7 county-level rules, plus city-specific rules for 1 city in Lee County, Florida.
Verified from official government sources
In unincorporated Lee County, LDC section 34-1744 caps a residential fence in the front (street) yard at 3 feet, allowing 4 feet if open-mesh, while a fence between the side or rear lot line and the accessory-building setback line may reach 6 feet.
Lee County LDC 34-1744(b)(2)a
A fence or wall located between a street right-of-way or easement and the minimum required street setback line may not exceed three feet in height... A fence or wall located between a side or rear lot line and the minimum required setback line for accessory buildings is limited to a maximum height of six feet.
LDC section 34-1742 requires a Lee County building permit for any fence or wall over 25 inches tall (bona fide agricultural and government conservation fences are exempt). Permits are applied for through the county's eConnect system with a site plan showing property lines and setbacks.
Lee County LDC 34-1742(a)
Except for fences used for bona fide agricultural uses or purposes of conservation by Lee County, the State or other governmental entities, all fences and walls that are over 25 inches in height must comply with established building permit procedures.
Lee County sets no boundary-fence cost-sharing rule; that is a private matter under Florida law. The LDC does require fences to sit out of street rights-of-way and at least 5 feet from natural water bodies, and nothing may be built in an easement that prohibits it (LDC 34-1744, 34-1746).
Lee County LDC 34-1744(a)
No fence or wall, excluding seawalls, may be erected, placed or maintained: (1) Within any street right-of-way or street easement... (3) Closer than five feet to the mean high-water line along natural water bodies... except that, where the canal is seawalled, the fence may be built landward of the seawall.
Retaining walls in unincorporated Lee County are permitted through the same Residential Fence or Wall process. Walls need a building permit, and if the wall exceeds 6 feet (excluding chain-link fences) the county requires blueprints signed and sealed by a Florida-registered architect or engineer showing footer, re-bar, and block courses.
Lee County Residential Fence or Wall Application and Permitting Guide (LDC Ch. 34)
If a fence or wall is higher than 6 feet (excluding chain-link fences), provide blueprints/engineering plans that are signed and sealed by a Florida Registered Architect or Engineer. If the project is a wall, include: Footer detail; Re-bar; and How many courses of block will be utilized.
LDC section 34-1742 requires all fences and fence walls on a property to be of uniform materials, design and color, constructed and maintained so they do not detract from the neighborhood, with no missing components, and remaining substantially vertical to serve their intended function.
Lee County LDC 34-1742(b),(c)
All fences and fence walls on each property must be of uniform materials, design and color... All fences and fence walls must be constructed and maintained in a manner that will not detract from the neighborhood or community. Fences must not contain missing materials or components... and must remain substantially vertical.
Lee County requires conventional fence materials and prohibits non-traditional ones. Barbed wire, spire-tip, sharp-object, or electrified fences may not be within 100 feet of a residential area or zoning district without the Director's authorization, and tires, mufflers, hubcaps, fabric, nets, plastic slats and similar items are prohibited.
Lee County Residential Fence/Wall Permitting Guide (LDC Ch. 34)
Fences made of barbed wire, spire tips or sharp objects or that are electrified shall not be erected within 100 feet of any residential area or residential zoning district without the Director's authorization and review of hazards. Non-traditional materials, including but not limited to, tires, mufflers, hubcaps, etc., are prohibited.
Lee County requires fences and walls of conventional building materials: concrete block, brick, wood, decorative aluminum, iron or steel, chain link, or fence-grade composite. The eConnect permit lists material options including aluminum, chain link, concrete block, picket, plastic/vinyl, precast, split rail, wire, and wood.
Lee County Residential Fence/Wall Permitting Guide (LDC Ch. 34)
Fences and walls must be constructed of conventional and traditional building materials including, but not limited to concrete block, brick, wood, decorative aluminum, iron or steel, chain link or composite products manufactured specifically for fences and walls.
1 cities in Lee County have their own fence regulations rules. Each link goes to that city's dedicated page with code citations.
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