Dade City, FL Fence Regulations: Retaining Walls (2026)

Section 6.3.1(A) reaches all construction, substantial reconstruction, or replacement of fences, retaining walls not required for support of a primary or accessory structure, and any other linear barrier that separates parts of a lot. If that section conflicts with a screening requirement in Section 6.3.3, the screening requirement governs. Under Section 6.3.1(B), a plan showing how the project complies must accompany whichever comes first: a site and development plan, subdivision, planned development, or building permit application.

Section 6.3.2(E) sets the measuring rule. Heights run from natural grade in every case. A fence built on a wall or berm shares one height budget with it, so a 3-foot retaining wall topped by a fence has to fit inside the maximum that a fence or wall alone would receive. Where a retaining feature or topographic feature creates a grade differential along a line between two lots, a fence, wall, or other permitted screening device can be erected to the maximum permitted height, measured from the grade it is placed on to the top of the structure.

The height budget comes from Section 6.3.3. In residential districts a front yard fence tops out at 4 feet, sits 2 feet from the property line, and needs 50% opacity such as a picket fence. Rear and side yard fences reach 6 feet, and side yard fencing cannot extend past the required front yard setback line. In mixed-use and business districts, fences and walls are not permitted in front setback areas, stay at 4 feet on the rest of the front yard, and reach 6 feet in side or rear yards.

Other limits apply on top of the height cap. Section 6.3.2(D) bars any fence that blocks or diverts a natural drainage flow onto or off of another property. Section 7.2.6 keeps anything over 3 feet above grade out of the 25-foot street intersection sight triangle. Section 6.3.7 requires prompt repair of any wall post or section that leans more than 20 degrees from vertical.

Commercial and industrial sites with multi-level construction face a separate cap in Section 6.12.5(D): transitions use slopes no steeper than 5:1 or retaining walls not exceeding six feet in height, elevation changes are limited to 15 feet, and terraces need a five-foot landscape buffer.