What's Required in Jacksonville
- Ordinary residential fences have no building permit line in the city fee schedule; the city's fencing guidance says fencing doesn't require a permit.
- Masonry walls and retaining walls are priced as new construction and need a building permit.
- No fence or wall over 8 feet is allowed in a residential district.
- No fence over 4 feet is allowed in a required front yard, except the corner-lot and RR-Acre cases in 656.402(b).
- Fence height is measured from existing grade to the top of the fence on the owner's side.
- Corner lots must keep a visibility triangle clear for traffic safety.
- Fences in historic districts or on landmarks need a Certificate of Appropriateness.
- A fence used as a pool barrier must be at least 4 feet high on the outside.
Do you need a permit to build a fence in Jacksonville?
For an ordinary wood, vinyl or chain-link fence, the city's published guidance says no. The Planning and Development Department's fencing guidelines say it in so many words: "Fencing doesn't require a permit." Neither the Building Inspection Division's exempt list nor the fee schedule has a line for a residential fence. Masonry is different. The fee schedule prices masonry walls and retaining walls as new construction, so a block or brick wall goes through a building permit. No permit doesn't mean no rules, though. The fence still has to meet the zoning heights below, and in a historic district you need a Certificate of Appropriateness either way. Unusual cases are worth a call to the Building Inspection Division at (904) 255-8500 before you build, such as a fence that also serves as a pool barrier or one on a waterfront or flood-zone lot.
How tall can a fence be in Jacksonville?
Zoning Code 656.402(b) sets the limits for residential districts:
- 8 feet is the maximum anywhere on the lot.
- 4 feet is the maximum inside the required front yard.
The Zoning Section's summary puts it plainly: 4 feet within the front yard setback, then up to 8 feet toward the rear. There are narrow exceptions. A corner lot may have a fence up to six feet along a collector street (or a higher-class road) when the house faces a smaller street, but it can't sit forward of the front of the house. Rural Residential (RR-Acre) lots get a similar allowance next to a subdivision with a 6-foot fence. Height is measured from existing grade to the top of the fence on your side. Corner lots must also keep a clear visibility triangle for traffic. To go taller than the code allows, you need an administrative deviation, which costs $966 for a residential application.
What does a masonry wall permit cost?
Masonry walls fall under subsection (4) of Section 320.409, which charges per $1,000 of estimated cost: $1.88 BID fee, $0.30 resource management, $0.63 Development Services, $0.90 debris, and a landscape fee of 12% of the BID fee. The minimums usually decide the total. The BID fee is at least $112.50, Development Services at least $37.50, and plan review 67% of the BID fee or $90, whichever is greater. A $6,000 block wall works out to $112.50 + $1.80 + $13.50 + $37.50 + $5.40 + $90 = about $261.
| What you are doing | City filing | Rule |
|---|---|---|
| 6 ft wood privacy fence in the back yard | No building permit (city fencing guidance) | Zoning limit 8 ft |
| 4 ft picket fence in the front yard | No building permit | Zoning limit 4 ft in the required front yard |
| 6 ft fence in the front yard | Not allowed without approval | Administrative deviation, $966 residential |
| Corner lot along a collector road | Zoning check | Up to 6 ft, not forward of the house's front plane |
| Concrete block or brick wall | Building permit, subsection (4) | About $261 at the minimums |
| Any fence in a historic district | Certificate of Appropriateness | Required whether or not a permit is |
| Fence that serves as a pool barrier | Part of the pool permit | At least 4 ft high (FS 515.29) |
Pool fences and historic districts
If the fence is your pool barrier, Florida Statute 515.29 requires it to be at least 4 feet high on the outside, and it's inspected under the pool permit. In a historic district or on a local landmark, the Historic Preservation Section says every exterior change needs a COA. The district guidelines are stricter than zoning. Front-yard fencing may not exceed four feet and front walls three feet. Back-yard fencing may not exceed six feet, except 8-foot fencing where the lot abuts an incompatible use. The guidelines favor simple, vertical designs.
How to Get a Fence Permit in Jacksonville
Find your property line
The Zoning Section notes the sidewalk or curb is not necessarily your line. A survey shows where the fence can legally go.
Check your zoning and front yard
Look up your district on the city GIS map and measure the required front yard, where the 4-foot limit applies.
Check for a historic district
If your lot is in a historic district or is a landmark, apply to Historic Preservation for a Certificate of Appropriateness before building.
Permit a masonry wall
For block, brick or retaining walls, submit a building permit in JaxEPICS with a site plan and pay the subsection (4) fees.
Build and keep the corner clear
Build to the approved height and keep any required visibility triangle open at corners and driveways.