Fort Lauderdale, FL Local Ordinances Guide

Fort Lauderdale is a mid-sized city in Broward County, Florida, with about 183000 residents. Like most cities its size, it has a set of local rules that may differ significantly from neighboring municipalities. Here is an overview of 131 ordinances across 38 categories that affect daily life in Fort Lauderdale.

Landscaping Rules

Weed Ordinances: Fort Lauderdale Code Section 18-3 defines 'overgrowth' as lawn, grass or weeds in excess of six (6) inches in height, and Section 18-12 declares any overgrowth of lawn, grass, weeds or foliage on a property a public nuisance the owner must abate..

Also covered: Tree Trimming (moderate), Water Restrictions (moderate), Native Plants (permissive). See the full landscaping rules guide for Fort Lauderdale for details.

Parking Rules

Commercial & Oversized Vehicles: Fort Lauderdale ULDR sec. 47-34.4 prohibits parking or storing commercial vehicles or commercial watercraft in or upon any right-of-way or waterway within any residentially zoned district.

Also covered: Street Parking Limits (moderate), Abandoned Vehicles (moderate), Driveway Rules (moderate). See the full parking rules guide for Fort Lauderdale for details.

Fence Regulations

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..

Also covered: Fence Permit Requirements (moderate), Material Restrictions (moderate). See the full fence regulations guide for Fort Lauderdale for details.

Accessory Structures

ADU Rules: Fort Lauderdale permits an accessory dwelling (granny flat) only as an accessory to a single-family home in specified residential districts (RS-8, RD-15, RM-15 and others), capped at one bedroom/one bath or an efficiency and no larger than 600 square feet or 49% of the principal home, whichever is less..

Also covered: Garage Conversions (moderate). See the full accessory structures guide for Fort Lauderdale for details.

Home Business

Signage Rules: Fort Lauderdale's ULDR Sec. 47-19.7 prohibits any exterior advertising or signage for a home occupation: there must be no external evidence of the business visible from outside the residence.

Also covered: Cottage Food Operations (permissive), Zoning & Home Occupation Permits (moderate). See the full home business guide for Fort Lauderdale for details.

Swimming Pools & Spas

Fencing & Safety Requirements: Under Fort Lauderdale Code of Ordinances Chapter 18, it is a public nuisance to maintain a swimming pool, spa, or hot tub with non-working equipment, stagnant water, accumulated garbage or solid waste, or water so cloudy the deepest point is not clearly visible, and owners can be cited and ordered to abate the condition..

Also covered: Pool Permits (moderate). See the full swimming pools & spas guide for Fort Lauderdale for details.

Fire Regulations

Outdoor Burning: Fort Lauderdale's open burning is governed primarily by Broward County and Florida rules. Residential burning of yard trash and household paper is prohibited in Broward County, and most other open burning requires fire-authority approval and large setbacks.

Also covered: Fire Pits & Backyard Fires (moderate), Propane Storage (moderate), Fireworks (moderate). See the full fire regulations guide for Fort Lauderdale for details.

Short-Term Rentals

Short-Term Rental Permits: Fort Lauderdale requires every single-family through four-family dwelling rented to transient occupants for periods under 30 days to register annually as a vacation rental and obtain a city Certificate of Compliance before it may be advertised or occupied..

Also covered: Night Caps (permissive), Repeat Violator Strikes (restrictive), Taxes & Fees (moderate). See the full short-term rentals guide for Fort Lauderdale for details.

Animal Ordinances

Bird Protection: Fort Lauderdale makes it a citywide offense to shoot, trap, or otherwise kill or destroy birds. Code section 6-10 carries only two exceptions: state game wardens acting officially, and licensed veterinarians or people working under a veterinarian's direct supervision.

Also covered: Pet Limits (moderate), Dog Leash Laws (moderate), Breed Restrictions (permissive). See the full animal ordinances guide for Fort Lauderdale for details.

Noise Ordinances

Amplified Music & Outdoor Sound: Section 17-7(1) bars amplified sound from residential property that is plainly audible for one minute or longer at 25 feet from the property line (10 p.m.-7 a.m.) or 50 feet (7 a.m.-10 p.m.). Commercial/mixed-use amplified sound is capped at 60 dBC (noon-10 p.m.) and 55 dBC (10 p.m.-noon) inside a complainant's premises..

Also covered: Quiet Hours (moderate), Vehicle Noise (moderate), Barking Dogs (moderate). See the full noise ordinances guide for Fort Lauderdale for details.

Rental Property Rules

Rental Registration: Fort Lauderdale requires landlords of non-owner-occupied residential rentals to register with the Development Services Department under the Landlord Registration Program, Code ch. 9, art.

Also covered: Repairs & Habitability (moderate), Just Cause Eviction (permissive). See the full rental property rules guide for Fort Lauderdale for details.

