Seguin fence rules and permits

A plain-English guide for Seguin, Texas homeowners. Always confirm with the city before work starts. Rules change.

Do you need a permit?

No. Seguin's No Permit Required list says a residential fence does not need a permit unless the lot is in the Floodway. The fence must still follow the height, material, setback and location rules in the Unified Development Code. Call the Permits Department before you build. Homes in a historic district need a Certificate of Appropriateness for fence changes seen from the street.

Who to ask: City of Seguin Permits Department, 205 N River Street, 830-401-2435 (website)

The rules

• Front yard fences max 4 feet.
• Side and rear yard fences on interior lots max 6 feet.
• Approved materials include treated wood, cedar, vinyl, wrought iron, chain link, decorative metal, and stone or brick with mortar.
• Sheet metal, barbed wire, razor ribbon, plywood, corrugated steel, fiberglass panels and electric fences are not allowed on home lots.
• Fences or plants that block a driver's view at a street corner are not allowed.
• A fence across a utility easement needs written approval from the City or the easement holder.
• On lots with streets on both the front and back, a rear fence must sit 15 feet back from the rear line. A 5-foot setback works if you add evenly spaced trees and shrubs, or use decorative metal fencing.
• The city's fence rules apply to all new fences and to rebuilding an existing fence.
• The city's No Permit Required list says a residential fence needs no permit unless the lot is in the Floodway. The fence must still follow the setback, material, height and location rules in the Unified Development Code.
• The finished or smooth side of a fence must face out.
• Along a street corner, nothing opaque may sit within 6 feet of the legal street corner if it blocks a driver's view of the cross street.

Call before you dig

Texas811: dial 811. Texas law says call at least 2 business days before digging, even in your own yard. Utilities have 48 hours to mark lines.

Local conditions

Seguin has mild winters and very hot, humid summers from June to September. Cold fronts can bring wind and a temperature drop of 30 degrees or more in a day. The Guadalupe River runs along the south side of town.

• Summer heat can warp and dry out cheap wood boards.
• Strong wind from cold fronts puts load on tall privacy fences, so post depth and spacing matter.
• October can be rainy, and low spots near the river can hold water.
• Seguin is called the Pecan Capital of Texas. Plan around mature pecan trees and their roots when setting posts.

Good to know

• Seguin had 29,433 people in the 2020 census.
• Seguin calls itself the Pecan Capital of Texas, and a giant pecan statue stands on the courthouse lawn.
• The Guadalupe River flows along the south side of the city, and Max Starcke Park sits on the river.
• Seguin's permit applications can be filed online through the city's Development Services Portal.
• A licensed contractor files the fence application. A homeowner who lives in the home can apply if doing the work personally.
• Erecting a fence that does not meet the city's fence rules is unlawful.