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St. Petersburg, FL Fence Regulations: Fence Permit Requirements (2026)

Some Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified September 2026

Key Facts

Masonry fence permit fee
$150 up to 300 LF, $250 over 300 LF
Fee schedule section
City Code § 12-6
Over-height variance fee
$500.00 under § 12-5
Variance reviewer
CPPC or Development Review Commission
Front yard max height
4 ft (6 ft if decorative/landscaped)
Site plan requirement
Fence location/detail shown per § 16.90.010

Summary

St. Petersburg charges a building permit fee for masonry fences and walls under City Code § 12-6, $150.00 up to 300 linear feet, $250.00 beyond that, payable before the permit is issued. A fence taller than the § 16.40.040.3 height charts allow needs a separate $500.00 variance under § 12-5.

The following fees shall be paid before a permit or certificate of occupancy is issued, an appeal is filed, an inspection is conducted or a service is rendered: ... Masonry walls or fences up to 300 LF 150.00 Masonry walls or fences over 300 LF 250.00 ... Any request for a variance from the Community Planning and Preservation Commission or Development Review Commission for a condition which exists prior to the request (e.g., encroachment of structure into the setback area, over height fence) shall be required to pay a fee of $500.00.

Source: St. Petersburg Code Sec. 16.40.040View official code

Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 54).

Full Breakdown

City Code Chapter 12 sets the permit fees that trigger St. Petersburg's fence permitting. 010's site plan submittal requirements direct that any site plan filed with the City show 'Fences and walls: Location and detail of fences, walls or retaining walls,' with 'proposed elevations, dimensions and materials,' so a fence proposed as part of a larger site plan must be drawn and detailed before the Planning & Development Services Department (POD) can act on the plan. 3 charts are only available to fences meeting that decorative, landscaped standard.

Violations & Fines

Building or altering a fence without the required permit, or exceeding the § 16.40.040.3 height charts without an approved variance, is a Code violation under § 1-7, punishable by a fine up to $500.00, up to 60 days imprisonment, or both, with a continuing violation treated as a separate offense each day. The Building Official may also reject, suspend, or revoke a permit issued in error under § 8-36.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does every fence in St. Petersburg need a permit?
The Code's fee schedule (§ 12-6) sets a permit fee specifically for masonry walls and fences, $150.00 up to 300 linear feet and $250.00 beyond that, payable before the permit is issued. Fences that exceed the height standards in § 16.40.040.3 additionally require a $500.00 variance under § 12-5.
What if my fence is taller than the Code allows?
Section 12-5 requires a $500.00 variance fee for an 'over height fence,' reviewed by the Community Planning and Preservation Commission or the Development Review Commission before the excess height can be approved; without that variance, the fence must meet the § 16.40.040.3 chart limits.
What has to be shown on a fence permit application?
Where a fence is part of a broader site plan submittal, § 16.90.010 requires the plan to show the 'location and detail of fences, walls or retaining walls,' including 'proposed elevations, dimensions and materials,' so the POD can confirm it meets the height and design standards before approving the plan.
What counts as a 'decorative' fence that can go taller?
Section 16.40.040.2 defines a decorative fence as one built of PVC fence material, wrought iron, or aluminum pickets, or a painted or stained shadow-box or board-on-board design; only fences meeting that definition and landscaped in accordance with the Code qualify for the taller maximum heights in the § 16.40.040.3 charts.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in St. Petersburg

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