Sign Regulations

Political Signs: Fort Lauderdale treats campaign signs as temporary election-related signs under Sec. 25-24 of the Code of Ordinances.

Also covered: Garage Sale Signs (limited), Window Signs (moderate). See the full sign regulations guide for Fort Lauderdale for details.

Public Health Rules

Rodent Control: Fort Lauderdale's Minimum Housing Code makes occupants, owners and operators jointly responsible for exterminating rodents and vermin in the units and shared areas they control. The duty applies to dwellings, dwelling units, hotels and rooming houses citywide under Code ch.

Code Violation Reporting

How to Report: A Fort Lauderdale code inspector who finds a Code violation must give written notice and a correction window before escalating to a hearing, under Code ch. 11, art.

Also covered: Common Violations (moderate). See the full code violation reporting guide for Fort Lauderdale for details.

Homelessness & Encampment Rules

Encampment Sanitation: Fort Lauderdale bans camping or sleeping on any public property citywide unless a governmental authority expressly allows it. Officers must offer shelter or medical referral first, then confiscated belongings are held 30 days before being treated as abandoned under Sec.

Also covered: Sit-Lie Rules (restrictive). See the full homelessness & encampment rules guide for Fort Lauderdale for details.

Public Conduct

Aggressive Panhandling: Fort Lauderdale folds panhandling directly into its disorderly conduct offense. Sec.

Also covered: Public Alcohol Use (restrictive), Outdoor Smoking Restrictions (strict), Public Urination (restrictive). See the full public conduct guide for Fort Lauderdale for details.

Outdoor Lighting

Dark Sky Rules: Fort Lauderdale requires new construction visible from the beach to shield or eliminate light that could disorient nesting sea turtles. Code section 6-49 sets 13 design standards, from fully shielded downlight fixtures and 50-watt bug-type bulbs to tinted glass and low-mounted balcony lights, so that no artificial light illuminates the beach or dune system during nesting season..

Also covered: Light Trespass & Shielding (moderate). See the full outdoor lighting guide for Fort Lauderdale for details.

Soliciting & Door-to-Door

Solicitor Permits: Fort Lauderdale requires anyone going door to door selling goods, wares, merchandise or services to hold a permit from the city's chief license inspector before making a single knock. Uninvited solicitation is limited to 8:00 a.m.

Also covered: No-Knock Registry (moderate). See the full soliciting & door-to-door guide for Fort Lauderdale for details.

Building Safety

Fire Sprinkler Requirements: Fort Lauderdale's fire chief can order partial or full sprinkler, standpipe or fire alarm systems installed in multifamily buildings, condominiums, hotels and similar occupancies that carry hazards not already covered by the Florida Building Code, under Code Sec. 13-58..

Also covered: Childcare Center Rules (moderate), Elevator Maintenance (moderate), Building Permits (moderate). See the full building safety guide for Fort Lauderdale for details.

Mobility & Curb Rules

Shared E-Scooter Rules: Shared scooter operators need a city permit under section 27-264, capped at three permits for up to 500 scooters each and an annual fee of $62,500, and scooters are banned outright from the barrier island, the Las Olas Boulevard corridor, and Riverwalk Park under the no-ride zones in section 27-266(12)..

Also covered: Bike Lane Rules (moderate), Red-Light Cameras (moderate). See the full mobility & curb rules guide for Fort Lauderdale for details.

Food Trucks & Mobile Vendors

Sidewalk & Mobile Vending: Fort Lauderdale outlaws selling food, drinks or merchandise from any public street or sidewalk under Sec. 23-95(3).

Also covered: Vending Zones (restrictive), Food Truck Permits (moderate). See the full food trucks & mobile vendors guide for Fort Lauderdale for details.

Trash & Recycling

Illegal Dumping: Dumping solid waste on streets, beaches, waterways, city property or someone else's private land without consent is unlawful under Code sec. 24-7.

Also covered: Pickup Rules & Schedules (moderate), Recycling Rules (moderate), Recycling Requirements (moderate). See the full trash & recycling guide for Fort Lauderdale for details.

Special Events & Permits

Sidewalk Dining & Cafés: Placing tables, chairs, or umbrellas on a public sidewalk to operate as or alongside a Fort Lauderdale business requires a sidewalk café permit from development services under Sec. 25-181.

Also covered: Park Event Permits (restrictive), Parklets (restrictive), Block Party Permits (restrictive). See the full special events & permits guide for Fort Lauderdale for details.

Rental Inspections

Tenant Complaint Process: Fort Lauderdale's Minimum Housing Code lets the city, as enforcing agency, inspect any dwelling, dwelling unit, hotel or rooming house and adjacent premises to check compliance under Code of Ordinances Sec. 9-257(a).

