FENCE RULES – HOLLYWOOD (CITY), FLORIDA
OVERVIEW
Residential fences are permitted on private property within City of Hollywood, subject to local regulations.
The City of Hollywood regulates residential fences through the Code of Ordinances, including Code § 155.12, Fences, Walls, Bushes, or Hedges, the Zoning and Land Development Regulations, and the Development Services Building Division Fence Checklist.
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 City of Hollywood Code of Ordinances, Zoning and Land Development Regulations, Development Services Building Division Fence Checklist, Building Permit FAQ, Building Permit Portal, Zoning page, and Planning and Urban Design Division page as of April 2026.
GOVERNANCE
The governing authority is the City of Hollywood.
Fence permitting is administered through the City of Hollywood Building Division within Development Services. Zoning-related fence location, height, and district review is handled through the Planning and Urban Design Division / Zoning, which administers the City’s Zoning and Land Development Code and reviews building permits for zoning compliance.
The City does not place all residential fence rules in one consolidated homeowner fence article. Residential fence standards appear across Code § 155.12, the Zoning and Land Development Regulations, and the Fence Checklist used by the Building Division.
PERMIT AND APPROVAL REQUIREMENTS
• Building Permit: The installation, replacement, or major repair of a fence, whether residential or commercial, requires a Building Permit from the City of Hollywood Building Division.
• Replacement Fences: The Building FAQ states that replacing a fence with the same fence requires a permit.
• Permit Application: A fence permit submittal requires a completed Broward County Uniform Permit Application with Building checked, submitted by a licensed structural contractor or an eligible owner-builder.
• Survey or Site Plan: The permit submittal must include a clean survey or site plan showing the fence location, height, type, gates, linear footage, and whether the fence uses chain link, wood, vinyl, PVC, metal, aluminum, or another approved material.
• Zoning Review: The Planning and Urban Design Division / Zoning reviews building permits for compliance with the Zoning and Land Development Code. Fence applications are reviewed against location, height, visibility, and district-specific standards.
• Easement Agreements: If the fence encroaches into an easement, completed Easement Agreements must be submitted.
• Material Approval: If fence material other than 6-foot chain link or wood is used, the submittal requires a current Notice of Acceptance or a site-specific detail signed, sealed, and dated by a design professional.
• HOA or Condo Approval: An HOA/Condo Association approval letter must be submitted when applicable.
• Trees Near Work Area: If trees exist adjacent to the work area, a completed Tree Permit Application and Tree Protection Plan may be required.
• Pool Area: If a pool exists within the limits of the fence, the permit submittal must include details showing compliance with the Residential Swimming Pool Safety Act.
• Notice of Commencement: A recorded Notice of Commencement is required if the job value is greater than $5,000.
FENCE PLACEMENT RULES
• 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.
• Adjacent Property Encroachment: Fence construction must avoid above-ground and below-ground encroachment onto adjoining property.
• Utility Easements: The City allows fencing within a utility easement, but the property owner is responsible for repair or replacement of fencing removed or damaged during utility installation or maintenance operations within the easement.
• Easement Encroachment Review: If a proposed fence encroaches into an easement, the permit submittal requires completed Easement Agreements.
• Gate Swing: Fence gates must not swing open onto a right-of-way or neighboring property.
• Double Frontage Lots: On double frontage lots, the required front-yard fence height applies on each street frontage.
• 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: Fence, wall, bush, and hedge height is measured from the grade of the property where the fence, wall, bush, or hedge is located, measured at a point 1 foot from it.
• Adjacent Lower Grade: When adjacent property is lower in grade, the allowed height, measured from the adjacent property grade at the property line, may not exceed the otherwise permitted height by more than 3 feet.
• Residential Front Yard: Fences and walls in a residential front yard area may not exceed 4 feet.
• Residential Side Yard: Fences and walls in a residential side yard area may not exceed 6 feet.
• Residential Rear Yard: Fences and walls in a residential rear yard area may not exceed 6 feet.
• Adjacent Non-Residential Property: Fences and walls in rear or interior side yards adjacent to non-residentially zoned property may not exceed 8 feet.
• Corner Setback Area: In the corner setback area, fences, walls, bushes, and hedges are restricted to 2 feet in height. Fences may be constructed to 4 feet in the corner setback area when the City Engineer or designee determines that the height does not constitute a visual barrier.
• Corner Setback Measurement: The corner setback area is measured by connecting points 25 feet along the property lines from the intersection of a street, or 6 feet along the property lines at the intersection of an alley and a street.
