FENCE RULES – MARTIN (COUNTY), FLORIDA
OVERVIEW
Residential fences are permitted on private property within Martin County, subject to local regulations.
This page applies to properties in the unincorporated areas of Martin County; incorporated municipalities regulate fences under their own ordinances.
Martin County regulates residential fences through the Martin County Land Development Regulations, the Martin County Building Department permit process, and Growth Management Department zoning, CRA, and environmental review materials. The county does not publish one consolidated residential fence code; fence rules appear in LDR Section 3.204, fence permit checklists and affidavits, easement forms, and Article 12 for Redevelopment Zoning Districts.
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 Martin County Land Development Regulations, Martin County Building Department permit guidance, Martin County Fence Checklist, Martin County Fence Affidavit of Compliance, Martin County Fence Affidavit of Completion, Martin County Easement Agreement, Growth Management Department materials, and Martin County Code Enforcement materials as of April 2026.
GOVERNANCE
Martin County fence rules are administered through the Martin County Board of County Commissioners, the Martin County Land Development Regulations, the Martin County Building Department, and the Growth Management Department.
The Martin County Land Development Regulations apply to development and land-use activity in the unincorporated area of Martin County. General fence, wall, and hedge standards are located in Article 3, Division 4, Section 3.204.
The Martin County Building Department administers building permit intake, permit checklists, fence affidavits, inspections, and code enforcement materials. The Growth Management Department provides zoning, future land use, environmental, CRA, and related development-review context.
Martin County does not publish one standalone residential fence ordinance. The applicable rules are distributed across the Land Development Regulations, Building Department permit materials, Growth Management materials, and Article 12 standards for properties in Redevelopment Zoning Districts.
PERMIT AND APPROVAL REQUIREMENTS
• Building Permit: Martin County lists fences and pool barriers as projects that require a permit. The Fence Checklist requires a Building Permit Application for fence work.
• Survey / Site Plan Information: Fence permit materials require the survey or site plan to show all existing structures, the location of the proposed fence, setbacks from the fence to property lines, the fence height and type, and the location of easements.
• Fence Affidavit of Compliance: For eligible fences, the Fence Affidavit of Compliance certifies that the fence will comply with all CRA and zoning rules and regulations. The checklist states that this affidavit waives the requirement of a zoning review.
• Fence Affidavit of Completion: After eligible fence installation, the Fence Affidavit of Completion certifies that the work has been installed in accordance with the permit and county fence conditions.
• Pool Barrier Exception: The fence affidavits cannot be used when the fence is a pool barrier. Fences used as pool barriers must be inspected by Martin County.
• Easement Agreement: An Easement Agreement is required only when fence construction is proposed within an easement. The agreement must be obtained from all affected utility companies.
FENCE PLACEMENT RULES
• Property Boundaries: Martin County fence affidavits require the fence to be contained within the property owner’s boundaries.
• Fire Hydrants and Emergency Apparatus: No fence, wall, or hedge may be erected, constructed, installed, or maintained within 6 feet of a fire hydrant or other emergency apparatus.
• Traffic Visibility: No fence, wall, or hedge may create a visual obstruction to vehicular traffic.
• Corner Lots: Martin County fence affidavits require corner-lot fences to be constructed within the building setbacks or not located within sight triangles on a corner lot intersection.
• Navigable Waterways: Martin County fence affidavits require the fence not to be located within 25 feet of a navigable waterway, excluding fencing installed perpendicular to the shoreline along side property lines or on top of a seawall or established shoreline structure.
• Wetlands and Preserves: Martin County fence affidavits require the fence not to be located within wetlands, preserve areas, or preserve area easements unless authorized in writing by the Growth Management Department.
• Easements: If a fence crosses an easement, Martin County fence affidavits require letters from all utility companies. If construction is proposed within an easement, the county’s Easement Agreement process applies.
• Undeveloped Property: Martin County fence affidavits require the fence not to be proposed for undeveloped property unless the property is zoned for residential or agricultural use.
• Redevelopment Zoning Districts: In Redevelopment Zoning Districts, fences and walls adjoining a public right-of-way must allow at least 12 inches of open space from the sidewalk.
• 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
• Property-Line Fence Affidavit Height: Martin County fence affidavits certify a fence as a maximum 6 feet in height on the property line.
