Jacksonville Beach, FL Fence Regulations: Height Limits (2026)

Section 34-722(a)(2) sets the height rule for residential zoning districts. The fence height is a maximum of six feet and the fence must be located within the property boundaries. Fences cannot be taller than four feet in a designated front yard, and a front yard fence must be setback at least two feet from the right of way.

A fence in a side or rear yard can be built to a height not exceeding eight feet, except in the rear yards of oceanfront lots in the RS-1 zoning district, if the section's requirements are met. All fences installed under that exception must be pressure treated wood, composite wood, PVC wood, or masonry, and fences of chainlink wire fabric cannot exceed six feet in height in any case. Any portion above six feet is limited to two feet above the allowed six, and the additional height must be composed of either lattice or slats to allow visibility and air flow above six feet.

Two more exceptions sit in the same subsection. Side and rear yard fences on single-family residential uses immediately adjacent to an established commercial or industrial use can be built up to eight feet and can be constructed without twenty-five percent of the aggregate surface area being open, even when the property is separated by an intervening alley. A fence in the rear yard of any oceanfront lot in an RS-1 zoning district cannot exceed three and one-half feet in height.

Corner visibility is a separate height control. Section 34-720 says that on a corner lot in all zoning districts no fence, wall, hedge, planting or structure can be erected, placed, planted or allowed to grow so as to obstruct vision between a height of two and one-half feet and eight feet above the centerline grades of the intersecting streets, within the area bounded by the right-of-way lines and a line joining points fifteen feet from the point of intersection. In the CBD that length is reduced to ten feet, and landscaping within sight visibility triangles is governed by section 34-745(g). Section 34-722(a)(3) repeats that clear sight distance must be maintained at intersections of streets, alleys and curbcuts.

Every fence needs approval by the planning and development department and a building permit. Commercial fences in and around the front yard of any lot cannot exceed four feet, and an eight-foot nonopaque chainlink fence is allowed along the property line of a recreational facility owned or leased by a school, church or unit of government.