Do I need a permit for fence installation or replacement in Unincorporated Glades County?
Yes. In Florida, fence installation or replacement generally requires a permit, and Unincorporated Glades County 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 Unincorporated Glades County: Glades County Building Division (within Community Development). Building Official: Judson Dulany; Director: Susan BuChans (sbuchans@myglades.com). Regulations apply within unincorporated Glades County only.
Florida and local notes for Unincorporated Glades County
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. Glades County's own permitting office is the Glades County Community Development - Building Division, reachable on (863) 946-6018 at https://www.myglades.com/departments/community_development/building_department/index.php. Its online permit portal is https://gladescounty.portal.iworq.net/portalhome/gladescounty. It issues permits for the unincorporated county. If your city does not run its own building department, and many smaller Florida municipalities do not, this is the office that will handle the job. Fences are usually a zoning review rather than a building permit, and the zoning office may be separate from the building office. Glades County Code Sec. 125-218(a) requires a building permit before any gate, fence, or wall is erected, with a sketch, materials, height, and a survey showing the location. Farm fences qualifying under s. 604.50, Florida Statutes, are exempt. In residential areas fences may not exceed six feet in side or rear yards. On corner and double-frontage lots the limit is four feet in the front yard facing the front door and six feet in the other front yard if it meets the front setback. Electrified, corrugated metal, sheet aluminum, and barbed wire fences are prohibited in residential areas (barbed wire is allowed only in agricultural zoning), as are tires, pallets, plywood, and similar materials. On a waterbody, no fence over four feet may be within ten feet of the mean high water line, seawall, or property line. Access gates must be set back 20 feet from the property line on parcels of one-half acre or more; smaller parcels are exempt and existing homes that cannot meet it may request an administrative waiver.
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
- Glades County Building Permit Application (notarized), submitted through the county's iWorQ permit portal or at Community DevelopmentLikely required
- Sketch or design with materials and heightLikely required
- Survey showing the fence location (an existing signed survey may be used)Likely required
Possible inspections
- Setback or post-location inspection (some jurisdictions)
- Final inspection
Frequently asked questions
- Do I need a permit for fence installation or replacement in Unincorporated Glades County?
- Yes. In Florida, fence installation or replacement generally requires a permit, and Unincorporated Glades County is no exception. The documents and inspections sections on this page list what the building department typically asks for.
- Who issues the permit in Unincorporated Glades County?
- The local building department for Unincorporated Glades County 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.