Fort Lauderdale, FL Fence Regulations: Fence Permit Requirements (2026)
Key Facts
- Permitting authority
- Fort Lauderdale Development Services / Building Services
- Permit basis
- FBC Sec. 105.1; Fla. Stat. Sec. 553.79
- Zoning standard
- ULDR Sec. 47-19.5
- Submittal portal
- LauderBuild (digital)
- Temporary construction fence
- ULDR Sec. 47-19.5.J
Summary
A building permit is required to erect, alter, or replace a fence or wall in Fort Lauderdale, obtained through the Development Services Department's LauderBuild portal, and the fence must also comply with the zoning standards of ULDR Section 47-19.5 (height, setback, transparency, finish, and sight triangle).
Temporary fences. A temporary construction fence may be permitted in conjunction with construction on a site in accordance with requirements determined by the department. The height, setback, landscaping and other requirements for a fence may be waived by the department subject to safety concerns. Such fence shall not be placed on the development site prior to final site plan approval or prior to issuance of the first building permit, whichever occurs first; and must be removed within two (2) weeks after issuance of a certificate of occupancy (CO) or termination of site plan approval, whichever occurs first; and shall be removed if the building permit has expired and has not been issued within one hundred eighty (180) days of expiration.
Full Breakdown
Fences and walls in Fort Lauderdale are subject to both building-permit and zoning review. 79, an owner, agent, or contractor must obtain a permit before erecting, enlarging, altering, repairing, or replacing a structure, and the City's Building Services Division (Development Services Department, 700 NW 19th Avenue) issues fence and wall permits with submittals made digitally through the LauderBuild portal. The City publishes Florida Building Code wood-fence requirement sheets and fence/gate permit materials as part of that process. 5, including the Table 1 height-and-setback matrix, the transparency calculation in Note B, the landscaping requirement in subsection C, and the finish and sight-triangle rules.
Temporary construction fences are addressed in subsection J: a temporary construction fence may be permitted in conjunction with site construction under requirements set by the department, may not be placed before final site plan approval or issuance of the first building permit, and must be removed within two weeks after a certificate of occupancy or termination of site plan approval. Because the ULDR provides that where its provisions are more restrictive than other regulations the ULDR controls, applicants must meet whichever standard is stricter.
Violations & Fines
Erecting a fence or wall without the required building permit can trigger stop-work orders, after-the-fact permit fees, and Code Compliance penalties; a fence that violates the zoning standards of Section 47-19.5 must be modified or removed and may accrue daily Special Magistrate fines until brought into compliance.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit to build a fence in Fort Lauderdale?
What zoning rules apply in addition to the permit?
Do temporary construction fences need approval?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Fort Lauderdale
Florida rules heatmap·Compare Fort Lauderdale to another location·View the Florida fence regulations overview
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Fence Permit Requirements in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Broward County handle fence permit requirements.