FENCE RULES – PUTNAM (COUNTY), FLORIDA
OVERVIEW
Residential fences are permitted on private property within Putnam County, subject to local regulations.
This page applies to properties in the unincorporated areas of Putnam County; incorporated municipalities regulate fences under their own ordinances.
Putnam County regulates residential fences through the Putnam County Land Development Code, including Article II provisions for accessory structures, Article VII Division 4 for fences, and site-specific overlay provisions for historic properties and flood hazard areas.
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 Putnam County Code of Ordinances, Putnam County Land Development Code, Putnam County Planning and Development Services, Planning & Zoning Division, Building Department, Permit Requirements, and Fences Code materials as of April 2026.
GOVERNANCE
Putnam County residential fence rules are administered under the authority of the Putnam County Board of County Commissioners and the Putnam County Land Development Code.
The Planning & Zoning Division administers zoning and land development review, including compliance with the Land Development Code and Comprehensive Plan. The Building Department administers building permits, inspections, and licensing functions.
Putnam County has a specific fence division in the Land Development Code. Section 45-531 applies to fences and fence walls, Section 45-532 establishes construction standards, and Section 45-533 establishes height standards. Section 45-110 treats privacy, buffer, and decorative walls as fences for purposes of the fence standards.
PERMIT AND APPROVAL REQUIREMENTS
• Building Permit: A Building Permit is required for standard residential fences over 7 feet in height.
• Local Fence Procedure Cross-Reference: Except for fences used for bona fide agricultural uses, Putnam County’s fence standards state that fences over 36 inches in height must comply with established building permit procedures, if any.
• Zoning Compliance: Building permit requirements are separate from zoning, setback, or plat requirements. Confirm any applicable zoning conditions, setbacks, and plat requirements with Planning & Zoning Division before construction.
• Administrative Variance: A property owner in a residential use area may request an administrative variance to extend fence height by up to an additional 2 feet, subject to the application, notice, and review criteria referenced in the Land Development Code.
• Historic Properties: A certificate of appropriateness is required before regulated alteration, construction, removal, or demolition of a structure listed in the local register of historic places or contributing to a listed historic district. For this overlay, the Land Development Code defines “structure” to include fences of any type and walls.
• Floodway Review: Fences in regulated floodways that may block the passage of floodwaters, including stockade fences and wire mesh fences, must meet the floodway limitations in the Land Development Code.
FENCE PLACEMENT RULES
• Setback Areas: Fences are allowed inside required setback areas, subject to the fence requirements in Article VII, Division 4 of the Land Development Code.
• 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.
• Street Rights-of-Way and Easements: No fence may be erected, placed, or maintained within any street right-of-way or street easement.
• Natural Water Bodies: No fence may be erected, placed, or maintained closer than 5 feet to the mean high-water line along natural water bodies.
• Limited or Controlled Access Streets: A fence may be placed or maintained along a property line abutting a limited access or controlled access street if it complies with the Land Development Code standards referenced for residential project fences.
• Regulated Floodways: Fences in regulated floodways that have the potential to block floodwaters must meet the applicable floodway encroachment limitations.
• 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 height is measured from the existing elevation of the natural adjacent grade at the location of the fence.
• Rear and Side Yard Deviation: In rear and side yards, the building official may allow a deviation of up to 4 inches in height where required to compensate for variations in grade, drainage, or weed maintenance, provided that the length of the structural materials does not exceed the permitted height.
• Front Yard Setback Area: A fence located between a street right-of-way or easement and the front yard setback line may not exceed 3 feet in height.
• Open Screening Exception: A fence in the front yard setback area may be up to 4 feet high if the fence is open screening and does not interfere with vehicle visibility at traffic access points.
• Open Screening Spacing: For vertical picket-type fencing used as open screening, the minimum space between vertical members must be at least 1.5 times the width and thickness of the vertical members or bars. In no case may the space between vertical members or bars be less than 4 inches.
• Side and Rear Setback Areas: A fence located between a side or rear lot line and the required setback line is limited to a maximum height of 6 feet.
