Lee County, FL Fence Regulations: Retaining Walls (2026)
Key Facts
- Permit trigger
- Walls over 25 inches high
- Waterfront setback
- Five feet from mean high water
- Height measured from
- Existing elevation of abutting property
- Grade deviation
- Not allowed atop a retaining wall
- Floodway fill
- No increase in base flood elevation
Summary
A retaining wall over 25 inches high needs a building permit under the Land Development Code. On the water, a retaining wall must sit at least five feet back from the mean high water line.
If a fence or wall is higher than 6 feet (excluding chain-link fences), provide blueprints/engineering plans that are signed and sealed by a Florida Registered Architect or Engineer. If the project is a wall, include: Footer detail; Re-bar; and How many courses of block will be utilized.
Full Breakdown
The LDC treats retaining walls as walls. Sec. 34-1742(a) requires all fences and walls over 25 inches in height to comply with established building permit procedures, exempting only bona fide agricultural fencing and government conservation fencing. On waterfront lots, Sec. 26-75(c) requires retaining walls to be set back at least five feet from the mean high water line or landward of any wetland vegetation. Retaining walls that place fill in a regulated floodway must show no increase in the base flood elevation. Seawalls are handled separately under Sec. 34-1863.
Violations & Fines
Building a wall over 25 inches without following the building permit procedures violates the Land Development Code. In a regulatory floodway, fill for a retaining wall cannot be authorized unless the encroachment analysis shows no increase in base flood elevation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit for a retaining wall in Lee County?
Can I raise the grade with a retaining wall then add a tall fence?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Lee County
Florida rules heatmap·Compare Lee County to another location·View the Florida fence regulations overview
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