storm, the first question we hear is whether a few broken panels need a city permit. The honest answer depends on which city your fence sits in, so we read each city’s own rules and put them side by side.
Every rule below is taken from the city’s published code or permit handout, linked under each city. Checked 1 October 2026.
Fence permit rules by city, at a glance
| City | Repair with no permit | Permit needed for | Max height, back and side | Front yard |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Plano | Up to 25% of the fence area in 12 months | Building or replacing a fence | 8 ft | 40 in, at least 50% open |
| Frisco | Up to 2 sections or 16 ft | All other fence work | 8 ft | 4 ft |
| McKinney | Up to 50%, same height, location and material | Any new fence, over 50% replaced, or any change | 8 ft 6 in (rear) | 48 in, at least 50% open |
| Allen | No published limit | Fence replacement | 8 ft | Not stated in the city guideline |
| Carrollton | Up to 20 ft in any six months | Over 20 ft of sections or panels | 8 ft | 36 in, no more than 50% opaque |
| Melissa | Up to 24 linear ft, same materials | Any fence or part of a fence | 8 ft | 3 ft, decorative only |
Heights are the city maximums. Your HOA can set a lower limit.
Repair or replacement? Three questions to ask first
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How much are you replacing?
Measure it in feet or sections, and count work done in the last year too. Plano measures over 12 months and Carrollton over six, so two small jobs a few months apart can add up to one permit.
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Is anything changing?
New height, new location or a new material turns a repair into a permit job in McKinney, however short the run. Melissa’s repair rule also requires the same materials with no change in size or position.
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Which city issues your permit?
Your mailing address and your city limits are not always the same thing. Your property record on the Collin or Dallas County appraisal district site shows which city your lot is actually in.
City by city: what counts as a repair
Plano
- A permit is required to build or replace a fence. Repairs are exempt as long as they do not exceed 25% of the fence area over a 12-month period.
- Maximum height is 8 feet. In the required front yard the limit is 40 inches, and the fence must be at least 50% open.
- Putting a new fence within 3 feet of an existing one on the same lot? The old fence has to come out.
- Where an alley meets a street, nothing taller than 30 inches can sit inside the 8-foot visibility triangle.
- A final inspection is required. Masonry fences and brick columns over 4 feet need drawings sealed by a Texas engineer.
More on fence work in your area: fence company in Plano.
Source: City of Plano, Residential Fence Permit Requirements (rev. 25 Aug 2025) and When Is a Permit Required?
Frisco
- Frisco requires a permit for every fence built. The one exception is repairing or replacing part of a fence, limited to two sections or sixteen feet.
- Fences can be up to 8 feet tall in the rear and side yards. In front of the house the limit is 4 feet.
- Visibility, access and maintenance (VAM) easements still apply, and the fence cannot cross your property line.
More on fence work in your area: fence company in Frisco.
Source: City of Frisco, What do I need to install or repair a residential fence?
McKinney
- A permit is required for any new fence, or for replacing more than 50% of an existing one.
- Changing the height, the location or the material makes it a permit job no matter how little you replace.
- Rear yard fences can be up to 8 feet 6 inches. Front yard fences are limited to 48 inches and must be at least 50% open.
- The permit fee is $30. You need a site plan, and a survey or a hand drawing is acceptable.
More on fence work in your area: fence company in McKinney.
Source: City of McKinney, Fence Permits and Code Compliance (Chapter 150, Article 6)
Allen
- Allen lists fence replacement among the projects that need a building permit, and does not publish a size limit for repairs. Before replacing any sections, call Building Services at 214-509-4130.
- Back and side yard fences can be up to 8 feet. On top of a retaining wall, the wall and fence together cannot exceed 12 feet.
- Accepted materials are brick, wood and wrought iron. Every fence needs metal posts, caps and hardware, with posts set 18 inches deep in concrete.
- Fences are allowed in the standard 3-foot lot line drainage easement if the bottom rail sits at least 3 inches above grade.
More on fence work in your area: fence company in Allen.
Source: City of Allen, Residential Fence Guideline (October 2022)
Carrollton
- Replacing sections or panels that add up to more than 20 feet in any six-month period requires a permit (§ 154.04).
- Rear and side yards allow 8 feet. Front yards are limited to 36 inches at no more than 50% opacity, so a solid privacy fence across the front is not allowed (§ 154.10).
- Post and footing specs are written into the code. Fences 7 feet or taller need posts no more than 6 feet apart in footings at least 36 inches deep (§ 154.14).
- Fence contractors must hold a current Carrollton contractor registration (§ 154.07).
More on fence work in your area: fence company in Carrollton.
Source: City of Carrollton Code of Ordinances, Chapter 154, Fences
Melissa
- Melissa requires a permit for any fence, or any part of a fence (§ 3.702(a)).
- The only exemption is a repair: up to 24 linear feet, in the same materials, without changing the fence’s scope, location or dimensions (§ 3.701(e)).
- Rear and side yards allow 8 feet. Front yards are decorative only: wrought iron, wood or masonry, no more than 3 feet, and no wire, mesh or chain link (§ 3.703).
- Anything over 18 inches tall counts as a fence, including walls and hedges used as one (§ 3.701(b)).
More on fence work in your area: fence company in Melissa.
Source: City of Melissa Code of Ordinances, Article 3.700
Two things that catch homeowners out
Your HOA is a separate approval
Plano, McKinney and Allen all tell homeowners to check their HOA’s deed restrictions as well as the city code. A city permit does not mean HOA approval, and HOA approval does not replace the permit. Get both before the old fence comes down.
Ask who pulls the permit
“Be especially wary of contractors suggesting you obtain permits for their work.”
That is Plano’s building department. If you pull the permit, you are responsible for the contractor’s work. Ask to see the permit before work starts.
Other cities we work in
AnnaA 6-foot minimum and 8-foot maximum, with the post and footing spec written into the code.
For Richardson, Murphy, Wylie, Garland, Sachse, Prosper and Celina, call the city’s building department before you replace more than a few panels. You can also see every city we serve.
Fence permit questions we get asked
Do I need a permit to replace a few fence boards?
Not in Plano, Frisco, McKinney, Carrollton or Melissa, as long as the fence stays the same and the work stays under that city’s repair limit in the table above. Allen publishes no repair allowance, so call the city first.
Does storm damage change the rules?
No. None of the city rules linked on this page make an exception for storm damage. A fence blown flat is measured the same way as any other replacement, so a full run usually means a permit.
Do I need a permit to replace my fence with the same type?
Yes, once you pass the city’s repair limit. Like-for-like only helps in McKinney, where you can replace up to half the fence without a permit if nothing changes, and in Melissa, where a repair must use the same materials.
Can I build an 8-foot fence?
Yes, in the back and side yards of all six cities above. McKinney allows up to 8 feet 6 inches in the rear yard. Carrollton requires closer posts and deeper footings once a fence reaches 7 feet. Our guide to the 8-foot privacy fence covers the cost difference.
What happens if I skip the permit?
Plano’s building department warns that work done contrary to city ordinances “can drastically affect any title transfers or insurance requirements” when you sell. It also advises never to use a contractor who says no permit is needed.
Fence down after a storm?
We repair and replace fences across Plano and North DFW. Estimates are free and quoted on site.
Cities update their codes. Before you build, check the source linked under your city. Want a ballpark first? Try our fence cost calculator or read about fence repair.