Also covered: Inspection Programs (moderate). See the full rental inspections guide for Fort Lauderdale for details.

Garage & Yard Sales

Frequency, Duration & Permits: A Fort Lauderdale household gets three garage sales a year, period. Sec.

Noise from Specific Sources

Generator Noise: Fort Lauderdale limits emergency generator testing to 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Also covered: HVAC & Mechanical Noise (moderate), Bar & Nightclub Noise (moderate). See the full noise from specific sources guide for Fort Lauderdale for details.

Property Maintenance

Property Blight: A vacant Fort Lauderdale building with broken, missing or unsecured openings is a declared public nuisance under Code Sec. 18-7.

Hurricane Preparedness

Flood Elevation: Fort Lauderdale parcels that sit seaward of the state's coastal construction control line and also fall inside a mapped flood hazard area face a stricter build standard under Code Sec. 14-10(b): the more restrictive of Florida Building Code Section 3109 or Section 1612, or Residential Section R322, plus ASCE 24 for smaller structures.

Local Taxes & Fees

Business Tax Classification: Fort Lauderdale taxes each trade or profession under its own named classification in City Code Sec. 15-57, from Accountant to Yacht Broker, with a set dollar fee per category.

Environmental Rules

Boat Dock Permits: Fort Lauderdale prohibits private docks on city-owned waterway frontage, including street ends, municipal parks and licensed dock areas, unless the city commission grants a dock permit by resolution under Code of Ordinances Sec. 8-144.

Also covered: Flood Zones (moderate), Flood Elevation Requirements (moderate), Stormwater Management (moderate). See the full environmental rules guide for Fort Lauderdale for details.

Solar Energy

Panel Permits: Fort Lauderdale requires a Go SOLAR permit for rooftop photovoltaic systems, priced under Code of Ordinances Sec. 9-48(d)(2) at a flat $552.00 permit fee plus a $52.00 reinspection fee, both inclusive of the credit card convenience charge.

Also covered: HOA Restrictions (permissive). See the full solar energy guide for Fort Lauderdale for details.

Business Licensing & Operations

Tobacco Retail License: Fort Lauderdale bars tobacco and vape retailers from selling to anyone under 21, requires ID checks and a posted warning sign, and bans self-service display of e-cigarettes and liquid nicotine unless the store restricts entry to adults. Article VIII, adopted in 2019, escalates penalties from a warning to $1,000 per violation..

Also covered: Tattoo & Body Modification (moderate), Secondhand Dealers (moderate), Adult Entertainment (restrictive). See the full business licensing & operations guide for Fort Lauderdale for details.

Sidewalk & Pedestrian Rules

Encroachment Permits: Anyone wanting to build in a Fort Lauderdale street, alley or other public right-of-way needs a permit from the city engineer first. Sec.

Also covered: Sidewalk Repair (moderate), Obstruction Rules (restrictive). See the full sidewalk & pedestrian rules guide for Fort Lauderdale for details.

Tree Protection

Parkway Planting: Planting, pruning, or removing a tree, shrub, or vine on a Fort Lauderdale street or in a city park requires a written permit from the city manager or the parks and recreation director. Sec.

Water Use Rules

Recycled Water Rules: Fort Lauderdale treats reclaimed water as a cross-connection hazard, not a free substitute for potable supply. Code section 28-153 requires a dual check valve, double check valve or reduced-pressure backflow assembly at every service connection tied to an auxiliary or reclaimed water system, sized to the hazard classification the reclaimed source carries under Chapter 62-610, F.A.C..

Cannabis Regulations

Dispensary Zoning: Fort Lauderdale permits medical marijuana dispensaries only in B-1 (Boulevard Business), B-2 (General Business), and B-3 (Heavy Commercial/Light Industrial) zoning districts under ULDR Section 47-18.46. Dispensaries must maintain distance buffers from sensitive uses..

Also covered: Home Cultivation (strict). See the full cannabis regulations guide for Fort Lauderdale for details.

Curfew Laws

Juvenile Curfew: Fort Lauderdale enforces a juvenile curfew under Section 16-81 of the Code of Ordinances. Minors under 16 must be off public streets from 11 PM to 5 AM Sunday through Thursday, and from 12:01 AM to 6 AM on weekends and legal holidays..

Drone Rules

Commercial Drones: Commercial drone operations in Fort Lauderdale are governed primarily by FAA Part 107 regulations. Florida law preempts most local drone flight path regulation, but operators must obtain an FAA Remote Pilot Certificate and comply with Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport airspace restrictions..

What to Do With This Information

This overview covers the big picture, but the details matter. Each ordinance page for Fort Lauderdale includes the full text, violation penalties, and frequently asked questions. Use those pages when you need specifics.