• View Triangle: Within the view triangle, fences, walls, bushes, hedges, landscaping, and plant material must provide unobstructed cross visibility between 30 inches and 72 inches above ground level.
• Residential Hedges: The code does not state a maximum height for residential hedges in front, side, or rear yard areas, except where the view-triangle rules apply.
MATERIAL AND CONSTRUCTION LIMITS
• Wood Fence Orientation: Vertical posts, horizontal rails, and support systems of wood fences must face the inside of the property.
• Wood Fence Finished Surface: The exterior of wood fences, or any exterior portion facing away from the property, must have a finished surface.
• Front-Yard Wood Fences: A wood fence located in the front yard setback must be finished on both sides.
• Street-Visible Wood Fences: When each side of a wood fence is visible from a street, the wood fence must be finished on both sides.
• Wood Fence Construction: Wood fences up to 6 feet in height above grade must be constructed to meet the minimum requirements of the Florida Building Code section identified in the City’s fence construction requirements.
• Wood Posts: For 6-foot wood fences, fence posts must be minimum nominal 4 inches by 4 inches, spaced a maximum of 4 feet on center, embedded 2 feet into a concrete footing 10 inches in diameter and 2 feet deep, with post lumber No. 2 grade or better and decay- and termite-resistant.
• Lower Wood Fences: Wood fences not exceeding 5 feet may have posts spaced 5 feet on center when installed as specified. Wood fences 4 feet in height may have posts spaced 6 feet on center.
• Chain-Link Construction: Chain-link fences under 12 feet must be designed according to the applicable high-velocity hurricane-zone loads or constructed to meet the City’s published minimum chain-link fence table. The City’s table applies only to fences with unrestricted air flow.
• Chain-Link Fabric: The City’s chain-link table specifies 12-1/2 gauge minimum fabric.
• Chain-Link Post Spacing: The City’s chain-link table specifies 10 feet on center maximum post spacing, with posts embedded to within 6 inches from the bottom of the foundation.
• Ground Clearance: To follow the contour of the land, the bottom of a chain-link fence may clear the contour of the ground by up to 5 inches without increasing table values to the next higher limit.
• Barbed Wire: Barbed wire or similar materials are prohibited for standard residential fences.
• Ornamental Fixtures: Ornamental fixtures or lamps may be placed on walls or fences adjacent to a public street, alley, golf course, or waterway. The combined height may not exceed the required fence or wall height by more than 2 feet. Fixtures must be separated by at least 8 feet on center and may not exceed 2 feet in width.
• RAC District: In the Regional Activity Center, chain link is not permitted.
• TOC District: In the Transit Oriented Corridor, chain link is not permitted in the front yard setback.
• Historic District: In a Historic District, chain link is not permitted, and PVC is not permitted in the front yard setback.
PRIVATE RESTRICTIONS
Private covenants, homeowners’ association rules, condominium association rules, and recorded restrictions operate independently from City fence regulations.
The City’s fence permit checklist requires an HOA/Condo Association approval letter when applicable. Private restrictions may be more restrictive than City rules.
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: Installation, replacement, or major repair of a residential fence requires Building Division permit review.
• Replacement Review: Replacement of an existing fence with the same fence still requires a permit.
• Zoning Review: Fence height, location, front-yard placement, double-frontage-lot treatment, and district-specific restrictions are reviewed through the zoning and building permit process.
• Height Review: Residential fences are reviewed against the 4-foot front-yard limit, 6-foot side- and rear-yard limits, and 8-foot limit for rear or interior side yards adjacent to non-residentially zoned property.
• Visibility Review: Corner setback areas and view triangles are reviewed for the 2-foot corner setback limit, possible 4-foot corner setback determination by the City Engineer or designee, and required unobstructed cross visibility between 30 inches and 72 inches.
• Easement Review: Fences proposed within or encroaching into easements are reviewed for required easement agreements and utility-access limitations.
• Right-of-Way Review: Fence gates must not swing onto a right-of-way or neighboring property.
• Material Review: Fence materials are reviewed for Notice of Acceptance or signed and sealed design details when required, and for RAC, TOC, and Historic District material restrictions.
• Construction Review: Wood-fence orientation, finished-side treatment, wood-fence construction, chain-link construction, post spacing, and product-approval requirements are reviewed through the permit materials and inspection process.
USING THIS INFORMATION
This page provides general orientation on how residential fence rules are structured and applied within City of Hollywood, 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 City of Hollywood Building Division and Planning and Urban Design Division / Zoning and any applicable private agreements. If this page conflicts with official ordinances, published guidance, or direction from City of Hollywood staff, the official sources control. For legal advice or legal interpretation, consult a licensed attorney.