Fence Regulations in Fort Lauderdale, FL

Fort Lauderdale maintains 131 local ordinances across all categories, and 3 of those deal specifically with fence regulations. Here is a breakdown of what the city actually requires, what is prohibited, and where Fort Lauderdale falls on the strict-to-permissive spectrum compared to other cities.

Fence Permit Requirements

A building permit is required to erect, alter, or replace a fence or wall in Fort Lauderdale, obtained through the Development Services Department's LauderBuild portal, and the fence must also comply with the zoning standards of ULDR Section 47-19.5 (height, setback, transparency, finish, and sight triangle).

Key details: Permitting authority: Fort Lauderdale Development Services / Building Services. Permit basis: FBC Sec. 105.1; Fla. Stat. Sec. 553.79. Zoning standard: ULDR Sec. 47-19.5. Submittal portal: LauderBuild (digital). Temporary construction fence: ULDR Sec. 47-19.5.J.

Erecting a fence or wall without the required building permit can trigger stop-work orders, after-the-fact permit fees, and Code Compliance penalties; a fence that violates the zoning standards of Section 47-19.5 must be modified or removed and may accrue daily Special Magistrate fines until brought into compliance.

Height Limits

Under Fort Lauderdale ULDR Section 47-19.5, fence, wall, and hedge heights are governed by Table 1: in residential districts fences and walls run from 2.5 feet up to 6.5 feet (chain link up to 6.5 feet), and across residential and non-residential districts fences, walls, and hedges may reach up to 10 feet, with all heights measured from grade.

Key details: City Code Section: ULDR Sec. 47-19.5.B (Table 1). Residential fence/wall max: 6 ft 6 in. Residential chain link max: 6 ft 6 in. Overall fence/wall/hedge max: 10 ft. Height measured: From grade per Sec. 47-2.2.G.

Fences exceeding the Table 1 height or built without the required setback are zoning violations enforced by the City's Code Compliance Division, which can issue notices of violation, abatement orders, and Special Magistrate fines, and require modification or removal.

Material Restrictions

Fort Lauderdale ULDR Section 47-19.5 prohibits barbed wire on residential and most property (with narrow industrial and construction-site exceptions), requires walls to be finished on both sides and fences finished on the street-facing side, and bars required fences from being chain link unless specifically permitted.

Key details: City Code Section: ULDR Sec. 47-19.5.D, E, H. Barbed wire: Prohibited except I/U/B-2/B-3 storage and construction sites. Wall finish: Finished both sides, industry-standard materials. Fence finish: Finished side facing neighbor or right-of-way. Required fence material: No chain link unless specifically permitted.

Installing barbed wire where prohibited, leaving an unfinished street-facing side, or using chain link where a finished fence is required are zoning violations subject to Code Compliance Division notices, abatement, and Special Magistrate fines until corrected.

The Bottom Line

Fort Lauderdale'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 Fort Lauderdale is broadly strict or permissive.

This guide is based on Fort Lauderdale's current municipal code. Local rules can and do change, so check the individual ordinance pages for the latest details, penalties, and FAQs.