FENCE RULES – TAMARAC (CITY), FLORIDA
OVERVIEW
Residential fences are permitted on private property within the City of Tamarac, subject to local regulations.
Fence rules for the City of Tamarac appear primarily in the Land Development Code, especially §10-4.8, Fences, Walls, and Hedges. Permit administration is also addressed through the City of Tamarac Building Department fence permit materials and standard fence details.
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 Tamarac Building Department, City of Tamarac Fence permit page, City of Tamarac Code Compliance, City of Tamarac Planning and Zoning, the Code of Ordinances and Land Development Code, and City fence and easement standard documents as of April 2026.
GOVERNANCE
The governing authority is the City of Tamarac. The City’s fence rules are administered through the Building Department, Planning and Zoning, Public Services Department, Engineering Division, and Code Compliance, depending on the issue.
The controlling fence standards appear in Chapter 10, Land Development Code, including §10-4.8, Fences, Walls, and Hedges, §10-4.4(D)(6), Sight Distance, and, where applicable, §10-2.7(C), Woodlands Overlay District.
The Building Department administers fence permit review, plans, surveys, product approvals, inspections, and final inspection requirements. Planning and Zoning administers zoning and development standards. Code Compliance handles enforcement and reported code concerns.
PERMIT AND APPROVAL REQUIREMENTS
• Building Permit: A Building Permit is required before a fence or wall is erected or installed in the City of Tamarac. The Land Development Code states that no fence or wall may be erected or installed unless the design and structurally sound materials have been approved and a permit has been issued by the Building Department.
• Fence Permit Materials: The City’s Fence permit page lists the Building Permit Application as required documentation. Additional documentation that may be required includes fence criteria documents, site plans, signed and sealed plans, survey, product approvals, and franchised utility easement instructions.
• PVC or Metal Fences: The City’s PVC/metal fence criteria require a completed building application, a survey marked to show the fence location and lineal footage, engineer signed and sealed plans or product approval, and an easement release if the fence is located within an easement.
• Property-Line Verification: The City’s PVC/metal fence criteria require property pins to be located and available for final inspection. A string line must be established so the inspector can determine the property line.
•Zoning Hearing for Chain-Link Fences: The City’s standard chain-link fence detail states that chain-link fences taller than 72 inches from average finished grade require a zoning hearing. The Land Development Code separately allows rear residential fences and walls up to 8 feet only where the rear property line abuts nonresidential zoning.
• Pool or Spa Barriers: Fences that constitute a safety barrier for a swimming pool or spa must have self-closing and latching mechanisms on all gates.
• Easement Approval: If a fence is located within an easement, the City’s fence criteria require a release from the applicable departments or utilities. The City’s franchised utility easement form also requires an easement consent process and a survey.
FENCE PLACEMENT RULES
• Rear Property Line: In residential districts, fences and walls may be erected along the rear property line, subject to the applicable height limits.
• Side Property Line and Side Yard: In residential districts, fences and walls may be installed along the side property line or elsewhere within the required side yard between the required street front setback and the rear property line, subject to the applicable height limits.
• Front Setback: Fences and walls are prohibited from extending beyond the front line of the house, and no fence or wall is allowed within the front setback.
• Required Front Street Setback: No fence or wall may be installed or remain in the required front street setback area of a single-family or two-family dwelling or in a public right-of-way.
• Two Street Yards: For properties containing two street yards, a fence or wall may be erected on or near the property line adjacent to the secondary street. The secondary street is the street front not used as the primary entrance to the residential dwelling.
• Planting Strip Easements: Fences or walls are permitted within existing planting strip easements.
• Drainage and Canal/Lake Maintenance Easements: The City’s utility easement instructions state that no fences or other structures are permitted in drainage or canal/lake maintenance easements. The Engineering Division of the Public Services Department is identified for verification of the present status of drainage and canal/lake maintenance easements.
• Canal Maintenance Access: Where a canal maintenance easement exists, the Land Development Code requires an opening for maintenance purposes at least 8 feet wide. If there is a gate, it must be hinged or removable for access.
• Utility Easements: The City’s utility easement instructions state that proposed improvements must not be constructed over marked utility locations. Wall encroachments in utility easements require approval from the Public Services Department, Engineering Division.
• 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
• Height Measurement: The height of fences, walls, and hedges is measured from the finished elevation of the property at the point of installation.
