Citrus County, FL Fence Regulations: Retaining Walls (2026)
Key Facts
- Fence trigger height
- Retaining wall over 2 feet
- Max unfenced slope
- 1 ft vertical : 4 ft horizontal
- Max fenced slope
- 1 ft vertical : 3 ft horizontal
- Berm setback
- 2 ft or ADA clearance, greater
- LDC chapter
- Chapter Six, Stormwater Mgmt, OA-2026-A16
Summary
Citrus County's stormwater code requires a fence at the top of any retaining wall over two feet high next to a detention or retention pond, engineered to County-approved standards. General retaining-wall height and footing rules for other sites sit in a separate part of the county's Land Development Code.
Fencing - All proposed detention and retention areas with side slopes steeper than one (1) foot vertical to four (4) feet horizontal (4:1) shall be fenced. Fencing is also required at the top of retaining walls that are greater than two (2) feet high. The fence shall be approved by the County and be constructed along the outer perimeter and on top of the maintenance berm.
Full Breakdown
Chapter Six of the unincorporated county's Land Development Code, Stormwater Management (readopted June 22, 2026 as OA-2026-A16), regulates retaining walls that abut engineered stormwater ponds. Under section 6220(I)(2)(c), any detention or retention area with side slopes steeper than one foot vertical to four feet horizontal must be fenced, and that fencing requirement also applies at the top of any retaining wall exceeding two feet in height. The fence itself must be approved by the county, built along the outer perimeter and on top of the maintenance berm, and include lockable gates sized to allow pond-maintenance equipment through.
This sits inside a broader excavation and grading framework: side slopes without a fence cannot exceed one foot vertical to four feet horizontal, and slopes with a fence cannot exceed one foot vertical to three feet horizontal, while the maintenance berm itself may not encroach into the required setback from any sidewalk, patio, driving surface or leisure area, set at two feet or current ADA clearance, whichever is greater. This is stormwater-pond-specific: it does not set a blanket height cap or engineering-stamp threshold for every retaining wall built on a residential lot, which falls under other Land Development Code chapters administered by the county's Land Development Division in Lecanto.
Violations & Fines
Retaining walls and stormwater improvements built without required county approval, or that fail to meet the fencing and slope standards of section 6220, are enforced as Land Development Code violations through the county's code compliance process under Chapter 19, which can result in a citation and civil penalty following notice and an opportunity to correct.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does a retaining wall in Citrus County need a fence on top?
Does this cover a backyard retaining wall unrelated to stormwater ponds?
Who approves the fence design at a Citrus County retaining wall?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Citrus County
Florida rules heatmap·Compare Citrus County to another location·View the Florida fence regulations overview
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