General Contractor in Arlington, TX
S&L Good Fellas is an insured, family-owned general contractor based in Irving. We work across Arlington on remodels, fences, tree work, sod and paint. Text or call for a free quote.
A General Contractor Who Knows Arlington's Rules
Arlington sits halfway between Dallas and Fort Worth, and it has its own rulebook. Its code singles out the native oaks of the Cross Timbers. It keeps wood fences out of front yards. It wants a permit for any shed over 100 square feet. A general contractor in Arlington should know that before the first post goes in.
S&L Good Fellas is an insured, family-owned general contractor based in Irving, and we work in Arlington. We quote remodels, painting, fences, decks, pergolas, sheds, sod and tree work, from north of I-30 to south of I-20. Text or call for a free quote.
Quick Answers
What Arlington homeowners ask before they ask for a quote.
Is S&L Good Fellas based in Arlington?
No. We are based in Irving, and we work in Arlington and across Dallas-Fort Worth.
Do I need a city permit for my project?
Often, yes. Arlington lists kitchen and bath remodels as permit work, and a new fence needs a permit. Paint, flooring, cabinets, countertops and tile alone need no building permit. Ask Planning and Development Services: 817-459-6502.
How do I get a quote?
Text or call (469) 340-2030. We chat on the phone, take a look at the job, and send you a free quote.
From the Trinity to South of I-20
We serve homes across Arlington: north of I-30 toward the Trinity River, the middle of town around downtown and UT Arlington, the east side toward Grand Prairie, the west side by Lake Arlington, and the south side past I-20.
ZIP Codes We Serve
- 76001
- 76002
- 76006
- 76010
- 76011
- 76012
- 76013
- 76014
- 76015
- 76016
- 76017
- 76018
- Google Rating
- 5.0
- Google Reviews
- 76
Arlington Neighborhood Pages
Read our Viridian page for local details, or our North Arlington page for homes and rentals north of I-30.
Our Services in Arlington, TX
Trimming · Removal · StumpsTree Service
Tree trimming, removal and stump grinding. Ask the city about removal rules for your lot and project.
Sod · Mulch · MakeoversLandscaping
Sod, mulch, beds and yard cleanup. Check the city's midday lawn irrigation limit.
Install · Repair · GatesFencing
New fences, repairs, gates and staining. A new fence needs a permit, and pine pickets need metal posts.
Tile · Showers · VanitiesBathroom Remodeling
Shower remodels, bathroom tile, vanities and fixtures. The city lists bath remodels as permit work.
Counters · Cabinets · TileKitchen Remodeling
Countertops, backsplashes and kitchen remodels. Counters, cabinets and tile alone need no building permit.
Tile · Trim · ClosetsHome Remodeling
Interior renovations, tile, carpentry, trim, built-ins and closets for Arlington homes of every age.
Interior · Exterior · TrimPainting
Interior and exterior painting. The city's building code lists painting as work that needs no permit.
Additions · Rehabs · FramingGeneral Contracting
Whole-home and rental rehabs, additions and framing. An addition cannot sit inside a required setback.
Custom Decks · Built to LastDecks
Custom wood decks. Arlington's list of permit-free work does not name decks, so check with the city first.
Pergolas · StructuresOutdoor Living
Pergolas and storage sheds. A shed over 100 square feet needs a permit and room off the lot lines.
Two Soils, Native Oaks and Ten Watersheds
Arlington sits on two kinds of ground. The Handbook of Texas places Blackland Prairie soil in the eastern part of the area and sandy loam in the western part. Blackland clay swells when wet and shrinks when dry, and the Texas Almanac says that can seriously damage foundations and other structures. The city code says a large area of the eastern Cross Timbers lies inside Arlington, with its native post oaks. The city also counts ten watersheds, among them Johnson, Rush and Village creeks. And hail and strong wind hit the Metroplex nearly every year.
Request a Quote
Tell Us About Your Lot
Tell us about clay or sand, large oaks or a creek behind your home when you text or call for a free quote.
Clay East, Sandy Loam West
Blackland clay swells when wet and shrinks when dry. Tell us which soil you have when you ask about a fence, deck or shed.
Large Oaks in the Yard
Post oaks, Texas oaks and blackjack oaks are the native trees the city code singles out. Tell us about large oaks near a planned deck or shed.
Creek and Lake Lots
Any development in a regulated flood zone needs a city floodplain permit first. That includes grading and fill, not only buildings.
Homes From the Long Boom
Arlington's population took off after 1950, and the turnpike and the Lake Arlington dam both came in 1957. We quote remodels for homes from every decade since.
New Sod in Summer
City ordinance says to run lawn irrigation before 10 a.m. or after 6 p.m. Plan new sod around early and late watering.
Cross Timbers Oaks and the One-Acre Line
Arlington's tree rules start with the Cross Timbers. The Unified Development Code says a large area of that ecosystem lies inside the city, and it singles out three native oaks: post oaks, Texas oaks and blackjack oaks.
Outside a development project, the code requires neither a tree removal permit nor mitigation on a lot under one acre with an occupied home. Other lots generally need a permit, and larger protected trees require a payment into the city's Reforestation Fund. General exemptions also apply. Ask Planning and Development Services about your lot and project first.
- Without an exemption, that payment covers trees from 6 caliper inches, the code's measure of trunk width, and Cross Timbers oaks from 3.
- Dead, dying or diseased trees are exempt once the city gets written notice and approves. Lots under one acre with an occupied home skip that step.
- The city's prohibited list includes common hackberry, cottonwood, white mulberry and Arizona ash. These species are not protected.
