FENCE RULES – ST. JOHNS (COUNTY), FLORIDA

OVERVIEW

Residential fences are permitted on private property within St. Johns County, subject to local regulations.

This page applies to properties in the unincorporated areas of St. Johns County; incorporated municipalities regulate fences under their own ordinances.

Fence rules for standard residential lots appear primarily in the St. Johns County Land Development Code, Article II, Section 2.02.04.B.12, with related visibility references in Article VI, Roadways, Drainage and Utilities Standards. The county also publishes a residential fencing summary through the Planning and Zoning Division FAQ.

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 St. Johns County Land Development Code, St. Johns County Planning and Zoning Division, St. Johns County Building Department, St. Johns County Growth Management Department, St. Johns County Code Enforcement, St. Johns County Standards and Detail Manual, and St. Johns County Development Review Manual as of April 2026.

GOVERNANCE

St. Johns County regulates residential fence placement and height through the St. Johns County Land Development Code in the unincorporated county.

The Planning and Zoning Division administers zoning and land-use questions, including residential fence standards and Land Development Code interpretation context. The Building Department administers building permits and inspections. The Growth Management Department coordinates compliance with the Comprehensive Plan, Land Development Code, and related development standards. Code Enforcement handles non-criminal ordinance concerns.

St. Johns County does not publish a single standalone residential fence ordinance. Fence rules appear in the accessory-use standards for residential districts, with additional site-specific references in roadway visibility, floodplain, overlay, landmark, and planned-development provisions.

PERMIT AND APPROVAL REQUIREMENTS

• Building Permit: The St. Johns County Land Development Code and county-published guidance do not explicitly state a stricter local building-permit threshold for standard residential fences. Under the Florida statewide building-code baseline, a Building Permit is required for standard residential fences over 7 feet in height.

• Zoning Compliance: Building permit requirements are separate from zoning, setback, or plat requirements. Confirm any applicable zoning conditions, setbacks, and plat requirements with Planning and Zoning Division before construction.

• Residential Fence Rule Location: The primary residential fence standard is in Land Development Code Section 2.02.04.B.12, which regulates fences, walls, and hedges in residential districts.

• Special Districts and Overlays: The Palm Valley Overlay District and South Anastasia Overlay District contain separate Fences and Walls sections. Properties in the Ponte Vedra Zoning District, coastal overlay areas, or approved PUD or PRD districts are subject to the standards applicable to those locations.

• Landmark and Landmark District Review: For property designated as a County Landmark or a contributing property in a Landmark District, the county’s cultural-resource procedures require Certificate of Appropriateness review for new construction of structures or additions and for certain exterior changes. The published materials do not state a separate fence-specific residential certificate threshold.

FENCE PLACEMENT RULES

• Required Yards: Fences, walls, and hedges may be placed along the edge of a required yard in residential districts, subject to the height and visibility restrictions in Section 2.02.04.B.12.

• Property Lines: 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.

• Front Property Line Area: Within 25 feet of the front property line in residential districts, no fence, wall, or hedge may exceed 4 feet in height, except as stated in the code.

• Corner, Through, and Multiple-Front-Yard Lots: On corner lots, lots with 2 or more Front Yards, and through lots, the second Front Yard may have a fence, wall, or hedge up to 6 feet in height, except within the roadway-intersection visibility triangle.

• Right-of-Way and Visibility: Fences, walls, and hedges must not obstruct the view of approaching traffic. The code also points to the Roadways, Drainage and Utilities Standards for roadway-intersection visibility triangles.

• Gate Swing: The code does not specify a gate-swing standard for standard residential fences.

• Drainage: The code does not publish a drainage-specific standard for standard residential fences, apart from roadway, drainage, utility, floodplain, or site-specific standards that may apply to a particular parcel.

• 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

• Measurement: Fence, wall, or hedge height is measured from the natural grade or approved established grade on either side, using the lower side.

• Side and Rear Property Lines – Grade Change of 2 Feet or Less: If the grade change is 2 feet or less within 20 feet of the boundary of the adjoining properties, the maximum fence height is 6 feet.

• Side and Rear Property Lines – Fence at Lowest Elevation: If the grade change is more than 2 feet within 20 feet of the boundary of the adjoining properties and the fence is constructed at the lowest elevation of the grade change, the maximum fence height is 8 feet.

• Side and Rear Property Lines – Fence at Highest Elevation: If the grade change is more than 2 feet within 20 feet of the boundary of the adjoining properties and the fence is constructed at the highest elevation of the grade change, the maximum fence height is 6 feet, measured from the existing natural grade on which the fence or wall sits, or the finished grade at the time of subdivision platting.

• Retaining Walls: When a fence is located within 5 feet of a retaining wall, the cumulative height of the fence and retaining wall is limited to 8 feet, measured from the base of the retaining wall.

• Front Property Line: Within 25 feet of the front property line in residential districts, no fence, wall, or hedge may exceed 4 feet in height, except as stated in the code.

• Noise Walls and Berms: Walls and combinations of walls and berms up to 8 feet may be erected in yards that abut an Arterial or Major Collector when the county’s stated roadway-noise conditions are met. Within the sight triangle, the fence is limited to 2.5 feet or less.

• Posts and Similar Features: Posts, columns, gates, lights, and other substantially similar features may exceed the maximum fence height by 2 feet.

• Traffic View: No fence, wall, or hedge may obstruct the view of approaching traffic in each direction.

MATERIAL AND CONSTRUCTION LIMITS

• Residential Fence Materials: The Land Development Code does not specify permitted or prohibited materials for standard residential fences.

• Opacity: The code does not specify an opacity requirement for standard residential fences.

• Finished Side: The code does not specify a finished-side orientation requirement for standard residential fences.

• Floodway Locations: In Regulated Floodways, fences that have the potential to block floodwaters, including stockade fences and wire mesh fences, are subject to flood-resistant-development limitations in the Land Development Code.

• Overlay Materials: The Palm Valley Overlay District contains separate fence and wall provisions that include review for architectural treatment, materials, and landscaping when greater height is needed to satisfy another applicable rule, requirement, or regulation.

PRIVATE RESTRICTIONS

Private covenants, deed restrictions, homeowner association rules, architectural-review rules, and subdivision restrictions operate independently from St. Johns County’s public code. They may be more restrictive than the county’s 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:

• Building Permit Trigger: A standard residential fence over 7 feet is reviewed through the building-permit baseline.

• Height Limits: Residential fences, walls, and hedges are reviewed against the 6-foot, 8-foot, 4-foot, and other code-specific height limits depending on yard location, grade condition, retaining walls, and special roadway conditions.

• Visibility: Fences, walls, or hedges that obstruct the view of approaching traffic or conflict with required roadway-intersection visibility triangles are review and enforcement contexts.

• Right-of-Way or Easement Conflicts: Fence encroachments into rights-of-way or easements can raise placement or public-property issues.

• Floodway Conditions: Fences in Regulated Floodways that may block floodwaters are reviewed under the county’s flood-resistant-development standards.

• Special Districts and Landmark Context: Site-specific overlay, special district, Landmark, Landmark District, PUD, PRD, or Ponte Vedra provisions can create additional review context when applicable.

• Code Enforcement: Code Enforcement handles non-criminal ordinance concerns. Property-line disputes are treated separately from county code enforcement in the county’s published guidance.

USING THIS INFORMATION

This page provides general orientation on how residential fence rules are structured and applied within St. Johns 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 Zoning Division and the Building Department and any applicable private agreements. If this page conflicts with official ordinances, published guidance, or direction from St. Johns County staff, the official sources control. For legal advice or legal interpretation, consult a licensed attorney.