Reference sheet P-1: City of Del Rio · updated September 2026
Inside city limits, usually yes. The City of Del Rio requires a permit to build a new fence, or to replace or repair half or more of an existing one.
The City of Del Rio's Development Services department states that a permit is required when you are constructing, erecting, replacing, or repairing fifty percent or more of a fence. You can read it in the permit FAQ on the Development Services page.
Put plainly: any new fence needs a permit. Tearing out an old fence and putting up a new one needs a permit. A repair that touches half the fence or more needs a permit. A smaller repair, like a few boards, a post, or one section blown down in a storm, does not.
Unlike some Texas cities, Del Rio doesn't exempt backyard privacy fences by height or material. Wood, chain link, iron, and vinyl all fall under the same rule.
| Situation | Permit inside city limits? |
|---|---|
| New fence, any material | Yes |
| Replacing an old fence with a new one | Yes |
| Repairing half or more of a fence | Yes |
| Replacing a few boards, a post, or one section | No, if under half the fence |
| New fence around a new pool | The pool itself needs a permit; the barrier is part of it |
| Fence on property outside city limits | No city permit (see below) |
If your job is close to the halfway line, ask before starting. We check with the city before any work begins so you are never guessing.
According to the city, the City of Del Rio doesn't issue building permits for property in Val Verde County outside city limits or in its extraterritorial jurisdiction, and it refers county questions to the Val Verde County Health Department at (830) 774-7570. Much of the acreage around Del Rio is outside the city line.
No city permit doesn't mean no rules. Deed restrictions, HOA covenants, and utility easements still apply, and we check for them before building.
Height and placement limits depend on your lot and its zoning, and fences near driveways and intersections may be limited so drivers can see. We confirm what applies to your lot with the city as part of the permit, rather than guessing from another city's rules.
Fences built inside a utility easement can be removed by the utility if it needs access, at the owner's cost. Know where your easements are before you fence along a rear lot line.
Every job needs underground utilities marked before digging. In Texas, that means a call to Texas811 or dialing 811. On our jobs, we make that call.
The city requires a permit for any pool, in-ground or above-ground, that is two feet deep or more. Pool barrier rules come from the building codes the city has adopted, and Development Services has announced adoption of the 2024 International Codes, including the 2024 International Residential Code, for new permit applications effective July 1, 2026.
If you are adding a pool, plan the fence and gates alongside it. See ornamental iron for pool fencing.
Fence permits go through Development Services at 114 W. Martin St., Del Rio, TX 78840, phone (830) 774-8526. Applications are on the city's permit applications page. Expect to provide the property address, where the fence goes on the lot, and its height and material.
The city also keeps a list of registered contractors on the Development Services page, which is a quick way to check anyone you are thinking of hiring.
When we build your fence, the permit is part of the job. We prepare the application, file it, and don't start until it is approved.
Inside city limits, yes. The City of Del Rio requires a permit for a new fence and for replacing or repairing fifty percent or more of an existing fence.
Only if the repair covers half or more of the fence. Smaller repairs, like replacing some boards, a post, or one damaged section, do not need a city permit.
The city states it does not issue building permits in Val Verde County or its extraterritorial jurisdiction, and it refers those questions to the Val Verde County Health Department at (830) 774-7570. Deed restrictions and HOA rules still apply.
City of Del Rio Development Services, 114 W. Martin St., phone (830) 774-8526. Applications are on the city website. When we build your fence, we handle the application for you.
The pool itself needs a permit if it is two feet deep or more, and the barrier around it follows the building codes the city has adopted. Plan the fence together with the pool.
Yes. Underground utilities should be marked before any digging. In Texas, call 811 or contact Texas811. We make that call on our jobs.