• Rear Yard Height: In residential districts, fences and walls may be erected to a maximum height of 6 feet along the rear property line.
• Rear Yard Abutting Nonresidential Zoning: If the rear property line abuts a nonresidential zoned property, the maximum rear fence or wall height is 8 feet.
• Side Yard Height: The maximum height for fences and walls along the side property line or within the required side yard between the required street front setback and the rear property line is 6 feet.
• Residential Hedges: In residential districts, hedges may be maintained at a maximum height of 10 feet along the front setback line, side property lines, and rear property lines.
• Sight Distance: At roadway intersections, fences, walls, and hedges must not obstruct traffic visibility as determined by the City Engineer.
• Sight Visibility Triangle: Where an accessway intersects a public right-of-way, the sight visibility triangle uses 25-foot sides measured from the point of intersection. At a corner formed by two or more public rights-of-way, the sight visibility triangle uses 30-foot sides along the abutting right-of-way lines.
• Cross-Visibility Zone: Sight visibility triangles must provide unobstructed cross-visibility for vehicular, pedestrian, and bicycle traffic between 3 feet and 6 feet measured from grade level.
MATERIAL AND CONSTRUCTION LIMITS
• Allowed Fence and Wall Materials: Except where specifically noted, fences and walls must be constructed of one or more of the following materials: wood, rock, stone, solid masonry with stucco and paint, pierced masonry, ornamental metal, vinyl-coated chain link, or PVC.
• Electrified Fences: Electrified fences are not permitted.
• Chain Link: Bare metal chain-link fences are not permitted unless used for temporary or construction fencing. Chain-link fences must be vinyl coated.
• Bamboo: Bamboo or materials similar in appearance are not permitted.
• Mixed Materials: Fences and walls may not be made of more than one material unless the combination is decorative and allowed at the discretion of the Director.
• Wood Fences: The City’s wood fence standard detail states that wood fences must be constructed of decay-resistant and termite-resistant material as specified in the Florida Building Code. The finished side of the wood fence must face out.
• Chain-Link Construction Detail: The City’s chain-link fence standard detail includes minimum requirements for posts, fabric, tension wire, concrete footings, and post spacing. The detail states that fences taller than 144 inches from average finish grade must be engineered for wind loads.
• Woodlands Overlay District: Within the Woodlands Overlay District, fences are permitted, but the overlay standards require fences to be constructed of non-porous material, specifically metal, aluminum, or plastic. The overlay standards also require the fence to be painted black, dark green, white, or bronze and hidden from view with a continuous hedge.
• Maintenance: Fences, walls, and hedges must be maintained in a condition that ensures safety, functional use, and proper aesthetic appearance. Maintenance includes painting, repairing, or pruning.
PRIVATE RESTRICTIONS
Private covenants, deed restrictions, and homeowner association rules operate independently from City fence regulations.
The City of Tamarac may issue a permit or recognize a fence as compliant with City standards, while a private association or covenant may impose additional limits on height, style, color, location, or materials.
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: Fence and wall construction requires review by the Building Department before installation.
• Inspection: The City’s fence criteria require property pins and a string line for final inspection, so the inspector can determine whether the fence is legally on the property.
• Zoning Hearing: Chain-link fences taller than 72 inches from average finish grade are identified in the City’s standard detail as requiring a zoning hearing.
• Easement Review: Fences in utility easements require applicable releases, and walls in utility easements require approval from the Public Services Department, Engineering Division.
• Drainage and Canal/Lake Maintenance Easements: The City’s utility easement instructions state that fences and other structures are not permitted in drainage or canal/lake maintenance easements.
• Visibility Review: Fences, walls, and hedges at roadway intersections may be reviewed for obstruction of visibility as determined by the City Engineer.
• Maintenance Review: Fences, walls, and hedges may be reviewed for safety, functional use, repair, painting, pruning, and aesthetic maintenance.
• Code Compliance: Reported code concerns are handled through Code Compliance. The Code Compliance page notes that complaints must include the reporter’s name and address for investigations to begin.
USING THIS INFORMATION
This page provides general orientation on how residential fence rules are structured and applied within the City of Tamarac, 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 the City of Tamarac Building Department, Planning and Zoning, and any applicable private agreements. If this page conflicts with official ordinances, published guidance, or direction from City of Tamarac staff, the official sources control. For legal advice or legal interpretation, consult a licensed attorney.