Unincorporated Charlotte County fence permit
Do you need a fence permit in the Unincorporated Charlotte County? Yes. Unincorporated Charlotte County requires a permit before you build a fence.
buildit.dog can turn a fence drawn on an aerial photo of your lot into a complete permit application package for Unincorporated Charlotte County (site plan, aerial photo and filled-in details) in a few minutes. Start with your address.
Quick facts
- Permit required
- Yes source
- Fee
- Zoning Review $30; Building fee 0.004 x ICC valuation applies if valuation is $50,000 or more (plus surcharge of 0.025 x building fee) source
- Side and rear yards
- 6 ft (chain link and wood fences), measured from natural grade source
- Distance from lot line
- Outside Residential Estate (RE) districts, side and rear setbacks do not apply to fences or walls up to 6 ft behind the minimum front setback line. Corner lots where a side property line abuts a road: minimum 7.5 ft from the property line. Front setbacks do not apply to opaque fences or walls up to 3 ft, or non-opaque fences or walls up to 4 ft. source
- Good side faces
- Finished side faces the adjacent property or public right-of-way; posts on the inside (owner's side) unless the fence looks the same on both sides. source
- How to apply
- In person source
Still being confirmed with Unincorporated Charlotte County: Is there an online portal for fence permit submission, and what is the front-yard fence height limit?
How to file for a fence permit in the Unincorporated Charlotte County
Steps based on charlottecountyfl.gov — residential fence.stml
- Complete the Residential Fence Permit application package and site plan or survey.
- Gather notarized affidavits, owner consent, and a Notice of Commencement if cost exceeds $5,000.
- Submit in person (2 original signed/sealed sets); the county page also mentions online submission (1 set) but names no portal, so confirm with Zoning.
- Pay fees at issuance (check to CCBCC or Mastercard/Visa).
- The application goes through intake, Natural Resources, Tree, and Zoning review.
- Schedule the inspections listed on the job card.
- Call Sunshine 811 at least two full business days before digging.
- Paying
- At issuance: check payable to CCBCC / Charlotte County BCC, or Mastercard/Visa
- Review time
- Intake, Natural Resources, Tree, Zoning
- Inspections
- Listed on the job card; NOC must be recorded and posted before first inspection
- Permit good for
- Void if work does not start or no approved inspection within 180 days; approved inspection extends 180 days
Who to contact
Zoning Division
Community Development Department
- Phone
- 941.743.1964
- [email protected]
- Address
- 18500 Murdock Circle, Port Charlotte, FL 33948
Contact from charlottecountyfl.gov — application package residential fence permit
What to submit
- Residential Fence Permit Application (signed under penalty of perjury)
- Site plan drawn to scale with Affidavit for Accessory Structures, or a survey showing fence location
- Applicant Affidavit (notarized)
- Property Owner's Consent (notarized)
- Notice of Commencement if construction cost exceeds $5,000
- Recorded Easement Encroachment Agreement, if applicable
- Tree Permit Application if trees 4 inch caliper or greater must be removed
- Rental property: owner's written consent
- Owner-builders: Owner-Builder Disclosure Statement
Other rules to know
- Masonry fences are classified as walls and require a Building Permit.
- Gates, columns, posts and finials may exceed the fence maximum by up to 1 ft.
- Waterfront lots: fences or walls over 4 ft may not be closer than 10 ft to the Mean High Water line, seawall, or property line, whichever is more restrictive.
- Properties in the Charlotte Harbor CRA or Manasota Key Overlay need additional review.
- Starting work before permit issuance may incur a penalty of up to four times the permit fee.
- No permit needed for a garbage container or mechanical equipment enclosure with 3 panels or less and one gate behind the front living edge of the home.
- Fences protecting a swimming pool use the Residential Baby Barrier permit.
Before you dig
Call Sunshine 811 before digging post holes (dial 811 or file online at sunshine811.com) at least two full business days ahead. Find your lot corner markers and keep the fence on your side of the line. County parcel maps can be off by several feet; if you're not sure where the line is, a licensed land surveyor can stake it.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a permit to build a fence in the Unincorporated Charlotte County, FL?
Yes. Unincorporated Charlotte County requires a permit before you build a fence. No permit needed for a garbage container or mechanical equipment enclosure with 3 panels or less and one gate behind the front living edge of the home.
How tall can a fence be in the Unincorporated Charlotte County?
Side and rear yards: 6 ft (chain link and wood fences), measured from natural grade.
How close to the property line can I put a fence in the Unincorporated Charlotte County?
Outside Residential Estate (RE) districts, side and rear setbacks do not apply to fences or walls up to 6 ft behind the minimum front setback line. Corner lots where a side property line abuts a road: minimum 7.5 ft from the property line. Front setbacks do not apply to opaque fences or walls up to 3 ft, or non-opaque fences or walls up to 4 ft.
Which side of the fence has to face the neighbor in the Unincorporated Charlotte County?
Finished side faces the adjacent property or public right-of-way; posts on the inside (owner's side) unless the fence looks the same on both sides.
How much is a fence permit in the Unincorporated Charlotte County?
Zoning Review $30; Building fee 0.004 x ICC valuation applies if valuation is $50,000 or more (plus surcharge of 0.025 x building fee).
How do I apply for a fence permit in the Unincorporated Charlotte County?
Complete the Residential Fence Permit application package and site plan or survey. Gather notarized affidavits, owner consent, and a Notice of Commencement if cost exceeds $5,000. Submit in person (2 original signed/sealed sets); the county page also mentions online submission (1 set) but names no portal, so confirm with Zoning. Pay fees at issuance (check to CCBCC or Mastercard/Visa). The application goes through intake, Natural Resources, Tree, and Zoning review. buildit.dog can turn a fence drawn on an aerial photo of your lot into a complete permit application package for Unincorporated Charlotte County (site plan, aerial photo and filled-in details) in a few minutes.
Who do I contact about a fence permit in the Unincorporated Charlotte County?
Zoning Division, Community Development Department. Phone 941.743.1964, email [email protected].
Sources
Summarized from Unincorporated Charlotte County's own ordinances, forms and permit pages. Each link opens the original.
Work for Unincorporated Charlotte County? Help us keep this right
If anything on this page is wrong or out of date, tell us and we'll fix it. Municipal staff reports are reviewed first. Please include a link to the current ordinance, form or fee schedule if you can.