- Trees between the curb and your property line are yours to care for unless the city planted or maintains them.
Fence Permits, Heights and Front Yards
A new fence in Arlington needs a permit. So does replacing more than half of the fence along one property line. For a smaller repair, or one right at half, ask Planning and Development Services first, because city documents word that cutoff differently. Applications go through ArlingtonPermits.com with a site plan that marks the fence line, height and materials.
The Unified Development Code sets the limits. A privacy fence on a single-family lot may be up to 8 feet tall. Cedar and redwood are approved. Other wood pickets, such as pine, need metal posts, brackets and caps. New chain link is not allowed, though an existing chain link fence may be replaced with chain link. Front yards are stricter: a fence in the front setback tops out at 3 feet, or 4 feet for ornamental metal, and wood is not allowed there. Vinyl or composite open pickets need 50 percent visibility; ornamental metal needs 75 percent transparency.
- Next to a public street, the side with exposed posts and rails faces away from the street.
- Fences over 2 feet sit 5 feet back on a corner lot's street side, or 7.5 feet where the next home faces that side street. Ask the city planner.
- Townhouse blocks, lots of one acre or more, planned developments, some overlays and downtown have their own fence standards.
What City Hall Wants to See First
Arlington requires a permit to build, enlarge, alter or repair a structure, with exceptions. These include paint, tile, cabinets, countertops and similar finish work. A detached, one-story storage shed up to 100 square feet at a one- or two-family home is also exempt. Retaining walls up to 4 feet, measured from footing bottom to wall top, are exempt unless carrying loads or holding regulated liquids. Tiered walls have extra rules. Decks, patio covers and pergolas are not listed as exempt. Ask the city before building one.
Two more reviews can apply. A home in a regulated flood zone needs a Floodplain Development Permit for any development. In a Landmark Preservation Overlay, exterior changes need a Landmark Preservation Commission certificate, subject to repair and small accessory-building exemptions.
- Sheds stay behind the house's front line. Side and rear setbacks start at 5 feet, with larger setbacks for streets or tall walls. Ask the city.
- The city's homeowner guide says structures may not be placed inside setbacks.
- Planning and Development Services is at City Hall, 101 W. Abram Street, 817-459-6502.
North, Center, East, West and South
North of I-30, River Legacy Parks follows the West Fork of the Trinity River. The center of town holds downtown, UT Arlington and the 2,800-acre Entertainment District. It also holds two National Register historic districts: Old Town, roughly bounded by Sanford, Elm, North, Prairie and Oak streets, and the 500 and 600 blocks of South Center Street.
The east side runs toward Grand Prairie. On the west side, Lake Arlington sits on Village Creek, and the city owns the lake and draws water from it. Southwest of downtown, Pantego is its own town, surrounded by Arlington. Dalworthington Gardens, between I-30 and I-20, is another. Check with those towns, not Arlington, about permits there. South of I-20, the city runs on through ZIP codes 76001 and 76002.
What DFW Homeowners Are Saying
Arlington FAQ
Answers to common questions. Don’t see yours? Text or call and we will walk you through it.
Still Have Questions?
Send a text or give us a call. We are happy to talk through your project.
Call (469) 340-2030Do I need a permit to build or replace a fence in Arlington?
A new fence needs a permit. So does replacing more than half of the fence along one property line. For a smaller repair, or one right at half, ask Planning and Development Services first, because city documents word that cutoff differently. Pool barrier fencing is excluded from the repair exemption.
Can I cut down a tree in my own yard in Arlington?
Outside a development project, the city requires no tree removal permit or mitigation on a lot under one acre with an occupied home. Other lots and development projects have different rules and exemptions. Ask Planning and Development Services first. We quote tree removal, tree trimming and stump grinding.
What can I remodel in Arlington without a permit?
The building code's list is short: painting, wallpaper, tile, carpet, cabinets, countertops and similar finish work. New countertops and a backsplash alone need no building permit. The city's homeowner guide lists kitchen and bath remodels and wall removals as permit work.
What hours can construction happen at my Arlington home?
The building code limits outdoor work on jobs that have a building permit and sit within 300 feet of homes. It may not run from 6 p.m. to 7 a.m. in standard time, or 8 p.m. to 7 a.m. in daylight saving time. Homeowners doing their own work as their own contractor are excepted. The building official may grant other exceptions on appeal.
My lot backs up to a creek. What should I check before I build?
Check whether any of the lot is in a regulated flood zone. There, Arlington requires a Floodplain Development Permit for any development, which covers grading and fill as well as buildings. A remodel there that costs 25 percent or more of the building's market value counts as a substantial improvement and gets a closer review. Floodplain Management answers at 817-459-6550.
When is the best time to trim oak trees in Arlington?
Not from February through June. The Texas A&M Forest Service gives that advice statewide because of oak wilt, which enters through fresh wounds. It also says to paint every wound on an oak, whether from pruning or a storm. We quote oak tree trimming, damaged branch removal and storm damage tree removal.
Is my Arlington home in a historic district?
It may be. Arlington has National Register districts near downtown, and the city's landmark map also marks The Hill, its historic African American community. City review applies where a property is zoned Landmark Preservation Overlay. There, exterior changes need a certificate of appropriateness first. Exemptions cover accessory buildings under 320 square feet and ordinary repairs keeping historic style, design, structure, materials, main color and texture. Ask the city about your address.
Let's Talk About Your Arlington Project.
Text or call (469) 340-2030. We chat on the phone, take a look at the job, and send you a free quote.
- Free quotes
- Insured
- Family owned
