Miami-Dade County, FL Fence Regulations: Fence Permit Requirements (2026)
Key Facts
- Permit requirement
- Required for all walls and fences
- Applies in
- Unincorporated Miami-Dade County (UMSA) only
- Civil penalty
- $200 per violation (Sec. 8CC-10)
- Chain link fences
- Barred in front yard in most zones
- Governing section
- Code § 33-11(a)
Summary
Miami-Dade County requires a building permit before erecting any wall or fence in unincorporated Miami-Dade (UMSA), with height, location and material rules enforced by Code Section 33-11.
(a)Permits; conformance to requirements; erection on property lines; chain link fences restricted. Permits shall be required for all walls and fences, and except as may be approved as a result of public hearings, walls, fences, which obscure or obstruct vision, and hedges shall be restricted to the height, location and type as indicated hereinafter, and except when a higher wall, fence or hedge is required as a visual screening buffer at the rear of double frontage lots under Chapter 28.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 135).
Full Breakdown
In unincorporated Miami-Dade County (UMSA), Code Section 33-11(a) requires a permit for every wall and fence before construction. Fences and hedges that obscure or obstruct vision are restricted to specific heights, locations and types set out in the same section, and a taller screening wall or fence is required behind double-frontage lots regulated under Chapter 28. Chain link fencing is barred in front of the building line in most zoning districts, with exceptions for AU, EU-1, EU-2, IU and GU agricultural-trended districts. This rule applies only inside UMSA: the 34 incorporated municipalities, including Miami and Miami Beach, enforce their own separate codes.
Violations & Fines
Code Enforcement cites over-height, improperly located, or improperly maintained fences under Section 33-11 for a $200 civil penalty per Section 8CC-10; repeat violations double, up to $1,000.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit to build a fence in unincorporated Miami-Dade County?
Are chain link fences allowed in unincorporated Miami-Dade?
What's the penalty for building a fence without meeting these rules?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Miami-Dade County
Florida rules heatmap·Compare Miami-Dade County to another location·View the Florida fence regulations overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.