Google
Book Appointment!
Board & lattice wood fence · Galveston, TX

Board & Lattice Wood Fence in Galveston, TX

A board & lattice fence is really two fences stacked: a solid board-on-board section for privacy, topped with an open lattice panel for light and airflow. How tall the whole thing can be depends on where it sits — Galveston’s own fence ordinance treats a "solid" fence and one that’s "at least 60% transparent" differently, and open lattice is exactly the kind of design that can change which height cap applies.

  • Reviewed October 20, 2026
  • Source: Galveston LDR §2.501
  • Height-rule checker
Call (346) 910-8641Check your height limit
Long wood privacy fence enclosing a large open lawn
A wood privacy fence, Galveston. A board & lattice design builds on the same board-on-board base, with an open section added on top.
The short answer

It depends on where the fence sits on the lot. Galveston’s residential fence ordinance caps a solid fence or wall in a front yard at 4 feet, but allows 5 feet (6 feet for single-family attached or multifamily) if the whole fence is at least 60% transparent — open lattice is the kind of design that can get a fence into that category. Anywhere else on a residential lot, the cap is a flat 8 feet whether the fence is solid or open, so a lattice top there is a design and airflow choice, not a height workaround.

4 ftMax height for a solid fence or wall in a residential front yard (Galveston LDR §2.501(B)(2))
5–6 ftFront-yard max if the whole fence is at least 60% transparent — 5 ft single-family, 6 ft attached/multifamily
8 ftMax height anywhere else on a residential lot, solid or open (§2.501(B)(1))
UC4AMinimum treatment category for posts in ground contact (AWPA use-category system) — boards and lattice sit in the lower, above-ground UC3A/UC3B category

Sources: City of Galveston Land Development Regulations, Division 2.500, Sec. 2.501; Southern Forest Products Association, Pressure-Treated Southern Pine (2019).

A board & lattice fence is two fences in one

The lower section is a standard board-on-board privacy fence: boards alternate front and back of the rails so there's no sightline gap, even as the wood shrinks and swells with the weather (more on that trade-off on board-on-board vs. shadowbox). The upper section is open lattice — a criss-cross panel that lets light and air through where a fully solid fence wouldn't. Together, they give a yard privacy at eye level without a completely solid wall above it.

The height question is where it gets specific to Galveston: the city's residential fence ordinance doesn't just cap height once — it caps a solid fence at one height and a fence that's at least 60% transparent at a taller one, in a front yard. That's the main reason this particular design comes up.

Bar chart comparing Galveston residential fence height caps: a solid fence or wall in a front yard is capped at 4 feet; a front-yard fence that is at least 60 percent transparent is capped at 5 feet for single-family (6 feet for single-family attached or multifamily); and a fence anywhere else on a residential lot is capped at 8 feet regardless of transparency.RESIDENTIAL FENCE HEIGHT CAPS — GALVESTON LDR §2.501(B)4 ftFront yard,solid fence/wall5 ftFront yard,≥60% transparent*8 ftAnywhere elseon the lot*5 ft for single-family; 6 ft for single-family attached or multifamily — same 60% rule, different cap.
BL-1
DrawingFront-yard height math: solid vs. open
BasisCity of Galveston LDR, Division 2.500, Sec. 2.501(B)
ScaleNot to scale
The same lot, three different height caps — the deciding factor is location on the lot and, in a front yard, how open the fence is.

Galveston LDR §2.501(B) residential fence height caps

LocationSolid fence/wallAt least 60% transparent
Front yard, single-family4 ft5 ft
Front yard, single-family attached or multifamily4 ft6 ft
Anywhere else on a residential lot8 ft8 ft (transparency not required)
Tennis court fence12 ft12 ft

City of Galveston Land Development Regulations, Division 2.500, Sec. 2.501(B), as extracted 2026-09.

Where the lattice actually changes anything

Outside the front yard, the cap is a flat 8 feet whether the fence is solid or open — the ordinance doesn't reward transparency there. A lattice top on a backyard or side fence is purely a design and airflow decision: a common approach is a roughly 6-foot solid board section with a foot and a half to two feet of lattice on top, landing at or under that 8-foot cap, but that split is an example, not a code requirement.

In a front yard, it's a different question. Going above the 4-foot solid cap requires the whole fence to be at least 60% transparent — not just the lattice portion. The ordinance text doesn't spell out exactly how that percentage gets measured across a design that mixes a solid board base with an open lattice top, so if you're planning to use a board & lattice design specifically to get extra front-yard height, confirm the measurement method with the City's Development Services Department before you commit to a specific split.

Elevation drawing of a fence with two posts, a lower solid board-on-board section labeled as the privacy portion with an example height of 6 feet, and an upper open lattice section labeled for light and airflow with an example height of 1.5 to 2 feet. A note explains that posts use the ground-contact treatment category UC4A while boards and lattice use the above-ground categories UC3A coated or UC3B uncoated.A BOARD-ON-BOARD BASE WITH AN OPEN LATTICE TOP (EXAMPLE)solid board-on-board (privacy)open lattice (light + airflow)6 ft board (example)1.5–2 ft lattice (example)Posts: ground-contact category (UC4A).Boards & lattice: above-ground category(coated = UC3A, uncoated = UC3B).— Southern Forest Products Association,Pressure-Treated Southern Pine (2019).
BL-2
DrawingHow a board & lattice fence is usually put together
BasisGeneral construction practice; Southern Forest Products Association, Pressure-Treated Southern Pine (2019), Table 3-1
ScaleNot to scale
An illustrative example, not a spec — actual board and lattice heights vary by design and by the height cap that applies to your lot.

