Pembroke Pines's Fence Regulations: The Rules That Matter

Every city handles fence regulations a little differently. In Pembroke Pines, 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.

Height Limits

Pembroke Pines caps residential fences, walls, and hedges at six feet along any lot line, rising to eight feet where the line borders nonresidential property, with height measured from grade. Near intersections the limit drops to two feet within 25 feet of crossing street lines, and a fence can never block a driver's line of sight, per City Code § 155.655(C)(1).

Key details: Standard residential limit: 6 ft along any lot line. Adjacent to nonresidential use: 8 ft allowed. Near street corners: 2 ft within 25 ft of intersection. R-MH front yard fence: 3 ft max, ≤50% opaque. Swale hedges/shrubs: 2 ft height cap.

Chapter 155 sets no separate fine for a fence-height violation, so the citywide general penalty in § 10.99 applies: up to a $500 fine, up to 90 days in jail, or both, and every day the oversized fence stands is treated as a separate offense. Police and Code Compliance officers enforce the height limits, and the city can order noncompliant fence work stopped mid-construction until the owner corrects it.

Neighbor Fence Rules

Pembroke Pines puts fence upkeep on whichever owner's property the fence sits on, not a shared neighbor obligation. City Code § 155.655 also requires the finished, good-looking side of a new fence to face the abutting property, adjacent property, or the street whenever feasible, with the owner keeping the structure safe and presentable year-round.

Key details: Maintenance duty: Falls on owner where fence sits. Finished side rule: Must face neighbor/street when feasible. Exception review: Planning & Econ. Dev. Director. Cost-splitting rule: None; not required by this section. Required upkeep tasks: Painting, pressure washing, pruning, repair.

Chapter 155 sets no separate fine for a neglected or misoriented fence, so the citywide general penalty in § 10.99 applies: up to a $500 fine, up to 90 days in jail, or both, with each day the fence remains out of compliance counted as a separate offense. Code Compliance officers issue notices of violation and can refer unresolved cases to the Code Enforcement Board or a special magistrate.

Material Restrictions

Pembroke Pines bans barbed wire and barbed-wire-topped fencing on residential property citywide, except in the low-density R-E and A zoning districts. The same ban covers community facility, recreation, and commercial zoned land; only industrial-zoned parcels can add barbed wire, and only after clearing the city's development review process, per § 155.655(C)(1)(h) and (C)(2)(e)-(f).

Key details: Barbed wire: Banned on residential land citywide. Residential exception zones: R-E and A districts only. Nonresidential ban: Community facility, recreation, commercial. Industrial exception: Allowed only via development review. R-MH front-yard fence material: Decorative aluminum or wood only.

Chapter 155 does not set a separate fine for using a banned fence material, so the citywide general penalty in § 10.99 applies: up to a $500 fine, up to 90 days in jail, or both, with each day the noncompliant fence remains standing counted as a separate offense. The Planning and Economic Development Department can also halt construction that uses a prohibited material before it is completed.

Compared to other cities, Pembroke Pines takes a harder line on material restrictions. The enforcement and penalty structure reflects that.

The Bottom Line

Pembroke Pines'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 Pembroke Pines is broadly strict or permissive.

Keep in mind that Pembroke Pines 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.