Garth Allen Fence Builders gets asked about sequence more than almost anything else in fence planning: which approval comes first? In Allen, the City answers that directly. Its Residential Fence Guideline tells owners to check with their HOA, if they have one, before applying for a City fence permit.
If your Allen home is in a homeowners association, get the HOA’s written approval of the fence style, height, stain and location first, then apply for the $75 City of Allen fence permit. The City reviews code compliance, not neighborhood appearance, so the HOA decision should be settled before the permit drawing is final.
Why the order matters
The two reviews look at different things. An HOA’s architectural committee cares how the fence looks from the street and from neighbors’ yards: picket style, cap and trim, stain color, which face points out, height on street-facing sides. The City checks the rules in its guideline: metal posts with metal caps and hardware, posts at least 18 in deep in concrete, no more than 8 ft in back and side yards, a 3 in clear gap in the lot-line drainage easement, and clear sight lines at alleys and corners. The Allen permit rules guide has the full list.
If the permit goes in first and the HOA then asks for a different style or a lower street-side height, the drawing changes and the permit may need to be revised. Reversing the order means the permit describes a fence both bodies can accept.
What an HOA submission usually asks for
Requirements vary by association, so read your own covenants. Most review forms ask for some version of the same items:
- A plot plan or survey showing where the fence runs, including any gates
- Height for each run, especially where it faces a street
- Material and style, such as cedar board-on-board or side-by-side, or iron
- Post type and finish, which in Allen means steel
- Stain or paint color, often from an approved list
- Which side faces out, if the covenants say the finished face goes toward the street or neighbor
A clean plot plan helps both reviews. It is also the moment to confirm the line itself; the old fence is not proof of the boundary, and the property line guide explains why.
Where HOA and City rules collide
Some neighborhood style sheets were written years ago, before steel posts were standard, and may picture wood posts or a chain link back line. Allen requires metal posts on all fencing, and vinyl or chain link need the Building Official’s approval. When an HOA standard and a City rule differ, the fence has to satisfy the City; the usual fix is a steel post hidden behind the pickets so the street face still looks the way the HOA expects. Ask the committee about it in the submission rather than after the build.
Alley-loaded lots add one more item. A sliding gate across an alley driveway has to follow one of the City’s two trash-bin pickup layouts, and the HOA may also have a view on gate style. Settle both before gate installation is priced.
A realistic sequence
- Read the HOA covenants and get the review form.
- Measure, sketch the line and choose materials.
- Submit to the HOA and wait for written approval.
- Apply for the City of Allen permit through its online portal.
- Call Texas811 so utilities are marked before digging.
- Build, then pass the City inspection.
HOA review often takes longer than the build itself. The installation timeline guide shows where the weeks go, and fence replacement covers tear-out and rebuild once both approvals are in hand.