Ask anyone who's lived in Corpus Christi about fences and the conversation turns to wind. Wikipedia notes the city has one of the highest average wind speeds of any coastal city in North America, which is why the bay draws windsurfers and sailors. A fence here lives with that wind every day, then faces the occasional hurricane: 1919, Celia in 1970, Allen in 1980, Harvey in 2017, Hanna in 2020.
Solid vs. open fences
| Style | Wind load | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Solid privacy (wood or vinyl) | Highest | Needs the strongest posts and fastening |
| Board-on-board with gaps / semi-privacy | Medium | Some air passes; still private |
| Ornamental iron or aluminum | Low | Wind passes through |
| Chain link (no slats) | Low | Slats add load |
Building a windproof privacy fence
- Deep posts with concrete, and consider steel posts.
- Three rails on a 6-foot fence.
- Corrosion-resistant screws or nails, since salt air eats plain steel.
- Tight post spacing on exposed runs.
- Stay at 7 feet or under unless you're ready for an engineered design and permit.
Before hurricane season
- Walk the fence and push on each post; fix loose ones before a storm finds them.
- Trim limbs over the fence line.
- Check that gates latch.
Sources
- Wikipedia: Corpus Christi, Texas
- City of Corpus Christi Development Services: Homeowner's Guide to Permitting
Checked November 10, 2026. City rules and price surveys change; trust the linked original.