Fence Regulations in Winter Haven, FL (2026)
4 verified fence regulations for Winter Haven, Florida, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Height Limits
Winter Haven caps fence and wall height by zoning district under Unified Land Development Code Section 21-68(d)(1): four feet in the front yard and six feet in side and rear yards across every residential district plus MX, C-1 and C-2. Commercial and industrial districts C-3, C-4, I-1 and I-2 allow eight feet in any yard, while PI, PR and CN districts carry no height cap.
Winter Haven Fence Height Limits
Some RestrictionsWinter Haven Unified Land Development Code § 21-68(d)(1)
(d)No fences or walls shall be installed, constructed, or erected without complying with the following regulations:(1)All fences and walls, except those exempted by this section, shall adhere to the following maximum height standards: Zoning Districts Fence/Wall Location Maximum Height AG, RE, R-1, R-2, R-3, R-4, R-5, RM, MX, C-1, C-2 Front Yard 4 feet AG, RE, R-1, R-2, R-3, R-4, R-5, RM, MX, C...
Fence Permit Requirements
Winter Haven requires a City permit for every wall regardless of height and for any permanent fence over six feet, under Unified Land Development Code Section 21-68(a). The permit application must include a site plan showing the fence's or wall's location relative to property lines and easements and its height, and taller structures must be engineered to the Florida State Building Code's wind-load standards.
Winter Haven Fence Permit Requirements
Some RestrictionsWinter Haven Unified Land Development Code § 21-68(a)
(a)Permitting. All walls of any height and permanent fences over six (6) feet in height shall require a permit from the City. Applications for a permit shall include a plan which details the proposed wall or fence, including location in relation to property lines and easements, height, as well as any other information deemed necessary by the City for reviewing the application. Walls of any heig...
Retaining Walls
Retaining walls in Winter Haven must sit at least five feet back from the property line under Unified Land Development Code Section 21-68(g), and any repair to an existing retaining wall requires a City building permit under Section 21-68(f). Owners must also keep every retaining wall maintained to its original designed condition.
Winter Haven Retaining Wall Setback Rules
Some RestrictionsWinter Haven Unified Land Development Code § 21-68(f)-(g)
(f)The following shall apply to any fence or wall, including those identified in Section 21-68(c): The property owner shall maintain any fence, wall, or retaining wall to its original designed condition. Missing boards, pickets, posts, gates, etc. shall be replaced in a timely manner with material of the same type, quality, and finish as the existing fence or wall. Repairs to all walls of any h...
Material Restrictions
Winter Haven bans razor wire, barbed wire, broken glass and electrically charged wire on fences citywide under Unified Land Development Code Section 21-68(d)(3), with narrow exceptions. C-4, I-1 and I-2 industrial districts may top a six-foot fence with three strands of barbed wire, and barbed wire is separately allowed in the AG agricultural district; every other zoning district, including all residential ones, must go without it.
Winter Haven Barbed Wire Fence Rules
Some RestrictionsWinter Haven Unified Land Development Code § 21-68(d)(3)
(3)Except for fences in the C-4, I-1 and I-2 zoning districts, no fence shall contain any substance designed or reasonably likely to inflict injury to any person or animal, including, but not limited to, razor or barbed wire, glass or electrically charged wire. In C-4, I-1 and I-2 zoning districts, three (3) strands of barbed wire may be used on top of a six-foot fence. Barbed wire may also be ...
Looking for Polk County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Winter Haven city rules.
Fence Regulations in Polk County →