Fence Regulations in Tallahassee, FL

If you live in Tallahassee or are thinking about moving there, fence regulations are one of those things you probably won't think about until they affect you directly. Tallahassee has 3 specific rules on the books covering different aspects of fence regulations, and some of them might surprise you.

Retaining Walls

Retaining walls in Tallahassee cannot exceed 15 feet in height, and any wall two feet or taller needs a building permit. Land Development Code Sec. 5-87(3) also requires walls spaced apart by at least twice the height of the higher, abutting wall when terracing is used to step a slope.

Key details: Governing law: LDC § 5-87(3). Maximum height: 15 feet. Permit trigger: 2 feet or taller. Terraced wall spacing: 2x the height of the higher wall. Design life: Minimum 50 years (§ 5-86(f)(5)).

Building a retaining wall two feet or taller without first obtaining a building permit is a permitting violation the city catches through code enforcement inspection or at a subsequent building permit application for related work on the property; the wall can be required to come down or be permitted retroactively with engineering documentation. Retaining walls used within a stormwater facility that lack the required four-foot fence around steep side slopes violate Sec. 5-86(f)(3) and can hold up final approval of the stormwater permit.

Material Restrictions

Tallahassee's fence ordinance bans barbed wire on residential fences, wood or metal sheeting not built for fencing, and masonry blocks or bricks stacked without mortar. LDC § 3-401 treats each as a code violation enforced the same way as an undersized fence.

Key details: Barbed wire: Banned on residential fences, § 3-401(b)(1). Barbed wire exception: Atop chainlink fence, nonresidential use. Sheeting materials: Banned unless designed for fencing. Masonry: Must be mortared, not dry-stacked. Variance body: City-county board of adjustment and appeals.

Using barbed wire on a residential fence, unapproved sheeting, or unmortared masonry are each independently listed violations under § 3-401(b), enforced through the city's code enforcement process. Code-wide penalties under § 1-7 top out at a $500 fine, 60 days in jail, or both, with continuing violations counted as a separate offense for each day they persist. A variance from any of these material restrictions must go through the city-county board of adjustment and appeals under § 3-402.

Height Limits

Tallahassee treats any fence under four feet tall as a code violation under LDC § 3-401, alongside barbed wire and other unsafe fence materials. The rule is enforced as a public health, safety, and welfare standard rather than a zoning setback measurement.

Key details: Minimum fence height: 4 feet, LDC § 3-401(b)(2). Variance body: City-county board of adjustment and appeals. Related pool fence minimum: 4 feet, LDC § 3-433. Max code-wide penalty: $500 fine or 60 days jail.

A fence under four feet is a listed code violation under § 3-401(b)(2), enforced the same as barbed wire or prohibited fence materials. Violators can be cited through the code enforcement process, with general code-wide penalties under § 1-7 of up to a $500 fine, up to 60 days in jail, or both, and each day the violation continues counted as a separate offense. Variance requests go to the city-county board of adjustment and appeals under § 3-402.

The Bottom Line

Tallahassee'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 Tallahassee is broadly strict or permissive.

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