Do I need a permit for fence installation or replacement in Fort Lauderdale?
Yes. In Florida, fence installation or replacement generally requires a permit, and Fort Lauderdale is no exception.
There is no statewide fence permit rule in Florida, so requirements are set locally. Some jurisdictions exempt common fences below a set height, such as chain-link or wood fences up to a certain height, while others require a permit for essentially all new residential fences. Height, setback, and corner sight-triangle rules apply everywhere, and HOA rules may add more.
Local detail for Fort Lauderdale: Online permitting via LauderBuild (Accela Citizen Access).
Florida and local notes for Fort Lauderdale
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. Fort Lauderdale's Fence/Wall/Gate checklist lists a building permit with Building, Zoning, and Landscaping review. Residential fences are on the city's walk-thru list as a Zoning permit. Under ULDR Sec. 47-19.5, residential fences can reach 6 feet 6 inches. A street-facing fence over 4 feet 4 inches, or over 2 feet 6 inches and less than 75 percent open, must average a 3 foot setback from the property line. The strip between a street-facing fence and the property line must be planted with hedges, shrubs, and groundcover under ULDR 47-19.5.C, and the plantings must appear on the site plan. Opaque fences are limited to 2 feet 6 inches in a sight triangle and within 10 feet of a waterway edge. Wood and chain link fences follow the Florida Building Code's prescribed methods unless engineered.
Documents you may need
- Permit application (where required)Sometimes required
- Site plan or survey showing fence location and property linesLikely required
- Easement acknowledgement (if in an easement)Sometimes required
- Product approval or Notice of Acceptance documentation for HVHZ rated materialsSometimes required
- Building permit application (electrical permit if lighting or gates are powered)Likely required
- Current survey (signed and sealed, or a copy with a notarized Zoning Affidavit) and site plan with setbacksLikely required
- Signed and sealed plans for PVC or metal fencesSometimes required
- Chain Link Fence Table for chain link fencesSometimes required
- Recorded Temporary Structure Affidavit if the fence is in an easementSometimes required
Possible inspections
- Setback or post-location inspection (some jurisdictions)
- Final inspection
- Post hole or footing inspection
Frequently asked questions
- Do I need a permit for fence installation or replacement in Fort Lauderdale?
- Yes. In Florida, fence installation or replacement generally requires a permit, and Fort Lauderdale is no exception. The documents and inspections sections on this page list what the building department typically asks for.
- Who issues the permit in Fort Lauderdale?
- The local building department for Fort Lauderdale handles permitting. This page lists its contact details and online portal. Your mailing city is not always the permitting authority, so confirm the jurisdiction before you apply.
- How do I find out the exact requirements for my project?
- Run the free PermitRoadmap check for your specific project and answers. It returns the likely permits, documents, inspections, and next steps, each linked to its official source.
PermitRoadmap is an independent informational service and is not affiliated with any city, county, state agency, or permitting authority. Results are informational and do not replace confirming requirements with the local permitting authority.