• Waterfront Visibility: A fence located within 25 feet of a body of water must be open mesh screening above a height of 3.5 feet.
• Residential Height Variance: In a residential use area, an administrative variance may extend the fence height by up to an additional 2 feet.
• Sight Triangle: The code does not specify a separate numeric sight-triangle distance for standard residential fences, but front-area open screening and certain other fence approvals cannot interfere with vehicle visibility at traffic access points.
MATERIAL AND CONSTRUCTION LIMITS
• Uniformity: All fences on each property must be of uniform materials, design, and color. Additions to existing fences that do not exceed the length of the existing fence or wall must maintain uniformity of materials, design, and color with the existing fence or wall.
• Alternative Materials or Color: The Planning and Development Services Director may approve alternative materials or color upon determining that they are compatible with the existing fence or wall.
• Appearance and Maintenance: Fences must be constructed in a manner that does not detract from the neighborhood or community. Fences must not contain missing materials or components, and must remain substantially vertical so that their function or aesthetic purpose has not been compromised.
• Advertising: Fences may not be used for advertising or other non-advertising messages except as provided in the Land Development Code sign regulations.
• Permitted Materials: Fences must be constructed of conventional and traditional building materials, including concrete block, wood, decorative aluminum, iron or steel, chain link, or composite products manufactured specifically for fences and walls.
• Prohibited Materials: Non-traditional materials are prohibited, including tires, mufflers, hubcaps, and auto or mobile home body parts.
• Finished Side: Fences must be constructed to present the finished side of the fence to the adjoining lot or any abutting right-of-way.
• Finished-Side Waiver: Where there is an existing fence, wall, or continuous landscape hedge on the adjoining parcel, the finished-side requirement may be administratively waived upon written request.
• Sharp or Electrified Fences: Except for listed exceptions, barbed wire, spire tips, sharp objects, and electrically charged fences may not be erected within 100 feet of any residential zoning district under separate ownership.
• Agricultural and Security Exceptions: Bona fide agricultural uses may use barbed wire or electrically charged fences to control livestock where livestock is allowed. Barbed wire may also be approved for temporary construction security fences, and chain-link fencing with three strands of barbed wire may be required or approved around structures, site improvements, or equipment that may present a hazard or attractive nuisance.
• Invisible Fences: The electrical fence prohibition does not prohibit underground, wireless outdoor sonic fences used to keep domestic animals on the property.
PRIVATE RESTRICTIONS
Private covenants, deed restrictions, subdivision rules, and HOA requirements operate independently from Putnam County fence regulations.
The Putnam County Land Development Code states that it is not intended to interfere with or annul easements, covenants, restrictions, or other private agreements. Where a private restriction or another applicable rule is more restrictive, the more restrictive standard may control independently of the county’s minimum 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: Standard residential fences over 7 feet in height require a Building Permit, and fences over 36 inches must comply with established building permit procedures, if any.
• Zoning Review: Fence placement, height, waterfront location, materials, finished-side orientation, and visibility at traffic access points may be reviewed for Land Development Code compliance.
• Height Variance Review: Residential fences exceeding the stated height limits may require administrative variance review when an additional height allowance is requested.
• Historic Review: Fences on properties listed in the local register of historic places or contributing to a listed historic district may require certificate of appropriateness review.
• Floodway Review: Fences in regulated floodways that may block floodwaters must meet floodway limitations before authorization.
• Right-of-Way or Easement Issues: Fences located in a street right-of-way or street easement are not allowed under the fence placement rules.
• Waterfront Location Issues: Fences closer than 5 feet to the mean high-water line along natural water bodies are not allowed under the fence placement rules.
• Maintenance and Materials: Missing components, non-traditional materials, advertising on fences, failure to keep a fence substantially vertical, or failure to present the finished side outward may create review or enforcement issues.
USING THIS INFORMATION
This page provides general orientation on how residential fence rules are structured and applied within Putnam 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 Putnam County Planning and Development Services and any applicable private agreements. If this page conflicts with official ordinances, published guidance, or direction from Putnam County staff, the official sources control. For legal advice or legal interpretation, consult a licensed attorney.