A Fencing Journey with Irrell Vanyan in Kemah, Texas
A flush-board wood privacy fence enclosing the backyard around a canopy swing and lawn — and why the side/rear-yard rule, not Kemah’s bay-front rule, is the one that applies here.
This fence sits in Irrell Vanyan’s backyard in Kemah — a side/rear yard, not the yard facing Galveston Bay. That matters because Kemah’s Code of Ordinances only publishes a fence height and permit number for two specific cases: a front yard waterfront fence (4 ft, open material) and a barrier between a commercial and residential property (8 ft, solid). Neither describes an ordinary backyard like this one, and the City does not publish a general number for that case — so the honest answer for a similar backyard project is to confirm with the Building Department before you order material.
Sources: City of Kemah Code of Ordinances, Chapter 66 (library.municode.com/tx/kemah/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=CH66OFMIPR) and Chapter 18, Sec. 18-1; City of Kemah Permits and Inspections (kemahtx.gov/232/Permits-and-Inspections). Checked October 7, 2026 (same citations used on /fence-gate-installation-kemah-tx/).
A backyard build, not a bay-front one
Kemah’s Code of Ordinances defines a “front yard waterfront fence” specifically: a fence on a residential lot next to the Galveston Bay shoreline, between the shoreline and the house. That fence is capped at 4 ft, must be an open material, and needs a permit before work starts. This project is different — it’s a fence around the rear and side yard, away from the shoreline, enclosing a lawn and a canopy swing.
For that ordinary backyard case, the chapters we checked don’t publish a general height or permit number, and the City’s own Permits and Inspections page doesn’t list one either. See fence & gate installation in Kemah for how the bay-front rule, the side/rear-yard question and the commercial-property rule compare, and wood fence installation for the material.
Where a Kemah fence sits changes the rule
| Front yard, bay-side | Side/rear yard (this project) | Commercial next to a home | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Height cap | 4 ft | Not published | 8 ft minimum (solid barrier) |
| Material | Open (wrought iron, chain link, etc.) | Not specified | Solid (masonry, steel, treated wood) |
| Permit | Required, $50 fee, before work | Confirm with Building Dept. | Reviewed with commercial building plans |
| Source | Ch. 66 (Ord. 1202, 2022) | Not found in Ch. 66 or Ch. 18 | Ch. 18, Sec. 18-1 |
City of Kemah Code of Ordinances, Ch. 66 and Ch. 18, Sec. 18-1; City of Kemah Permits and Inspections. Checked October 7, 2026.
What’s in these photos
A flush, vertical-board wood privacy fence runs along the rear and side property lines, enclosing the lawn around a brick-paved seating area with a canopy swing. The wood shows a light, unstained tone in these photos — we’re not naming a species or a stain finish here, since neither is something we can confirm from a photo alone.
See cedar wood fences and privacy fence height & layout for how material and height choices fit together on a project like this.
Backyard wood fence board & post estimator
Enter a fence run to see about how many boards and posts a flush-board wood privacy fence like this one takes. It’s arithmetic, not a manufacturer spec — no maker publishes a spacing number for job-built wood fences, and your builder may use a different post spacing.
Board count: linear feet × 12 ÷ board width, rounded up. Post count: one post per spacing interval, plus one. Both are arithmetic shown here, not a manufacturer figure. Backyard/permit note: City of Kemah Code of Ordinances Ch. 66 and Ch. 18, Sec. 18-1, checked October 7, 2026 — neither publishes a number for an ordinary side or rear yard fence.
Planning a backyard fence of your own
- In Kemah? See fence & gate installation in Kemah for how the bay-front, side/rear-yard and commercial rules compare, plus our other Kemah projects.
- Choosing a material? See wood fences and cedar wood fences.
- Digging post holes? See calling 811 before a fence goes in.
What Galveston customers say
5.091 Google reviews · read them all on Google
I have hired Mustang fencing services to fix my backyard fencing. Good wood to used. I really like theirs work. Best of luck
Excellent work. They came in handy after the hurricane hit our backyard. Friendly people too.
Amazing work will go ahead and recommend everyone in friends and family We installed 8ft tall double sided stained cedar wood fence in our backyard, it’s really looks great, installed perfectly nice finishing and cost effective, thanks mustang fencing.
Reviews shown word for word from the Mustang Fencing Services Google Business Profile (Galveston), captured 2026-10-19.
Questions we get about this
What rule applies to a backyard fence in Kemah that doesn’t face Galveston Bay?
What is a “front yard waterfront fence” in Kemah, and does it apply here?
Do I need a permit for a backyard fence in Kemah?
How many boards does a fence like this take?
Do I need to call 811 before the post holes go in?
Sources
Checked October 24, 2026. Rules change, so confirm with the City before you build.
- City of Kemah, Texas, Code of Ordinances, Chapter 66: Offenses and Miscellaneous Provisions — Front yard waterfront fence definition, height (4 ft), material, permit, fee and 50%-replacement rules — and confirms no general side/rear-yard number is published.
- City of Kemah, Texas, Code of Ordinances, Chapter 18: Buildings and Building Regulations — Sec. 18-1, “Barriers between commercial and residential properties” — solid masonry/steel/treated-wood barrier, minimum 8 ft, full property-line length, drainage plan.
- City of Kemah, Permits and Inspections (Building Department) — Building Department contact, (281) 334-1611, 1401 State Highway 146; directs applicants to the MyGov portal and the Code of Ordinances for project-specific rules.
Planning a backyard fence in Kemah?
We’ll measure your yard, flag whether it’s the bay-side rule, the side-yard question, or the commercial property-line rule that applies, and give you a written estimate before any fence order.