How Florissant Handles Fence Regulations: A Practical Guide

Florissant maintains 29 local ordinances across all categories, and 2 of those deal specifically with fence regulations. Here is a breakdown of what the city actually requires, what is prohibited, and where Florissant falls on the strict-to-permissive spectrum compared to other cities.

Height Limits

Florissant's Zoning Code (Chapter 405) caps residential fences at 6 feet in side and rear yards in all R districts. No fence is permitted in the required front yard except by Planning and Zoning Commission review. A fence permit from the Building Commissioner is required before construction.

Key details: Side/Rear Yard Max: 6 feet. Front Yard Fence: P&Z review required. Corner Lot Rule: No fence forward of street-side building line. Permit Required: Yes - Building Commissioner. Application Includes: Sketch, type, design, color, location.

Erecting a fence without a permit, exceeding the 6-foot residential height cap, or installing a front-yard fence without Planning and Zoning Commission approval violates Florissant's Zoning Code. Code enforcement may issue stop-work orders, citations, and fines, and require removal or modification of the fence at the owner's expense.

Neighbor Fence Rules

MO Rev. Stat. §272.010 provides partition fence cost-sharing for rural/agricultural land. Urban residential: each owner responsible for their own fence.

Key details: Rural: Cost-sharing statute (§272). Urban: Each owner responsible. Disputes: Fence viewers (rural). Written Agreement: Recommended.

Civil dispute for cost-sharing in urban areas. Rural: fence viewer adjudication per §272. Property line encroachments: survey and civil remedy.

The Bottom Line

Florissant's fence regulations rules are a mixed bag. Some areas are strict, others are relaxed, and the details matter. The best approach is to check the specific rule that applies to your situation rather than assuming Florissant is broadly strict or permissive.

Keep in mind that Florissant can amend these rules at any council meeting. For the most current version of any rule mentioned here, check the specific ordinance page, where we track updates as they happen.