Fence FAQ for New Braunfels Homeowners

Ask before you assume you do not. The City’s online permit portal lists Fence as a residential permit type (City of New Braunfels building permits), and the City’s October 2023 public review draft of its Land Development Ordinance says all fences require building permits (draft section 4.4.2). That draft is not adopted (LDO project page), and third-party summaries disagree on current exemptions, so the permit office is the final word.

The City’s draft ordinance proposes an 8-foot maximum in most cases, with exceptions up to 10 feet for things like grade changes, and a 36-inch limit in front yards (4.5 feet if at least 50 percent open). It also keeps fences out of the clear vision area on corner lots. Because it is a draft, confirm what applies to your lot with the City and your HOA.

The same City draft says no fence may use barbed wire or razor wire. Check the current code before you plan anything with wire.

Pool barriers are held to pool code. The City lists the 2021 International Swimming Pool and Spa Code among its adopted codes (building safety page). Ask the City what applies to your fence and gate before buying materials. See gates.

Possibly. Texas Property Code § 202.023 says many associations may not prohibit a perimeter fence but may regulate its type, may bar fences that block sidewalks or drainage easements, and may restrict fences in front of the front-most building line if their covenants say so (statute text). Fences built before September 1, 2025 can generally stay. Rules differ by association, so read your covenants and get approval in writing.

Texas law requires a call at least two business days before digging, excluding weekends and holidays. If you hire a contractor, the contractor is responsible; you can ask for the ticket number. The service is free (Texas811).

Cedar resists decay, rot and insects better and is estimated by one Fort Worth contractor to last 15 to 20 years, versus roughly 8 to 15 for pressure-treated pine. Buried cedar rots faster than pine, so many builders use pine or metal posts with cedar pickets. Details on the cedar page.

It varies: Comal County soils range from loam with clay subsoil in the east to shallow-to-deep loam in the northwest, Edwards Plateau soils are described as stony over limestone, and one source says solid rock can sit just inches below the surface in some places. Ask installers how they handle rock.

According to the Texas State Law Library, Texas has no specific state statute on fence ownership or maintenance, and a landowner generally does not have to share a neighbor’s fence costs unless they agreed to. Put any agreement in writing.

If posts are sound and damage is limited, repair is usually reasonable. If many posts are rotted at the base or the fence is far past its expected life, replacement is often better value. See fence repair.

It depends on material, length, height, terrain, gates and removal. We do not publish price figures we cannot source. See the cost guide.

No. We connect New Braunfels homeowners with local, independent fence pros. Verify any company’s insurance, credentials and references before hiring.