7 rules for unincorporated Santa Rosa County, Florida.
Verified from official government sources
In unincorporated Santa Rosa County, rear and side fences may reach 8 feet; fences inside the 25-foot front setback are capped at 4 feet (5 feet for chain-link). Cities of Milton, Gulf Breeze and Jay set their own rules.
Santa Rosa County LDC 5.02.02.A
Walls and fences on rear and side property lines shall be permitted to a maximum height of eight (8) feet. Where a wall or fence is erected within the front setback of any lot, such wall or fence shall not be permitted in excess of four (4) feet in height, except chain link type fences.
No fence permit is required in the unincorporated areas of Santa Rosa County. Fences must still comply with the Land Development Code height, location and material limits. The cities of Milton, Gulf Breeze and Jay have separate permitting.
Santa Rosa County Planning & Zoning — Fence Requirements
No permit is necessary for properties in the unincorporated areas of the county.
The county's LDC sets fence height and placement but does not decide who owns or pays for a shared boundary fence. Rear and side fences may reach 8 feet, and nothing may block the 20-foot intersection sight triangle. Boundary and cost disputes are civil matters.
Santa Rosa County LDC 5.02.02.A.2
There shall be no fences, walls, plantings or other structures or obstructions erected or maintained within twenty (20) feet of any street intersection which may obstruct the view of the motorist or otherwise cause an obstruction to traffic flow.
In Santa Rosa County, a retaining wall that holds back more than 48 inches of unbalanced fill, or one over 24 inches that resists lateral loads beyond soil, must be engineered to accepted standards for stability against overturning, sliding and water uplift.
Santa Rosa County LDC 5.02.02.A.9
Retaining walls that are not laterally supported at the top and that retain in excess of 48 inches of unbalanced fill or retaining walls exceeding 24 inches in height that resist lateral loads in addition to soil, shall be designed in accordance with accepted engineering practice to ensure stability against overturning, sliding, and water uplift.
Unincorporated Santa Rosa County allows fences in RR-1, R-1, R-1A and R-1M districts: up to 8 feet on rear/side lines, 4 feet in the front setback (5 for chain-link/metal), no barbed wire in subdivisions, and a clear 20-foot intersection sight triangle. No permit required.
Santa Rosa County LDC 5.02.02.A
The construction, erection and maintenance of walls and fences within Santa Rosa County shall be permitted in RR-1, R-1, R-1A, and R-1M zoning districts only as follows: Walls and fences on rear and side property lines shall be permitted to a maximum height of eight (8) feet.
Santa Rosa County bans barbed wire in all residential subdivisions (agriculture districts exempt). Chain-link must be at least 14-gauge galvanized welded wire; black metal fences need 3-inch minimum picket spacing to qualify for taller front-yard height.
Santa Rosa County LDC 5.02.02.B.3
In all residential subdivisions the use of any form of barbed wire in fences is prohibited. Agriculture districts are exempt from this provision.
Common materials such as wood, vinyl, aluminum and 14-gauge galvanized chain-link are allowed in Santa Rosa County. Barbed wire is banned in residential subdivisions. Screening fences for storage areas should be a 6- or 8-foot wooden privacy fence.
Santa Rosa County LDC 5.02.02.D.2
A six (6) foot wooden privacy fence or an eight (8) foot wooden privacy fence is the most effective screening fence style and shall be required for all new developments or new uses requiring screening when no previously existing fence is present.
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