• General Setback Exception: Under LDR Section 3.204, district setback limitations do not apply to fences, walls, or hedges that are 6 feet or less in height, measured from adjacent natural grade.
• Corner Visibility Area: Under LDR Section 3.204, the setback exception applies within the triangular area created within 25 feet along the front and side lot lines from the point of street intersection of a corner lot only when the fence, wall, or hedge is 30 inches or less in height, measured from adjacent natural grade.
• Traffic Visibility: The code separately states that no fence, wall, or hedge may create a visual obstruction to vehicular traffic.
• Redevelopment Zoning District Height: In Redevelopment Zoning Districts, fences and walls may not exceed 48 inches in front yards and in portions of side yards in front of the building’s front façade, and may not exceed 72 inches in rear yards and in portions of side yards behind or in line with the building’s front façade.
• Redevelopment Corner Lots: In Redevelopment Zoning Districts, fences and walls on corner lots may be further restricted in height to maintain required site-distance standards.
• Pool Barriers: A fence used as a required pool barrier is reviewed separately from an ordinary yard-fence affidavit. Private pools, hot tubs, and spas containing water more than 24 inches deep must be surrounded by a fence or approved barrier at least 48 inches high, with self-closing and self-latching gates and doors.
MATERIAL AND CONSTRUCTION LIMITS
• Hazardous Materials: No fence or wall may be constructed with broken glass, spikes, exposed nails, barbed wire, electrical elements, or other hazardous material for standard residential use.
• General Residential Materials: Outside Redevelopment Zoning Districts, the code does not specify a single approved material list for standard residential fences.
• Redevelopment Zoning District Materials: In Redevelopment Zoning Districts, fences and walls must be constructed with one or more of the listed materials: aluminum, brick, painted stucco, split-face masonry block, steel, stone, wood, wrought iron, or vinyl.
• Redevelopment Chain Link: In Redevelopment Zoning Districts, chain-link fences are permitted only in rear yards and in side yards behind the building façade. Chain-link fences must have vegetative screening where visible from a street or public park.
• Redevelopment Dangerous Fences: In Redevelopment Zoning Districts, dangerous fences, including electrically charged fences or fences topped with barbed wire or other sharp objects, are not permitted unless approved as necessary to protect the public from hazardous conditions.
• Redevelopment Finished Side: In Redevelopment Zoning Districts, when one side of a fence or wall is finished to a higher standard than the other, the finished side must face outward, except when abutting an existing fence or wall on adjoining property.
PRIVATE RESTRICTIONS
Private covenants, easements, deed restrictions, and HOA rules operate independently from Martin County fence regulations and may impose additional or more restrictive requirements.
The Land Development Regulations state that zoning provisions do not annul easements, covenants, or other agreements between parties; where the county regulation imposes the greater restriction, the county regulation governs.
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 pool-barrier projects are reviewed through the Martin County Building Department permit process.
• Survey and Site Review: Fence permit materials require review of the proposed fence location, property-line setbacks, fence height and type, and easement locations.
• CRA and Zoning Compliance: Eligible fence projects may use the Fence Affidavit of Compliance to certify compliance with CRA and zoning rules and regulations.
• Pool Barrier Inspection: Fences used as pool barriers must be inspected by Martin County and are not eligible for the ordinary fence affidavit process.
• Visibility and Corner Lots: Fence placement may be reviewed for vehicular visibility, sight triangles, and corner-lot building-setback conditions.
• Easements, Wetlands, Preserves, and Waterways: Fence placement may be reviewed when a proposed fence crosses an easement, is within an easement, is near a navigable waterway, or is within wetlands, preserve areas, or preserve area easements.
• Maintenance: Martin County identifies damaged fences and walls as accessory structures that must be maintained structurally sound and in good repair.
• Code Enforcement: Martin County Code Enforcement receives and investigates complaints involving code violations in the unincorporated county.
USING THIS INFORMATION
This page provides general orientation on how residential fence rules are structured and applied within Martin 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 Martin County Building Department, Growth Management Department, and any applicable private agreements. If this page conflicts with official ordinances, published guidance, or direction from Martin County staff, the official sources control. For legal advice or legal interpretation, consult a licensed attorney.