Florida Statewide Rule

Florida Legal Fence Standard for Boundary Fences (§588.011)

Few RestrictionsApplies statewide across Florida (2026)

Key Facts

Statute: Fla. Stat. §588.011
Minimum height: 3 feet
Wire: 3 strands, posts ≤20 ft apart
Residential fences: Set by local zoning
Stray-livestock liability: Fla. Stat. §588.15

Last verified: July 31, 2026

Summary

Florida's one statewide fence statute, §588.011, defines a legal fence as at least 3 feet high with three strands of wire on posts no more than 20 feet apart. Residential height, setback, and neighbor cost-sharing are set by local ordinance, not state law.

(1) Any fence or enclosure at least 3 feet in height made of barbed or other soft wire consisting of not less than three strands of wire stretched securely on posts, trees, or other supports, standing not more than 20 feet apart ... shall be considered as a legal fence. (2) Any fence or enclosure made of any other material which meets substantially the minimum requirements or specifications mentioned in subsection (1) shall be considered as a legal fence.

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Full Breakdown

Florida Statute 588.011 sets the statewide standard for what legally counts as an enclosing fence: at least 3 feet tall, three strands of barbed or soft wire on posts standing no more than 20 feet apart, or any other material meeting those minimums. This is a closed-range standard, livestock owners must confine animals behind a legal fence, and under §588.15 an owner who lets livestock stray onto roads is liable for damages. Florida has no statewide statute fixing residential fence height, setbacks from the property line, spite-fence limits, or cost-sharing between adjoining neighbors; those come from city and county zoning codes. Homeowner boundary-line fence disputes are resolved under common law.

Violations & Penalties

A fence below the 3-foot, three-strand minimum is not a legal fence, so under §588.15 an owner whose livestock strays through it is liable for all resulting injury and property damage.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Florida law set how tall my backyard fence can be?

No. Florida has no statewide residential fence-height statute. Height and setback limits come from your city or county zoning code, not §588.011, which governs agricultural legal fences.

Does Florida require neighbors to split the cost of a boundary fence?

No statewide statute requires adjoining owners to share the cost of a division fence. Cost-sharing depends on private agreement or a local ordinance, not state law.

What counts as a legal fence in Florida?

Under §588.011, at least 3 feet high with three strands of barbed or soft wire on posts no more than 20 feet apart, or any material meeting those minimums.

Sources

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