Fence work in Schertz
Schertz is a city of the Interstate 35 corridor between San Antonio and New Braunfels. According to the Handbook of Texas, it was named for Sebastian Schertz, who had a store there in 1875 when the railroad was built, and it was incorporated in 1958 (Handbook of Texas). It lists Bexar, Guadalupe and Comal counties for the city. If your address is in Schertz, the City of Schertz sets your fence permit rules, not New Braunfels.
New fence versus replacement fence
Schertz draws a line that many cities do not. The City’s Building Permits page lists “Fences – new installation” under work that needs a permit. A replacement fence on a one- or two-family home can be exempt, but only if it meets all of these conditions:
- It complies with the Unified Development Code, including height, location and materials.
- It stays in the same location, at the same height, in the same materials as the fence it replaces.
- It is not in a flood hazard area. The page says areas in floodplain hazard areas will require permits.
The page adds that an exemption does not authorize work that violates the code or other City ordinances. The City’s FAQ says the same thing from the other direction: it lists “fences of different material, height and/or location” as work that needs a permit. In plain terms, swapping a worn six-foot cedar fence for the same fence in the same place is treated differently from moving the line or going taller. If you are not sure, ask first.
How to apply and who to call
The Building Permits page directs applicants to the City of Schertz web portal, and lists the Inspections Division at 210-619-1750. One practical point: a fence contractor who knows the portal and the Unified Development Code can usually tell you in one call whether your plan counts as a replacement. Ask which they will treat it as, and get the answer in the written quote. The cost guide lists other items to pin down in writing.
Floodplain and creek lots
Because the City says floodplain areas require permits even for like-for-like replacement, a fence along a creek or drainage channel deserves an extra question. Ask your pro, or the City, whether your lot sits in a flood hazard area before you assume the replacement exemption applies. The same caution applies in New Braunfels, where the City lists a floodplain development permit type separately.
Two counties, several HOAs
Schertz spans county lines, and many neighborhoods around it are covered by homeowners associations. Texas Property Code § 202.023 lets many associations regulate fence type while limiting how far they can go (statute), so your covenants can be stricter than the City’s rules even when the City says yes. Get the approval in writing before the crew orders material.
What we could not confirm
We did not read the Schertz Unified Development Code fence section itself, so we are not printing height limits for Schertz. Third-party permit sites disagree about whether Schertz regulates fences at all, which conflicts with the City’s own page above, so we have ignored them. Do not take a number from this site or from a neighbor; ask the Inspections Division.
Utility lines and soil
Call Texas811 at least two business days before digging; the request is free and the contractor is responsible if you hire one. Soil varies across the three counties Schertz touches, so tell your installer your neighborhood. See fence installation for post-depth questions to ask.
Services you can request in Schertz
Pros we connect you with can quote a wood privacy fence, a cedar fence, gates or a fence repair. Describe the job below. We are a referral service, not a contractor. Return to the New Braunfels fence page or the full service area.