7 county-level rules, plus city-specific rules for 3 cities in Hillsborough County, Florida.
Verified from official government sources
Hillsborough County Land Development Code §6.01.03 caps residential fences at 6 feet in side and rear yards and 4 feet in front yards. Corner lots have additional visibility triangle restrictions.
Fence permits are required in unincorporated Hillsborough County for any fence over 6 feet, all pool barrier fences, and any fence in a flood zone. Fences under 6 feet in non-flood-zone residential lots are permit-exempt.
Florida has no shared-cost fence law. FL §823.11 prohibits spite fences erected maliciously. Each owner is responsible for their own fence in Hillsborough County.
In unincorporated Hillsborough County, retaining walls are regulated under Land Development Code Part 6.07.00 (Fences and Walls) for setback and dimensional standards and under the Construction Code (County Code Chapter 8 / 2023 Florida Building Code) for permitting and engineering. A retaining wall must be shown on the residential site plan whenever there is an existing-to-proposed grade differential, and grading must either match the county-approved subdivision lot grading plan, be supported by plans signed and sealed by a Florida-registered Professional Engineer, or use the NO FILL Attestation. Hillsborough County Building Services issues the permit; the FBC generally requires permits for retaining walls over 4 feet measured from bottom of footing to top of wall, or any wall that retains a surcharge.
Pool barriers in Hillsborough County must comply with FL §515 (Residential Swimming Pool Safety Act): 48-inch minimum height, self-closing self-latching gates, and at least one additional safety feature.
Corner lots in Hillsborough County must maintain a sight visibility triangle: no fence, wall, or landscaping over 30 inches within 25 feet of the intersecting right-of-way lines under LDC §6.11.06.
Hillsborough County allows wood, vinyl, aluminum, chain-link, and masonry fencing. Barbed wire is prohibited in residential zones. All fences must meet Florida Building Code wind load (130-150 mph).
3 cities in Hillsborough County have their own fence regulations rules. Each link goes to that city's dedicated page with code citations.
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