FENCE RULES – LAUDERHILL (CITY), FLORIDA
OVERVIEW
Residential fences are permitted on private property within City of Lauderhill, subject to local regulations.
The principal local fence standards appear in Article III, Section 5.18, “Fences, walls and hedges,” of the City of Lauderhill Land Development Regulations. That section governs the construction, maintenance, repair, replacement, and relocation of fences and walls that do not support other construction.
This page focuses on typical single-family residential fencing. If the jurisdiction’s adopted materials do not state a specific limit or requirement, this page notes that the code does not specify one.
Compiled From the City of Lauderhill Land Development Regulations, the City of Lauderhill Code of Ordinances, the Development Services Department / Building Division fence permit packet, the Building Division webpage, the Planning & Zoning webpage, and the Code Compliance Procedures webpage as of April 2026.
GOVERNANCE
The City of Lauderhill regulates residential fences through its Land Development Regulations, its Code of Ordinances, and administrative materials issued by the Development Services Department / Building Division.
The Chief Building Official or designee administers fence and wall permits under Article III, Section 5.18. The Planning & Zoning Division administers zoning, setback, height, and land-development review standards, including the administrative development order process for qualifying fences up to 8 feet in residential development. The Code Compliance Division enforces adopted maintenance and compliance standards.
The City does not rely only on one consolidated fence handout. Fence rules appear in the fence-specific section of the Land Development Regulations, the Building Division permit packet, Code Compliance guidance, and fire-access provisions of the Code of Ordinances.
PERMIT AND APPROVAL REQUIREMENTS
• Building Permit: A Building Permit is required before a fence or wall is erected, installed, replaced, repaired, or relocated. The local rule is stricter than the Florida statewide baseline because the City publishes a fence-specific permit requirement.
• Permit Submittal Materials: The Building Division fence permit packet requires a completed Broward County Uniform Building Permit Application, documented proof of cost, an owner-builder affidavit when applicable, a Notice of Commencement when job value is $5,000 or greater, an encroachment agreement, a survey showing fence location, height, and gates, pool-fence documentation where applicable, applicable fence detail sheets, and NOA or signed and sealed engineering drawings for PVC and aluminum fences where applicable.
• Plan Submittal: The Building Division fence packet states that in-person submittal and two sets of plans are required for a building permit.
• Zoning Compliance: Building permit requirements are separate from zoning, setback, or plat requirements. Confirm any applicable zoning conditions, setbacks, and plat requirements with Planning & Zoning Division before construction.
• Administrative Development Order: The Planning and Zoning Director may grant an administrative development order for a fence up to 8 feet high within a residential development when the ordinance’s vision-clearance and CPTED findings are met.
• Pool Fences: Fences for new or existing pools are reviewed with the Florida Building Code pool-barrier requirements identified in the Building Division fence packet.
FENCE PLACEMENT RULES
• Public Right-of-Way: Fences and walls may not be erected or installed in a public right-of-way unless the City Commission allows a fence in a right-of-way or easement for a term of years under the conditions stated in the Land Development Regulations.
• Easements: The ordinance states that permits may be refused for fences or walls in easement areas. For property subject to an easement or right-of-way in the City’s favor, the owner and occupant are responsible for City costs associated with removing, moving, tearing down, or reconstructing a fence or wall.
• Property-Line Placement: Where fences or walls are located at property lines, the ordinance requires them to be adjacent to the property line unless adjoining property owners jointly apply for a permit giving mutual assent to placement on the common property line.
• Encroachment Agreement: The Building Division fence packet requires an encroachment agreement. The City’s agreement addresses improvements located within City right-of-way or property, including fencing, and states that the applicant is responsible for improvements placed within City right-of-way or property.
• Fire Protection Access: Fences and walls placed in setback areas must not block access for fire protection. If a pool safety barrier in a setback area creates an obstruction to fire-protection access, it may not exceed 4 feet in height and may not have projections or surfaces damaging to fire hose use.
• Utility Safety: Florida law requires notice through Sunshine 811 before excavation or demolition. For fence projects that involve digging, including fence post holes, notice generally must be given at least 2 full business days before excavation begins on land.
FENCE HEIGHT AND VISIBILITY RULES
• Front Street Setback Area: In residential districts, a hedge, wall, or fence in a front street setback area may not exceed 4 feet in height. The front street setback area extends the full width of the lot for both interior and corner lots.
• Corner Lots: On corner lots, hedges, fences, and walls may be a maximum of 6 feet high and may extend to and along the property lines, except in the front setback areas.
