Pinellas County, FL Fence Regulations: Material Restrictions (2026)
Key Facts
- Allowed materials
- Wrought iron, brick, block, plastic, vinyl, chain link, prefab wood
- Unlisted material
- Needs county administrator approval first
- Barbed wire cap
- 6 feet max height, when permitted
- Barbed wire uses
- Nonresidential security, farms, or Type 2/3 review only
- Max fine
- $500 per offense; each day is separate
- Scope
- Applies only in unincorporated Pinellas County
Summary
In unincorporated Pinellas County, a fence or wall must be built from a standard material listed in Code Section 138-3703: wrought iron, brick, concrete block, plastic, vinyl, chain link, or commercially available prefabricated wood. Anything else needs the county administrator's approval first, and barbed wire and electric strands are barred from ordinary residential yards under the companion rule in Section 138-3704.
Sec. 138-3703. - Materials and conditions. Fences or walls may be constructed of any of the following standard fencing materials: wrought iron, brick, concrete block, plastic, vinyl, chain link, or wood products that are typically pre-fabricated and are commercially available. All fences and walls shall be maintained in good repair and all surfaces thereof shall be kept painted or have similar protective coating where customarily necessary. Any departure from the materials prescribed by this section shall require the approval of the county administrator or his/her designee.
Sec. 138-3704. - Barbed wire or electrical strands. Barbed wire or electrical strands or similar type of fencing, when permitted, shall be no greater than six feet in height. The use of such type of fencing is permitted only as follows: (a)Barbed wire may be used on security fences in nonresidential districts.(b)Barbed wire may be used as part of agricultural activities.(c)Barbed wire or electrical strands or similar type of fencing may be used when specifically authorized in conjunction with a Type 2 review or a Type 3 review.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 124).
Full Breakdown
Section 138-3703 also requires every fence and wall to be maintained in good repair, with surfaces kept painted or given a similar protective coating where customarily necessary, and it puts the burden on the property owner to seek administrative sign-off before installing an unlisted material such as bamboo, corrugated metal or woven wire. Section 138-3704 narrows barbed wire and electrical strands, capped at six feet in height, to three settings: security fencing in nonresidential districts, agricultural activities, or a use specifically authorized through a Type 2 or Type 3 development review. A homeowner cannot install barbed wire around a residential yard just because a neighbor has it.
Material choice interacts with the county's height rules in Section 138-3702: a standard fence tops out at six feet in a side or rear setback and three feet in a front setback, rising to as much as eight feet only for a decorative fence, defined in Section 138-3701 as PVC, wrought iron, prefabricated metal, aluminum pickets, or a painted or stained shadow-box or board-on-board style. Height is measured from grade to the top horizontal member under Section 138-3705, and a zoning clearance is required under Section 138-3702(f) for any fence over three feet next to a public right-of-way. Fences and walls cannot be built in a public right-of-way without agency authorization under Section 138-3702(d).
Violations & Fines
A fence or wall that violates these materials standards is a Code violation under the county's general penalty, Section 134-8: a fine of up to $500.00 per offense, with each day the noncompliant fence remains a separate offense. Section 134-8(f) also blocks new building or site-plan permits on a lot carrying an open code-enforcement notice of violation until it is resolved, and the county administrator or designee may require the fence rebuilt in an approved material as a condition of that resolution.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I put up a barbed wire fence around my house in unincorporated Pinellas County?
What fence materials are allowed without special approval?
Does this rule apply in St. Petersburg or Clearwater?
How tall can a fence be along the front of my lot?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Pinellas County
Florida rules heatmap·Compare Pinellas County to another location·View the Florida fence regulations overview
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