FENCE RULES – ST. LUCIE (COUNTY), FLORIDA
OVERVIEW
Residential fences are permitted on private property within St. Lucie County, subject to local regulations.
This page applies to properties in the unincorporated areas of St. Lucie County; incorporated municipalities regulate fences under their own ordinances.
In St. Lucie County, typical residential fence rules appear primarily in the St. Lucie County Land Development Code, especially Section 8.00.04, Fences, Walls, Berms and Hedges, with related visibility standards and permit administration appearing elsewhere in the Land Development Code and the County Code. St. Lucie County also publishes county permit materials specifically for fence permits.
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 St. Lucie County Land Development Code, the St. Lucie County Code of Ordinances, the St. Lucie County Planning Division, the St. Lucie County Building FAQ’s, the Code Compliance FAQ, the Items Not Requiring a Permit page, the Fence Permit Checklist, and the Fence Survey Affidavit, as of April 2026.
GOVERNANCE
St. Lucie County regulates fences in the unincorporated county through the St. Lucie County Land Development Code and related county permit administration.
For typical residential fences, the principal standards appear in Section 8.00.04, Fences, Walls, Berms and Hedges. Related cross-visibility standards appear in Section 7.09.04(D), general development permit administration appears in Chapter XI, and county right-of-way and easement controls appear in Chapter 36 of the St. Lucie County Code.
Permit administration is handled through the Planning and Development Services Department, Building and Code Regulations Division. Planning and zoning functions are handled through the St. Lucie County Planning Division. Complaint-based enforcement is handled through Code Compliance.
PERMIT AND APPROVAL REQUIREMENTS
• Building Permit: St. Lucie County’s published administrative materials treat residential fences as permit-required work. The county publishes a fence permit checklist and a fence survey affidavit for fence permit applications.
• Published Exemption: St. Lucie County’s published no-permit guidance exempts minor repair or exact replacement of an existing permitted fence of up to 2 panels, excluding pool barriers.
• Application Materials: The published fence permit checklist requires permit application information, a fence survey affidavit, a property survey or site plan showing fence location, and product information for the fence, gate, and latch.
• Notice of Commencement: A recorded Notice of Commencement is required for fence work valued at $5,000 or more before the first inspection is scheduled.
• Zoning Compliance: Building permit requirements are separate from zoning, setback, or plat requirements. Confirm any applicable zoning conditions, setbacks, and plat requirements with St. Lucie County Planning Division before construction.
FENCE PLACEMENT RULES
• Property Boundaries: The ordinance does not state a setback requirement for standard residential fences from property lines; however, fences must be located entirely on the owner’s property and must not encroach into rights-of-way or easements.
• Utility and Drainage Easements: Fences erected in utilities or drainage easements require a Revocable License Agreement.
• County Right-of-Way: Work in the county right-of-way requires county right-of-way permitting under Chapter 36 of the St. Lucie County Code.
• Drainage: No fence, wall, or hedge may be constructed or installed in a manner that interferes with drainage on or adjacent to the property.
• Vacant Property: Fencing or walling of vacant properties is not permitted. The Land Development Code treats a fence or wall as an accessory structure, and accessory structures are allowed only in connection with a principal lawfully existing permitted use or conditional use.
• Floodways: Fences and walls in regulated floodways that have the potential to block the passage of floodwaters must meet the county floodway limitation referenced in Section 6.05.09(C)(4).
• 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
• Required Front Yard: Within a required front yard in a residential zoning district, the maximum height for a fence, wall, or landscape berm is 3 feet.
• Other Required Yards: In any other required yard in a residential zoning district, a fence, wall, or landscape berm may be up to 6 feet above the elevation of the centerline of the roadway adjacent to the property.
• Residential Lot Next to Non-Residential Zoning: If a residential lot adjoins a non-residentially zoned lot, fence height may increase to 8 feet along the adjoining lot lines.
• Rear or Side Lot Line Along a Street Right-of-Way: If the rear or side lot line of a residential lot adjoins a street right-of-way, fence, wall, or landscape berm height may increase to 8 feet along the street right-of-way.
• Traffic Hazard and Cross-Visibility: Fences may not create a traffic hazard or obstruct cross-visibility along a right-of-way or at intersections.
• Hedges at Intersections: Hedges may be located in required front, rear, or side yards, but a hedge at the intersection of two streets must comply with the county’s cross-visibility rule. That rule requires unobstructed visibility between 3 feet and 6 feet within the specified sight triangles, including 15-foot triangles at accessways and 30-foot triangles at street intersections.
MATERIAL AND CONSTRUCTION LIMITS
• Restricted Residential Materials: In the RE-1, RE-2, RS-2, RS-3, RS-4, RMH-5, RM-5, RM-7, RM-9, RM-11, RM-15, and HIRD zoning districts, fences constructed in whole or in part of cattle wire, chicken wire, razor wire, barbed wire, or similar materials are not permitted.
• Nontraditional Materials: Tires, mufflers, hubcaps, broken glass, and similar nontraditional materials are prohibited.
• Preserve-Area Exception: A residential property in one of the listed residential districts that is contiguous to a named preserve area with an existing cattle wire or chicken wire fence installed by a local, state, or federal agency may construct a cattle wire or chicken wire fence in the rear and side yard for consistent fence design and material. That exception does not allow such fencing in the required front yard.
PRIVATE RESTRICTIONS
Homeowner associations, deed restrictions, and private covenants operate independently of county law and may be more restrictive than St. Lucie County’s published fence standards.
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: The county’s fence permit process reviews fence type, height, valuation, survey information, and supporting documents.
• Boundary Verification: The county’s fence survey affidavit requires the owner to confirm that the submitted survey remains accurate and that the proposed fence location is within the parcel boundaries.
• Easement Encroachment: Placement within a drainage or utility easement without the required authorization is identified by the county as a code violation issue.
• Visibility Hazards: Fence placement that creates a traffic hazard or obstructs cross-visibility along a right-of-way or at intersections is subject to review.
• Drainage Conflicts: Fence, wall, or hedge installation that interferes with drainage on or adjacent to the property is subject to review.
• Removal Context: The county’s affidavit warns that a fence installed outside the represented location, outside parcel boundaries, or within a drainage or utility easement without authorization may result in a requirement to remove the fence.
USING THIS INFORMATION
This page provides general orientation on how residential fence rules are structured and applied within St. Lucie County, 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 Planning and Development Services Department, Building and Code Regulations Division and any applicable private agreements. If this page conflicts with official ordinances, published guidance, or direction from St. Lucie County staff, the official sources control. For legal advice or legal interpretation, consult a licensed attorney.