Direct answer
Usually, yes. Broward fence permits come from the city, or from Broward County in the Broward Municipal Services District. Pompano Beach, for example, says the installation, replacement, or major repair of a residential or commercial fence requires a building permit. City checklists commonly ask for the Broward County Uniform Building Permit Application, a survey showing the fence, gates, and easements, and fence details or a product approval for materials other than wood or chain link.
Disclaimer
This article is general information about permitting and code-enforcement processes. It is not legal advice, not a substitute for advice from a Florida-licensed attorney, and not a guarantee of any result, timeline, or fee. Permit Busters, LLC is not a law firm and does not appear as your legal representative. Building and code rules vary by county and municipality and can change. Confirm current requirements, forms, and fees with the building or code office that has jurisdiction over the property, and consult a Florida attorney and, where construction work is required, a Florida-licensed contractor.
Este artículo es información general sobre procesos de permisos y cumplimiento del código. No es asesoramiento legal, no sustituye el consejo de un abogado con licencia en Florida y no garantiza un resultado, un plazo ni un costo. Permit Busters, LLC no es un bufete de abogados y no comparece como su representante legal. Las normas de construcción y de código varían según el condado y el municipio y pueden cambiar. Confirme los requisitos, formularios y tarifas vigentes con la oficina de construcción o de código que tenga jurisdicción sobre la propiedad, y consulte a un abogado de Florida y, cuando se requiera obra, a un contratista con licencia en Florida.
Who issues the permit
Each Broward city runs its own building department. Broward County’s Building Code Division handles permits for the Broward Municipal Services District and the cities it contracts with. Start with the building department for the property’s address. See Which Department Issues Your South Florida Permit.
What Broward city checklists ask for
The details vary, but these four city checklists share a pattern:
- Pompano Beach: a Broward County Uniform Permit Application from a licensed structural contractor or owner-builder (the City says the owner-builder option does not apply to work in condominiums), a separate Zoning Compliance Permit Application, and a survey or site plan showing the location, height, and type of fence and gates. For materials other than 6-foot chain link or wood, the City asks for a current Notice of Acceptance or a site-specific detail signed and sealed by a design professional. If trees are next to the work, a tree permit may be required. Inspections listed include a building final and a zoning final.
- Pembroke Pines: the Uniform Building Permit Application, a Homeowners Association Affidavit of Awareness (the City says it must be submitted even if you do not belong to an association), an Affidavit of Landscape Compliance, a Utility Easement Hold Harmless Agreement, and a property survey showing setbacks and location. PVC or metal fences need plans signed and sealed by a licensed design professional. Wood or chain-link fences not designed by an architect or engineer must follow the Florida Building Code’s prescribed method. Projects in the South Broward Drainage District need a permit release from that district. The City lists separate foundation and final inspections.
- Sunrise: the Uniform Building Permit Application and the City’s addendum, with the fence type, height, and total length; two sets of a boundary survey or site plan with each run of fence labeled and each gate shown; and a fence detail. The City says fences other than Florida Building Code prescriptive wood or chain-link fences require engineered drawings.
- Oakland Park: the Uniform Building Permit Application, surveys showing all easements, and Notices of Acceptance or engineering for fences that are not chain link or wood. The City also lists engineering review and a drainage district approval letter for a fence that borders a waterway, and an easement agreement for a fence in an easement.
Most of these checklists also list a recorded Notice of Commencement above a stated job value. The amount differs between checklists, so use the figure the city gives you.
If signed and sealed plans are required, they must be prepared by a Florida-licensed engineer or architect. Permit Busters, LLC can help coordinate that step.
Height, location, and easements are zoning questions
Fence height limits and where a fence may sit on the lot come from the city’s zoning code, not from a single countywide rule. That is why several cities send fence permits through zoning review. Ask the city for the height and setback rules for your zoning district before you order materials. If the fence will cross a utility or drainage easement, expect an easement agreement.
Pool fences have extra rules
If the fence is part of a pool barrier, Florida’s Residential Swimming Pool Safety Act applies. Section 515.29 of the Florida Statutes says a residential pool barrier must be at least 4 feet high on the outside, must not have gaps or footholds that would let a young child crawl under, squeeze through, or climb over, and must have gates that open outward, away from the pool, and are self-closing and self-latching. Oakland Park and Pompano Beach both point pool fences to these requirements and the Florida Building Code’s pool barrier section.
Does the under-$7,500 exemption cover a fence?
Florida Statutes section 553.79(1)(g) requires local governments to exempt certain work under $7,500 on single-family homes, but it excludes structural work, work in a flood hazard area, and electrical, plumbing, mechanical, or gas work, and the owner or contractor must submit a written request with a copy of the contract or other documentation showing the nature and value of the work. Miami-Dade County, for example, lists wind-resistant fences as structural work that still needs a permit, and says non-wind-resistant fences such as chain-link or picket are exempt from building permits but need a zoning permit. Ask your Broward city how it treats your fence before relying on the exemption.
HOA approval is separate
An HOA’s architectural approval is not a city permit, and a city permit is not HOA approval. If the property has an association, getting its approval is the owner’s responsibility.
Get help with a Broward fence permit
Permit Busters, LLC can help you find out what your city requires, assemble the survey, details, and affidavits, and track the permit through review. See our city pages for Pompano Beach, Pembroke Pines, Sunrise, and Oakland Park. Approval always rests with the city or county. Call (954) 616-5823, email info@permitbusters.com, or book an appointment. Hours are Monday through Friday, 9 AM to 5 PM. Permit Busters, LLC is based in Lauderhill, FL 33351.
FAQ
Do I need a permit to replace a fence in Broward?
Usually. Pompano Beach, for example, says the installation, replacement, or major repair of a residential or commercial fence requires a building permit. Each Broward city sets its own requirements, so check with the building department for the property.
What documents does a Broward city want for a fence permit?
City checklists commonly ask for the Broward County Uniform Building Permit Application, a survey or site plan showing the fence, gates, height, and easements, and fence details. Materials other than wood or chain link usually need a product approval or signed and sealed drawings.
How tall can my fence be in Broward?
It depends on the city’s zoning code and your zoning district. There is no single countywide height rule. Ask the city’s zoning or building department before you order materials.
What are the rules for a pool fence in Florida?
Florida Statutes section 515.29 says a residential pool barrier must be at least 4 feet high on the outside, without gaps or footholds a young child could use, and with outward-opening, self-closing, self-latching gates. Cities also apply the Florida Building Code’s pool barrier section.
Is a fence exempt from permits if it costs less than $7,500?
Not automatically. Section 553.79(1)(g) excludes structural work and properties in a flood hazard area, and it requires a written request with a copy of the contract or other documentation showing the nature and value of the work. Miami-Dade, for example, treats wind-resistant fences as structural. Ask your Broward city how it applies the exemption.