• Residential Administrative Approval: Within a residential development, a fence may be approved up to 8 feet high by administrative development order when the Planning and Zoning Director makes the required vision-clearance and CPTED determinations.
• Privacy Fences: The ordinance includes privacy-fence language allowing certain privacy fences in side or rear setback areas, and in front yard areas up to 6 feet; however, that language should be read subject to the separate 4-foot maximum for fences, walls, and hedges in the front street setback area, unless the City approves a different height under the administrative development order process.
• Intersection Visibility: A fence, wall, or hedge may not exceed 2 feet above the nearest street grade within 25 feet of the intersection of any street lines or the street lines produced.
• Height Measurement: Fence, wall, and hedge height is measured from existing grade at the location of the fence, wall, or hedge.
• Fire Equipment Visibility: A fence, wall, planting, berm, or other visual screen may not substantially obscure a fire hydrant, standpipe, or automatic sprinkler system connection from the adjacent roadway or accessway. Visual screening may not be placed within 8 feet of the front and sides or within 4 feet behind such equipment.
• Pool Barriers: Where a fence serves as a pool barrier, the Code Compliance guidance states a minimum pool fence height of 4 feet, and the Building Division packet applies Florida Building Code pool-barrier standards, including self-closing and self-latching access-gate requirements and the 54-inch release-mechanism standard stated in the pool-fence packet.
MATERIAL AND CONSTRUCTION LIMITS
• Allowed Fence Materials: Fences may be constructed of iron, steel, aluminum, polyvinylchloride (PVC), wood, or similar materials satisfying industry standards, the Florida Building Code, and approval by the Chief Building Official.
• Chain Link or Mesh: Chain-link or mesh fences must have a minimum gauge of 11. Chicken wire or similar material is prohibited.
• Wood Fence Types: Shadow box, stockade, board-on-board, and picket wood fences are permitted. The construction of any permitted fence with any type of plywood is prohibited.
• Hazardous Materials: Fences and walls may not be constructed with injurious or hazardous materials, including barbed wire, razor wire, broken glass, electrified materials, or similar materials.
• Wood Fence Detail: The Building Division wood fence detail states that the gate latch must be at 54 inches above grade and that the finished side of the fence must face out.
• Maintenance Condition: Fences and walls must be maintained in a good state of repair, free of graffiti, and structurally sound. Fences and walls in a state of deterioration are prohibited.
PRIVATE RESTRICTIONS
Private covenants, deed restrictions, homeowner association rules, and condominium association rules operate independently from City fence permits and may be more restrictive than City requirements.
The Building Division fence packet states that issuance of a City building permit does not create City responsibility for private association or deed-restriction compliance.
REVIEW AND ENFORCEMENT CONTEXT
Fence issues are typically reviewed during permit or approval review when required, and through complaint-based code enforcement. Examples include:
• Permit Review: Construction, installation, replacement, repair, or relocation of a fence or wall without the required City permit.
• Zoning and Height Review: Proposed fences in a front street setback, on a corner lot, in an administrative-development-order request up to 8 feet, or in a pool-barrier context.
• Placement Review: Fence locations involving property lines, easements, rights-of-way, City lines or facilities, or fire-protection access.
• Visibility Review: Fences, walls, or hedges that exceed 2 feet within the 25-foot street-line intersection visibility area, or fences that obscure fire equipment within the required clearance area.
• Material Review: Plywood fences or repairs, chicken wire or similar material, or hazardous materials such as barbed wire, razor wire, broken glass, electrified materials, or similar materials.
• Maintenance Review: Fences or walls that are deteriorated, structurally unsound, unsafe, or not maintained in the condition required by the Land Development Regulations and Code Compliance guidance.
USING THIS INFORMATION
This page provides general orientation on how residential fence rules are structured and applied within City of Lauderhill, based on publicly available materials reviewed as of April 2026.
In addition to local fence rules, certain Florida laws apply statewide. See Statewide Fence Laws in Florida.
It is not legal advice and does not replace official ordinances, permits, surveys, or professional guidance. Rules and interpretations may change, and application may vary based on zoning district, site conditions, easements, rights-of-way, and private restrictions such as HOA covenants. Before purchasing materials or beginning construction, confirm current requirements and any site-specific limitations with Development Services Department / Building Division and Planning & Zoning Division and any applicable private agreements. If this page conflicts with official ordinances, published guidance, or direction from City of Lauderhill staff, the official sources control. For legal advice or legal interpretation, consult a licensed attorney.