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Fence & gate installation · City of Bayou Vista

Fence & Gate Installation in Bayou Vista, TX

Wood, vinyl, metal and chain link fences, plus gates, for canal homes in the City of Bayou Vista. The City writes its own fence rules: up to seven feet, solid allowed beside the house, and see-through only within 20 feet of the bulkhead.

  • Reviewed Sept 27, 2026
  • Source: City of Bayou Vista Code, Chapter 3
  • Open-area calculator
Call (346) 910-8641Check your fence
Black flat-top metal fence along a grassy waterfront lot, with a pier extending into calm water beyond
An open metal fence along a waterfront lawn: the view to the water stays clear.
The short answer

Mustang Fencing Services installs fences and gates in Bayou Vista from our office in Galveston. Bayou Vista is its own city, and its building code has its own fence article. No fence may be taller than seven feet. Within 20 feet of the bulkhead, only a see-through fence is allowed, which the code defines as letting light through at least 50% of the fence area (its example: a 6-inch board, then a 6-inch space). A solid fence may run between the sidewalls of the house and the lot line. Nothing goes street-side of the set-back build line, in a utility easement or past a property line, and every new, added or rebuilt fence needs a City permit.

7 ftMaximum fence height (Sec. 3.13.01(F))
20 ftFrom the bulkhead: see-through fences only (Sec. 3.13.02(B))
50%Minimum open area for “see-through” (Sec. 3.13.02(B)(1))
$55Fence permit fee in the City fee schedule (Sec. 3.906)

Source: City of Bayou Vista Code of Ordinances, Chapter 3 Building and Construction (inclusive through 05-27-2025; checked Sept 27, 2026).

What we install in Bayou Vista

Bayou Vista is a canal city: its own set-back rules measure the back of a lot from the bulkhead. We install new fences and gates here for full-time homes and weekend houses:

  • Privacy beside the house: wood or vinyl privacy fences in the side yards, where the code allows a solid fence.
  • Open fences toward the water: spaced pickets, ornamental iron or steel within 20 feet of the bulkhead, where the fence has to be see-through.
  • Chain link for dog runs and storage areas, in hot-dipped galvanized steel.
  • Gates: walk gates to the dock and driveway gates, with openers and access control if you want them.
  • Pool barriers to the code the City names for pools and spas.

Will your fence pass the Bayou Vista code?

Enter the board and gap widths to see how open the fence is, then say where it runs. You’ll see which lines of the City’s fence article it meets and what to settle with the Building Inspector.

0%OPEN AREA
Height
Style
Where
Specs
AlwaysPlans and specifications go to the Building Inspector for approval, and a City permit is required for a new fence, an addition or a reconstruction. The fence permit fee in the City’s schedule is $55.

Open area = gap ÷ (board + gap), for evenly spaced boards viewed straight on; a planning estimate, not a measurement of the finished fence. Based on the City of Bayou Vista Code, Chapter 3, Secs. 3.06.04, 3.13.01 to 3.13.04 and the Sec. 3.906 fee schedule (inclusive through 05-27-2025). The Building Inspector decides.

The Bayou Vista fence article, line by line

Article 3.13.00 of the City’s Building and Construction chapter sets the fence rules:

  • Seven feet. No fence may exceed seven feet in height.
  • See-through within 20 feet of the bulkhead. In that part of the lot, only a see-through type fence may be built or replaced. The code defines see-through as transmitting light through no less than 50% of the fence area without appreciable scattering, so objects beyond are entirely visible viewed straight on from the street or property line. Its example: a 6-inch board, then a 6-inch space.
  • Solid beside the house. A non-see-through fence may be built between the sidewalls of the house and the adjacent property line, if it otherwise meets the article. The code says this includes lots and swimming pools.
  • Where fences can’t go. Not beyond the property lines, not beyond the street-side set-back build line, and not within a utility easement. The front set-back build line is 30 feet from the center of the road (Sec. 3.06.04).
  • Galvanized and anchored. Metal and chain link fences must be hot-dipped galvanized steel, coated after fabrication, with cut or damaged surfaces painted after installation; nails, bolts, screws, fasteners and hangers must be hot-dipped galvanized. Posts must be properly anchored; the code recommends concrete or driving them to a suitable depth.
  • Permit. Plans and specifications go to the Building Inspector for approval, and a permit is required for a new fence, an addition or a reconstruction.

Next door, the Village of Tiki Island caps fences at six feet and asks for see-through fences across the lot, not just near the bulkhead. The rules don’t carry over from one town to the other.

