Do I need a permit for fence installation or replacement in Deerfield Beach?

Florida and local notes for Deerfield Beach

Florida has no statewide list of building work exempt from a permit. Section 105.2 of the Florida Building Code, Building, exempts only certain gas, mechanical and plumbing work, so whether a fence needs a permit is decided by your local building department rather than by a state threshold. Even where no building permit is needed, zoning height, setback, corner-visibility, and HOA rules still apply. Cities set their own fence ordinances that can differ from the county. Fences in an easement may require an acknowledgement and can be removed if a utility needs access. Fences are reviewed for HVHZ wind loads here, so height, material and post embedment matter more than in most of the state. Your city issues the permit, not the county. Broward's 31 municipal building departments each run their own permitting and inspections, while the county Board of Rules and Appeals sets code interpretation and the countywide amendments they all work from. The Broward County Amendments to the Florida Building Code, published by the Board of Rules and Appeals under the county charter, apply on top of the state code everywhere in the county. Individual cities can add their own amendments as well, so confirm both. Deerfield Beach's Fence Permit Requirements handout sets construction minimums for wood fences up to 6 feet: 4 by 4 posts spaced 4 feet on center, embedded 2 feet into a 10 inch diameter, 2 foot deep concrete footing, with the finish side facing out. Under LDC 98-75, in the RS-5, RS-7, and RM-10 districts no wall or fence is allowed in the required front yard (hedges up to 4 feet are allowed), corner yard fences must be set back 10 feet from the property line, and fences may not exceed 6 feet. No fence, wall, or hedge may be placed in the intersection sight triangle, and every part of a fence above or below grade must be inside the property line (LDC 98-75).