Will a board & lattice design fit your spot?

Answer for your lot. This checks your plan against Galveston's published height rule — it isn't a permit determination.

What the ordinance says

City of Galveston Land Development Regulations, Division 2.500, Sec. 2.501 Fences and Walls (Height). Confirm application and any permit requirement with the City's Development Services Department before you build.

Wood privacy fence with a double gate and black hardware
A wood privacy fence with a double gate, Galveston.
Wood privacy fence at the corner of a planted garden
A wood privacy fence at a planted corner, Galveston.
New wood privacy fence running along the edge of a lawn
A new wood privacy fence, Galveston — the board-on-board base a lattice top would sit on.
Wood privacy fence beside a mature shade tree
A wood privacy fence beside a mature shade tree, Galveston.

What customers say

5.0
91 Google reviews · read them all on Google
★★★★★
had an excellent experience with mustang fencing From the initial consultation to the final installation, the team was professional, punctual, and attentive to detail. They helped me choose the perfect fence style to match my property and ensured everything was installed with precision. The quality of materials is top-notch, and the fence has completely transformed the look and security of my home. I highly recommend mustang services to anyone looking for reliable and high-quality fencing services!
Abdul Wahab · Google review · a year ago
★★★★★
I am so pleased with the fence!! Your solution was exactly the right one and the team did a highly professional job. Frankly, I was amazed at how clean the job site was at the completion of the project. Feel free to list me as a reference and a very happy customer. Thanks again and please let the men know That I appreciate their hard work and quality craftsmanship.
Anees Abbas Bawa · Google review · 2 years ago
★★★★★
Fenomenal job, really nice guy. Contacted them after hurricane knocked down my fence facing the street and got it done really quickly.
Patricia Rios · Google review · a year ago

Reviews shown word for word from the Mustang Fencing Services Google Business Profile (Galveston), captured 2026-10-19.

Questions we get about this

How tall can a board & lattice fence be in a Galveston front yard?
A solid fence or wall in a front yard is capped at 4 feet. Above that, the whole fence needs to be at least 60% transparent to reach 5 feet (6 feet for single-family attached or multifamily) under LDR §2.501(B).
Does a lattice top count toward the 8-foot height cap elsewhere on my lot?
Yes — the 8-foot cap for anywhere else on a residential lot applies to the total fence height, solid or open. Transparency isn’t required there, but the lattice still adds to the overall height.
What counts as "60 percent transparent"?
The ordinance text sets the threshold but doesn’t spell out the measurement method for a mixed solid-and-open design. Ask the City’s Development Services Department how they’d measure a specific board-and-lattice split before finalizing the design.
Does the privacy section have to be board-on-board?
No — board-on-board is a common choice because it has no sightline gaps even as the wood moves, but a lattice top can go on other privacy-fence styles too. See board-on-board vs. shadowbox for how that choice compares on its own.
Do the posts need a different treatment than the boards and lattice?
Yes. Under the AWPA use-category system referenced by the Southern Forest Products Association, posts in ground contact need the higher UC4A category, while above-ground boards and lattice use the UC3A (coated) or UC3B (uncoated) categories.

Sources

Checked October 20, 2026. Rules change, so confirm with the City before you build.

  1. City of Galveston Land Development Regulations, Division 2.500, Sec. 2.501 Fences and Walls — Residential fence height caps: 8 ft general, 4 ft solid in a front yard (5 ft / 6 ft if ≥60% transparent), 12 ft tennis court.
  2. Southern Forest Products Association, Pressure-Treated Southern Pine (2019 ed.) — Table 3-1, fences row: above-ground use categories (UC3A coated / UC3B uncoated) for pickets/rails/slats/trim vs. ground-contact UC4A for posts.
Free on-site estimate

Thinking about a board & lattice design?

A free on-site estimate can go over height limits for your specific lot and the board-to-lattice split that works for your yard.

Call (346) 910-8641Request an estimate

Related pages

GuideBoard-on-board vs. shadowbox fenceServiceWood fence installationServiceCedar wood fenceGuideWood fence maintenance in a humid climateContactBook a free on-site estimate
Page reviewed October 20, 2026 by Mustang Fencing Services, Galveston. Next review due April 2027.

PLAN YOUR FENCE OR GATE PROJECT WITH US TODAY

Planning a new fence, a driveway gate or an automated entry? Tell us about your property and we’ll set up a free on-site estimate. We work with homeowners, HOAs and businesses across Galveston Island and Galveston County.

Prefer to talk? Call (346) 910-8641.

WHAT OUR CLIENTS ARE SAYING

Mustang Fencing

WE PROUDLY SERVE GALVESTON ISLAND & GALVESTON COUNTY

  • Call us today

Areas we serve:

Galveston TX

Galveston Island

Jamaica Beach TX

Tiki Island TX

Bayou Vista TX

La Marque TX

Texas City TX

Hitchcock TX

Santa Fe TX

Dickinson TX

Bacliff TX

San Leon TX

Kemah TX

League City TX

Clear Lake Shores TX

OUR PARTNERS

Genie brand logo
LiftMaster brand logo

More Services

Fencing

Gates