Plan of a canal lot between a road and a canal. A dimension shows the front set-back build line 30 feet from the center of the road; the strip between the build line and the street is shaded red and marked no fence. Side yards between the house sidewalls and the lot lines are shaded amber and marked solid fence allowed, with solid fence lines along the sides. A blue band within 20 feet of the bulkhead is marked see-through fence only, at least 50 percent open, with a dotted fence line across it. The bulkhead and canal are at the bottom. CENTER OF ROAD NO FENCE STREET-SIDE OF THE SET-BACK BUILD LINE (OR IN A UTILITY EASEMENT, OR PAST A PROPERTY LINE) 30 FT FRONT BUILD LINE House (living walls) SOLID FENCE OK BESIDE HOUSE SOLID FENCE OK BESIDE HOUSE WITHIN 20 FT OF THE BULKHEAD: SEE-THROUGH FENCE ONLY (AT LEAST 50% OF THE FENCE AREA TRANSMITS LIGHT) 20 FT SOLID LINE = SOLID OK DOTTED = SEE-THROUGH BULKHEAD Canal
A-1
DrawingA Bayou Vista canal lot: where solid and see-through fences can run
BasisCity of Bayou Vista Code, Secs. 3.06.04, 3.13.01(E) and 3.13.02
ScaleNot to scale
Not to scale, and not a survey. Utility easements and exact lot lines come from your survey or plat. The fence article also bars fences in any utility easement and past any property line.
Pine privacy fence with dog-ear pickets, seen from the rail side along a narrow side yard
A pine privacy fence along a narrow side yard, from a Mustang job in Galveston: the kind of solid run Bayou Vista allows beside the house.

What counts as see-through

Bayou Vista is one of the few codes that puts a number on it. A see-through fence lets light through at least half of its area, and objects beyond it have to be entirely visible when you look straight at it from the street or the property line.

  • For evenly spaced boards, the open share is the gap divided by the board plus the gap. A 6-inch board with a 6-inch space is exactly 50%.
  • A standard 5½-inch picket needs a gap of at least 5½ inches to reach 50%.
  • Board-on-board and shadowbox fences overlap their boards, so straight on they are close to solid. Keep them out of the 20-foot zone.
  • Open metal pickets and chain link are usually far more than 50% open, but metal has to be hot-dipped galvanized steel.

The calculator above does the arithmetic. It’s a planning estimate: the Building Inspector approves the plans.

Two fence elevations side by side, each seven feet tall. On the left, boards 6 inches wide with 6-inch spaces between them, dimensioned, labeled 50 percent open, see-through, the code’s own example. On the right, overlapping board-on-board boards with no gaps, labeled 0 percent open, not see-through, keep it out of the 20-foot zone. A note says the view is straight on, from the street or lot line. 7 FT MAX. 6 IN 6 IN 6-IN BOARD, 6-IN SPACE = 50% OPEN SEE-THROUGH (THE CODE’S OWN EXAMPLE) BOARD-ON-BOARD OR SOLID = 0% OPEN NOT SEE-THROUGH: KEEP IT OUT OF THE 20-FT ZONE Viewed straight on, from the street or lot line
A-2
DrawingSee-through, the Bayou Vista way: 50% open
BasisCity of Bayou Vista Code, Secs. 3.13.01(F) and 3.13.02(B)(1)
ScaleNot to scale
Drawn at the same scale: 6 inches of board and 6 inches of space. The right-hand fence is fine beside the house, just not within 20 feet of the bulkhead.

Bayou Vista fence plans at a glance

PlanCity codeWhat to do
6 ft wood privacy in the side yardsSolid allowed between the house sidewalls and the lot line; under 7 ftPlans to the Building Inspector, permit
Privacy fence carried to the bulkheadOnly see-through within 20 ft of the bulkheadSwitch to 50%-open pickets or metal for the last 20 ft
8 ft privacy fenceOver the 7-ft limitRedesign at 7 ft or lower
Picket fence across the front yardNo fence street-side of the set-back build lineMove the line behind the build line
Aluminum fence at the waterCode names hot-dipped galvanized steel for metal fencesAsk the Building Inspector first
Storm-damaged fence, 60% downMore than 50% damaged: replace to Sec. 3.13.02Rebuild to the current location and see-through rules

From the City of Bayou Vista Code, Chapter 3, Secs. 3.06.04 and 3.13.01 to 3.13.03. A planning summary, not a permit decision.

White vinyl spaced-picket fence enclosing the yard of an elevated coastal beach house
Spaced vinyl pickets around the yard of a raised house.
Black metal pool fence and gate post with a patio umbrella and pool behind
Looking through a black metal pool fence and gate to the patio beyond.
Black metal pool gate set between brick pillars beside a swimming pool
A black metal pool gate between brick pillars.

Old fences, storm damage and pools

Fences built before the article took effect can stay. But if a fence is more than 50% damaged or destroyed for any reason, it has to be replaced under the current location and see-through rules. At 50% or less, it is repaired to meet the general standards: built properly, galvanized where required and anchored.

