7 county-level rules, plus city-specific rules for 1 city in Duval County, Florida.
Verified from official government sources
Jacksonville-Duval Ordinance Code §656.407 limits fences to 4 ft in front yards and 6 ft in side/rear yards. Corner lots have sight-triangle restrictions. Fences over 6 ft require a building permit and may need zoning review.
Fences over 6 ft tall, fences in the sight triangle, pool barriers, and retaining walls over 4 ft in Duval County require a building permit from Jacksonville Building Inspection Division. Typical fee: $75-$150. Fences under 6 ft in compliance with §656.407 do not need a permit.
Florida is not a mandatory shared-fence state — Duval County does not require neighbors to split fence costs. Builder owns and maintains their fence; the finished (smooth) side must face outward. FL §823.11 'spite fence' statute prohibits fences over 10 ft built only to annoy a neighbor.
Retaining walls over 4 ft tall (measured from bottom of footing) in Duval County require a building permit and engineered drawings. Walls under 4 ft supporting only soil (no surcharge) are generally permit-exempt. All walls in drainage/flood areas need review.
FL §515 (Residential Swimming Pool Safety Act) requires every residential pool in Duval to have an approved barrier: 48-inch fence with self-closing/self-latching gate, or approved safety pool cover, or door/window exit alarms on the house. Barrier permit required.
Ch. 656 requires finished side facing neighbors, no fences in easements, and no obstruction of stormwater drainage. Electric fences prohibited in residential zones.
Barbed wire, razor wire, and electrified fences are restricted in Duval residential zones under §656.407(g). Hurricane zones require fence materials and fastening capable of withstanding 140 mph wind loads per Florida Building Code.
1 cities in Duval County have their own fence regulations rules. Each link goes to that city's dedicated page with code citations.
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