Pompano Beach, FL Fence Regulations: Retaining Walls (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- Code of Ordinances § 155.5302.C.6
- Combined height limit
- capped at the freestanding fence/wall max
- Measurement point
- finished grade, interior side of the wall
- Residential fence caps
- 4 ft front yard, 6 ft side/rear (§ 155.5302.D.2)
- Exception
- vacant-lot fencing under § 155.5302.C.1.b.i
Summary
Stacking a fence on top of a retaining wall or berm in Pompano Beach does not let the combined structure exceed the height limit that would apply to a fence alone: total height is measured from the finished grade on the wall's interior side, not from the base.
6. Fences on Retaining Walls or Berms Except as otherwise allowed in Section 155.5302.C.1.b.i, Fencing Allowed on Vacant Lots, if a fence is constructed on top of a wall or berm, the combined height of the fence and wall or berm shall not exceed the maximum height that would apply to the fence or wall alone. The total height of a fence on top of a retaining wall is measured from the finished grade on the interior side of the retaining wall.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: 2026 S-122: Supplement contains: Local legislation current through 2026-35, passed 7-29-26).
Full Breakdown
6, Fences on Retaining Walls or Berms, governs any fence built on top of a wall or berm anywhere in the city. i applies, the combined height of the fence plus the wall or berm beneath it cannot exceed the maximum height that would apply to a freestanding fence or wall on that lot. D: four feet in a front yard and six feet in an interior side, street side, or rear yard within residential zoning districts, or up to eight or ten feet in commercial, special, and industrial districts.
Critically, the code measures the combined height from the finished grade on the interior side of the retaining wall, meaning the wall's height on the raised side counts against the fence's allowance even though the same structure may look shorter from the lower, exterior side. This prevents property owners from using a berm or retaining wall to effectively double a yard's fence height by adding a full-height fence on top. Property owners planning a retaining wall topped with fencing should calculate the wall height first and confirm any fence added on top still keeps the combined total within the district's applicable limit before installing either structure.
Violations & Fines
Building a fence-and-wall combination that exceeds the height limit that would apply to a freestanding fence in that yard and zoning district is a Land Development Code violation subject to a stop-work order and required modification or removal of the excess height. Chapter 155 does not set a distinct fine for this section, so the citywide § 10.99 general penalty applies: up to a $500 fine, up to 60 days in jail, or both, with each day of noncompliance a separate offense.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I build a full-height fence on top of my retaining wall?
How is the height of a fence on a retaining wall measured?
What is the maximum combined height for a fence and retaining wall in a residential yard?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Pompano Beach
Florida rules heatmap·Compare Pompano Beach to another location·View the Florida fence regulations overview
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Retaining Walls in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Broward County handle retaining walls.