For a pool deeper than 24 inches, a hot tub or a spa, the City requires a barrier that meets Appendix G of the International Residential Code. See pool fence installation.

One more canal-side detail: if a house has a cargo lift approved in one side setback, that approval is conditional on the opposite side setback staying unobstructed so emergency responders can reach the canal side. Check with the City before a fence or gate crosses that side. No fence is hurricane-proof; see hurricane-ready fencing for the design choices and their limits.

From estimate to finished fence

1. Free on-site estimate. The fence line is measured, and the bulkhead, the 20-foot zone, the side yards, gates, utilities and access are noted.

2. Design to the code. Height, where the see-through runs start, board and gap spacing, and galvanized steel or hardware. You get a written estimate after the visit.

3. Plans and permit. Plans and specifications to the Building Inspector, the City fence permit, and any deed or association approval.

4. Installation. Posts are set, the fence is built and gates are adjusted to swing and latch.

What affects cost and timing: the length and height of the run, material and hardware, the number and width of gates, working near the bulkhead, removing an old fence, and how long approvals take. Financing is available through the providers on our financing page, subject to credit approval.

What customers say on Google

5.0
91 Google reviews · read them all on Google
★★★★★
Mustang Fencing Services was dependable and honest from start to finish. They stuck to our timeline and budget, and the fence looks fantastic. I appreciate their hard work and would recommend them to anyone.
Nazia Sohail · Google review · 2 years ago
★★★★★
My new fence looks fantastic and has added both privacy and style to my yard. Highly recommend their services for anyone in need of fencing!
Jaweria Malik · Google review · 2 years ago
★★★★★
Very professional and friendly. Gotten automatic gates done and they are done to perfection! Thank you
Tannia Cravinas · Google review · a year ago

Reviews shown word for word from the Mustang Fencing Services Google Business Profile (Galveston), captured 2026-09-27.

Questions we get about this

Do you install fences in Bayou Vista, TX?
Yes. We install fences and gates in the City of Bayou Vista from our office in Galveston, and design them to the City’s fence article.
How tall can a fence be in Bayou Vista?
No fence in Bayou Vista may exceed seven feet in height (City Code Sec. 3.13.01(F)).
How close to the bulkhead can I put a solid fence?
Not within 20 feet of it. In that part of the lot, only a see-through fence may be built or replaced (Sec. 3.13.02(B)). Solid fences are allowed between the house sidewalls and the lot line, and elsewhere behind the front build line.
What counts as a see-through fence in Bayou Vista?
One that transmits light through at least 50% of the fence area without appreciable scattering, so objects beyond are entirely visible viewed straight on from the street or property line. The code’s example is a 6-inch board, then a 6-inch space.
Can I put a fence in my front yard in Bayou Vista?
Not street-side of the set-back build line (Sec. 3.13.02(C)). The front build line is 30 feet from the center of the road (Sec. 3.06.04). Fences also can’t go in a utility easement or past a property line.
Do I need a permit for a fence in Bayou Vista?
Yes. Plans and specifications go to the Building Inspector, and a permit is required for a new fence, an addition or a reconstruction. The City’s fee schedule lists the fence permit at $55.
What if a storm damages my fence?
If more than 50% is damaged or destroyed, the fence must be replaced to the current location and see-through rules. If 50% or less, it is repaired to the general standards (Sec. 3.13.03).

Sources

Checked September 27, 2026. Rules change, so confirm with the City before you build.

  1. City of Bayou Vista Code, Chapter 3 Building and Construction (inclusive through 05-27-2025) — Article 3.13.00 fence regulations (7 ft; see-through within 20 ft of the bulkhead and its 50% definition; solid between house sidewalls and lot line; property line, build line and utility easement bans; galvanizing and anchoring; plans and permit; 50% damage rule; pool barriers to IRC Appendix G); Sec. 3.06.04 set-back build lines; Sec. 3.906 fee schedule; cargo-lift conditional variance.
  2. City of Bayou Vista ordinances index — where the City posts its current code chapters.
Free on-site estimate

Planning a fence in Bayou Vista?

We’ll measure the line from the street to the bulkhead, mark where the see-through zone starts, and design the spacing and hardware to the City’s code. Free on-site estimates.

Call (346) 910-8641Request an estimate

Keep planning

AreaEvery area we serve in Galveston CountyAreaTiki Island: six feet and see-throughAreaFences and gates across Galveston IslandServiceVinyl fence installationServicePool fence installationGuideHurricane-ready fencing: choices and limits
Page reviewed September 27, 2026 by Mustang Fencing Services, Galveston. Next review due March 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.

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