Fence Regulations in Kissimmee, FL

If you live in Kissimmee or are thinking about moving there, fence regulations are one of those things you probably won't think about until they affect you directly. Kissimmee has 4 specific rules on the books covering different aspects of fence regulations, and some of them might surprise you.

Height Limits

Front-yard fences in Kissimmee top out at three feet (six for open decorative or retaining designs), side and rear fences at six feet, and none may block corner sight-visibility triangles.

Key details: Front yard (solid): 3 ft max. Front yard (open/decorative): Up to 6 ft. Side/rear yard: 6 ft, 10 ft w/ approval. Corner lots: No fence in visibility triangle.

A solid front-yard fence over three feet without director approval, or any fence, front, side or rear, built inside the required sight-visibility triangle at a street corner, violates Kissimmee's fence standards.

Retaining Walls

Kissimmee exempts retaining walls from its standard three-foot front-yard wall height cap, but every retaining wall still needs a building permit under the same fences-and-walls section of the code.

Key details: Permit required: any wall, including retaining walls. Front yard cap: 3 ft (waived for retaining walls). Director may approve: up to 6 ft, unique topography. Governing section: LDC § 14-6-5.A, C.

Building a retaining wall without a city permit, or exceeding the height the director has approved for the site's topography, violates § 14-6-5 and can trigger a stop-work order.

Fence Permit Requirements

Kissimmee requires a building permit to erect any fence or wall anywhere in the city, per Land Development Code § 14-6-5.A. Height caps follow: six feet in side and rear yards, three feet in front yards (six feet for a mostly-open decorative fence), and the director can approve taller fences case by case for unique topography or outdoor-storage screening.

Key details: Permit: Required for any fence or wall. Side/rear yard height: 6 ft (10 ft with approval). Front yard height: 3 ft (6 ft if open/decorative). Chain link: Barred from front yards except schools. Barbed wire/electric: AC district agricultural use only.

Fences erected without the required permit, or built above these height limits, are Land Development Code violations. Disputes over a director's ruling go to the board of adjustment under § 14-3-2.A, which "hears and decides appeals where it is alleged there is error in any order, requirement, decision or determination made by the director in the enforcement of the Land Development Code," and uncorrected violations move to the code enforcement special magistrate under § 14-3-5.

Material Restrictions

Kissimmee limits fences to specific materials, aluminum, treated wood, vinyl, iron, chain link, concrete, brick or stone, and bans barbed wire and electric fencing everywhere except agricultural AC-district side and rear yards.

Key details: Allowed materials: aluminum, wood, vinyl, iron, chain link, masonry. Barbed/electric allowed: AC agricultural district only. Chain link: banned in front yards. Chain link slats: not allowed.

Installing barbed wire, electric fencing, or slatted/uncoated chain link outside the narrow AC-district allowance is a Land Development Code violation; code enforcement can require removal or replacement of the noncompliant fence.

The Bottom Line

Kissimmee'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 Kissimmee is broadly strict or permissive.

Keep in mind that Kissimmee 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.