Key takeaways
- • Every municipality in the tri-county area requires a fence permit.
- • A current signed and sealed boundary survey with the fence line drawn to scale is the core of the application.
- • Front-yard height is commonly capped at 4 feet; side and rear typically allow 6.
- • Corner-lot visibility triangles and drainage easements are the most common rejection causes.
What the application package contains
Requirements vary in detail, not in substance.
- A current boundary survey, signed and sealed, showing the property lines and all easements.
- The fence line drawn to scale on that survey, with dimensions to property lines and setbacks noted.
- Material, style, height and color specification, often with a manufacturer cut sheet.
- Footer and post detail — some jurisdictions require an engineered detail for taller fences and all gates.
- HOA or architectural review approval letter where applicable.
- Contractor license and insurance documentation.
- Notice of commencement on jobs above the statutory threshold.
Height and placement rules you should know before designing
General practice across the region: 4 feet maximum in the front yard, 6 feet in side and rear yards, with taller permitted by variance or in certain commercial and agricultural zones. Corner lots have a visibility triangle at the intersection where nothing above about 30 inches may obstruct sight lines.
Easements matter more than people expect. Utility, drainage and lake maintenance easements are common in Broward and Palm Beach HOA communities, and a fence built inside one can be ordered removed at your expense — even years later.
Typical timelines
Over-the-counter approval exists in a few municipalities for simple residential fences. More commonly, expect 5 to 20 business days for review in Miami-Dade and Broward, and a similar or slightly faster window in many Palm Beach jurisdictions. Historic districts, coastal construction control line properties and estate towns with architectural review boards add weeks, sometimes months.
HOA architectural review runs on its own calendar, frequently a monthly committee meeting. Submitting the day after a meeting can cost four weeks. We check the meeting schedule before we submit.
Sunshine 811 and why it is not optional
Florida law requires notifying Sunshine 811 at least two full business days before digging. Utilities then mark their lines. Hitting an unmarked line is the utility's problem; hitting a marked line, or digging without a ticket, is yours — and in this region that can mean a fiber trunk or a gas service.
The three most common rejections
One: the survey is old and no longer reflects a re-platted lot or an added easement. Two: the fence crosses a drainage or lake maintenance easement. Three: corner-lot visibility triangle encroachment. All three are preventable in the first fifteen minutes of a site visit.
Questions we get on this topic
Can I install a fence without a permit in Florida?
No municipality in Miami-Dade, Broward or Palm Beach County exempts fences. Unpermitted work can trigger code enforcement, fines, forced removal and title problems at resale.
How long does a fence permit take?
Commonly 5 to 20 business days for residential review, plus HOA architectural review where applicable. Historic and coastal properties take longer.
Who pulls the permit — me or the contractor?
A licensed contractor should pull it, which keeps the liability and the inspection responsibility with the builder. IronLine Fence handles the entire package.
Do I need a survey?
Almost always. If yours is outdated or missing, budget roughly $350 to $700 for a new boundary survey — worth it, because it also protects you in any boundary dispute with a neighbor.