Hollywood's Fence Regulations: The Rules That Matter

Every city handles fence regulations a little differently. In Hollywood, Florida, there are 3 distinct rules that residents and property owners should be aware of. Some are stricter than what neighboring cities enforce, and others are more relaxed. Here is what you need to know.

Retaining Walls

Hollywood bars anyone from building, altering or repairing a retaining wall on land next to a canal, lake or other waterway without a city-approved permit backed by plans an engineer registered in Florida has designed. In already-developed shoreline areas the wall must hold a uniform height and use permanent, rot- and rust-resistant material such as concrete, coral rock or corrosion-resisting steel.

Key details: Permit required: Before building, altering or repairing. Design requirement: Florida-registered engineer must prepare plans. Developed areas: Uniform height, rot/rust-resistant material only. Approving agency: City Engineer approves plans. Governing sections: §§ 150.20-150.23 and § 155.07.

Chapter 150 carries no dedicated penalty clause for the Retaining Walls subchapter, so the code's general penalty in § 10.99 controls: a violation is punishable by a fine up to $500, up to 60 days imprisonment, or both. Under § 10.99(C), a wall built without the required permit or engineer-stamped design is treated as a public nuisance subject to city abatement, and § 10.99(D) makes each day the noncompliant wall remains a separate violation. Without the § 150.22 engineer's design on file, § 150.23 blocks permit issuance outright.

Height Limits

Hollywood caps residential fences and walls at four feet in the front yard and six feet along side and rear lines, rising to eight feet where a rear or side yard backs onto non-residentially zoned land. Non-residential zones allow eight feet on every yard. Near street corners the limit drops to two feet inside the sightline triangle.

Key details: Residential front yard height: 4 feet. Residential side/rear yard height: 6 feet. Adjacent to non-residential zoning: 8 feet. Non-residential zone, all yards: 8 feet. Corner setback area height: 2 feet (4 ft with waiver).

A fence, wall, hedge or bush that exceeds these limits is a violation of Chapter 155, enforceable by the Engineering Department and subject to the general Chapter 155 penalty in § 155.99: a fine of up to $100 or up to 30 days in jail for each violation, in addition to any order to remove or lower the structure. The City Engineer's designee can also require removal of anything built inside the corner setback area that blocks sightlines.

Material Restrictions

Hollywood's zoning code bans barbed wire and similar sharp fencing materials in every zoning district except the city's Industrial and Manufacturing districts. Where barbed wire is allowed, its height counts toward the fence's overall maximum height, so a property cannot stack barbed wire on top of an already-maximum-height fence or wall.

Key details: Governing section: § 4.23.B.7.b. Rule: Barbed wire banned outside Industrial/Manufacturing. Where allowed: IM-1 through IM-4 districts only. Height treatment: Barbed wire height counts toward max fence height. Fence height limits: Set separately at City Code § 155.12.

Installing prohibited barbed wire is enforced the same way as any zoning violation: a Code Enforcement inspector issues a notice and a compliance deadline, and an uncorrected fence goes before a Special Magistrate under Chapter 36. Section 36.29(A)(1) authorizes a fine of up to $1,000 per day the barbed wire remains, rising to $5,000 per day for a repeat violation, plus the city's enforcement costs. Orders may be appealed to the Circuit Court within 30 days under § 36.29(D)(1).

This is one of the stricter rules in Hollywood's municipal code. If you are unsure whether your situation complies, it is worth checking with the city before proceeding.

The Bottom Line

Hollywood'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 Hollywood is broadly strict or permissive.

Keep in mind that Hollywood 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.