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Community Development

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1. How high can my fence be?

6ft on side & rear yard, 3 ½ to 4ft on front. (Side yard fences may be over 6' with approved building permits)

2. What size can my accessory building be? How many accessory buildings may I have?

With approved building permits, Single Family zoned properties may have 2 accessory buildings not to exceed 1,000 sq. ft.

For more information please call the Community Development Department at 503.831.3567.

3. Do I need a business license?

General business licenses are not required in Dallas. However, a Dallas business license is required for certain types of businesses. Here are some examples of businesses that require licenses from the City:

o home-based businesses
o businesses that operate on streets or sidewalks (examples are an ice cream truck, hot dog stand, etc.)
o several other niche categories require licenses - contact the Community Development Department for details

If your type of business requires a license, applications are available at City Hall.

Anyone planning to open a business in Dallas should check with the Community Development Department on zoning issues. As long as the business owner intends to operate in an appropriate zoning district for the type of business he/she is proposing and the business type is compatible to these zones, no business license is necessary. The City of Dallas has the Central Business District (downtown), Commercial General (uptown / N. Dallas) and Industrial zoning districts.

When planning to open a new business in Dallas keep in mind that making changes to a commercial property may require building permits, change of use permits, Fire Department review, etc. The Community Development Department can assist you with planning property improvements and you are strongly encouraged to contact them before spending a lot of time or money.

If you have questions or need additional information please contact John Swanson in the Community Development Department at 503-831-3572.