Hill Country Lawns Done Right
If you only remember three things, remember these. In Austin, the three most common landscaping jobs that DO need a permit or license are: (1) installing a sprinkler or irrigation system, which requires a City of Austin plumbing irrigation permit and a state-licensed irrigator, (2) removing any tree 19 inches or more in diameter, which requires a City Arborist permit, and (3) building a retaining wall over 4 feet tall, which requires a building permit. At Austin Pro Landscape we handle permits every week, and this guide covers what the City of Austin and the State of Texas actually require, with links to the official pages.
Retaining Walls
Austin exempts a retaining wall that is “not over 4 feet (1,219 mm) in height measured from the bottom of the footing to the top of the wall” from a building permit, per the city’s Work Exempt from Building Permits page. Important detail: that 4 feet is measured from the bottom of the footing, not from the soil surface, so a wall that looks like 3.5 feet above grade can still cross the line. The exemption also does not apply if the wall supports a surcharge (like a driveway or slope above it) or sits in a flood hazard area.
Fences
Per Austin’s Fencing Regulations page, a fence permit is required if the fence is more than 7 feet high at any point, or more than 6 feet high along a City of Austin public right-of-way on residential property (that taller ROW fence also needs a Board of Adjustment variance). Separately, a solid fence along a property line generally may not exceed 6 feet measured from natural grade, with limited allowances up to 7 or 8 feet where grade changes or neighbor consent apply. Any fence in a floodplain needs a permit regardless of height.
Patios, Decks, and Hardscape
Austin’s exemption list covers a deck that is no more than 200 square feet, no more than 30 inches above grade at any point, not attached to the house, not serving as egress, and not in a flood hazard area. Attach it to the house or exceed those numbers and you need a permit. Sidewalks, driveways, and concrete flatwork on your own property (not in the public right-of-way) are exempt, but work on a driveway approach in the right-of-way requires a right-of-way permit per the city’s Types of Permits page.
Irrigation Systems
Two layers here. Statewide, TCEQ rules state that a person “may not sell, design, install, maintain, alter, repair, service or inspect an irrigation system” in Texas without a TCEQ license, so always verify your contractor’s irrigator license. In Austin, irrigation work takes a stand-alone plumbing irrigation permit per Types of Permits. Irrigation systems also require a backflow prevention assembly under Austin Water’s Backflow Prevention program, with testing by a licensed Backflow Prevention Assembly Tester registered with the city.
Tree Removal
Austin’s tree ordinance is one of the strictest in Texas. Per the City Arborist page, a Protected tree is 19 inches or more in diameter measured 4.5 feet above the ground, and removal requires a permit. A Heritage tree is 24 inches or more in diameter and on the protected species list (all oaks, pecan, Texas ash, bald cypress, American and cedar elm, Texas madrone, bigtooth maple, Arizona and eastern black walnut); heritage removal is prohibited except in narrow cases. Pruning more than 25% of a regulated tree’s canopy also requires a permit. Trees under 19 inches are not regulated on residential property, per Trees on Residential Property.
Drainage and Grading
Per Austin’s Site Plans, Exemptions, and Corrections page, small fill projects depositing less than two feet of earth fill, outside the 100-year floodplain, can qualify for streamlined small project treatment, generally capped around 5,000 square feet of impervious cover and 10,000 square feet of construction area. For anything that changes how water flows off your lot, or any work near a floodplain, check with Austin Development Services before digging, since residential grading review requirements vary by site.
This is general guidance, not legal advice – confirm with Austin Development Services before starting work.
Last Updated: July 2026
FAQ
Q: Can I remove a dead tree without a permit in Austin?
A: If the tree is 19 inches or more in diameter, no. Austin has a specific Dead, Diseased, or Imminent Hazard application pathway through the City Arborist, so even a dead protected tree goes through a (faster) permit process.
Q: Can I install my own sprinkler system as a homeowner?
A: Texas licensing rules under TCEQ govern who may install irrigation systems, and Austin still requires a plumbing irrigation permit and backflow prevention either way. Confirm your specific situation with TCEQ and Austin Development Services before doing it yourself.
Q: How tall can my backyard fence be without a permit?
A: Up to 7 feet at any point avoids the permit requirement, but a solid fence along a property line is generally limited to 6 feet from natural grade, so most standard privacy fences land at 6 feet.
Sources and Method
Every threshold above was verified in July 2026 directly on official City of Austin and State of Texas pages:
- https://www.austintexas.gov/page/work-exempt-building-permits
- https://www.austintexas.gov/page/fencing-regulations
- https://www.austintexas.gov/development-services/types-permits
- https://www.austintexas.gov/page/tree-reviews-and-permitting
- https://www.austintexas.gov/page/trees-residential-property
- https://www.austintexas.gov/department/backflow-prevention-overview
- https://www.austintexas.gov/development-services/site-plans-exemptions-and-corrections
- https://www.tceq.texas.gov/licensing/licenses/lilic
Hiring soon? Read how to choose a landscaper in Austin before you sign anything.