6 county-level rules, plus city-specific rules for 1 city in Hernando County, Florida.
Verified from official government sources
Hernando County caps residential fences at four feet in front yards and eight feet in side and rear yards. Rear-yard fences backing waterfront, golf courses, or common areas drop to four feet and must stay at least 25 percent open.
Hernando County Code § 8-210.15(d)
The height of any fence or wall in front yards within any residential district area shall not exceed four (4) feet. The height of any fence or wall in side and rear yards within any residential district area shall not exceed eight (8) feet. Fences in the rear yard which are adjacent to waterfront areas, golf courses, common areas or similar open space areas shall have a maximum height of four (...
Hernando County requires a zoning permit for residential fences before installation, and all fence construction must conform to the county Construction Code. Masonry walls, coops, and pool enclosures trigger separate permits.
Hernando County Code § 8-210.15(a)
Conformity to construction code. All construction shall conform to the Hernando County Construction Code.
Florida has no statute making a neighbor split a boundary fence's cost, so cost-sharing in Hernando County is voluntary. A malicious spite fence is a common-law nuisance, not a violation of § 823.11, which governs derelict vessels.
Hernando County Code § 8-210.15(i)
Stockade fences. Stockade fences shall be installed with the rails to the enclosed areas. The smooth side shall face rights-of-ways or adjoining properties.
Retaining walls in Hernando County fall under the Florida Building Code. A wall over four feet, or any wall holding back a surcharge like a driveway or slope, needs a building permit and engineered plans. Walls that divert stormwater onto a neighbor create civil liability.
Every residential pool in Hernando County must have a barrier at least four feet high with gates that open outward, self-close, and self-latch. Florida's Residential Swimming Pool Safety Act sets the standard, enforced by the county Building Division at inspection.
Fla. Stat. § 515.29
The barrier must be at least 4 feet high on the outside. ... Gates that provide access to swimming pools must open outward away from the pool and be self-closing and equipped with a self-latching locking device, the release mechanism of which must be located on the pool side of the gate and so placed that it cannot be reached by a young child over the top or through any opening or gap.
Hernando County's Fence Code bans electric, barbed-wire, razor-wire, chicken-wire, and scrap or sheet-metal fences in residential districts. Wood, vinyl, aluminum, chain-link, and masonry are allowed; salt-tolerant materials suit the Gulf coast.
Hernando County Code § 8-210.16(b)
The following are prohibited in any residential district area: (1) Electric fences; (2) Barbed wire fences; (3) Razor wire fences; (4) Corrugated/scrap/sheet metal fences; (5) Chicken wire fences; (6) Fences and walls containing hazardous materials, broken glass, spikes, nails, barbs or any materials which can inflict pain or injury to any person or animal.
1 cities in Hernando County have their own fence regulations rules. Each link goes to that city's dedicated page with code citations.
See every category we cover for Hernando County — parking, noise, fences, fires, animals, pools, and more.
Hernando County Ordinance Hub →