City of Tampa fence permit
Do you need a fence permit in the City of Tampa? Not confirmed. Contact the City of Tampa before you build; the rules below are what we found in the ordinance.
buildit.dog can turn a fence drawn on an aerial photo of your lot into a complete permit application package for the City of Tampa (site plan, aerial photo and filled-in details) in a few minutes. Start with your address.
Quick facts
- Permit required
- Not confirmed source
- Side and rear yards
- 6 ft where the property adjoins a residential use; 8 ft where it adjoins a non-residential use or an alley source
- Front (street) yard
- Required front yard: 3 ft if opaque, 4 ft if transparent (single-family and all residential uses) source
- Corner lots
- Fences and walls must meet the visibility rules of Sec. 27-283.5 source
- Good side faces
- Exposed framing must face the interior of your yard (the zoning administrator can allow otherwise if an existing fence or hedge makes that impractical, or with all adjacent owners' written consent). source
- Not allowed
- Allowed materials: chain link, wood, masonry, decorative wrought iron, galvalume corrugated metal panels with decorative framing, or PVC fence products. Broken glass is prohibited everywhere. Electric fences and barbed wire only in industrial districts or for agricultural use; razor wire only by variance. source
- How to apply
- Online portal source
Still being confirmed with Tampa: Does a wood, vinyl or chain-link fence (not a masonry wall) need a City of Tampa building permit?
How to file for a fence permit in the City of Tampa
Steps based on tampa.gov — new permit application guide residential perimeter wall ada
- Call Construction Services (813-274-3100, Option 1) to confirm whether your fence needs a permit; masonry or privacy walls do.
- For a wall, prepare a site plan (property lines, elevations, wall location, easements, nearby trees) and a wall cross section and height detail.
- Apply online in Accela as Residential Miscellaneous > Walls > Privacy/Retaining Wall.
- Keep front-yard fences to 3 ft (opaque) or 4 ft (see-through), and side/rear fences to 6 ft next to homes, with framing facing your yard.
- Call Sunshine 811 at least two full business days before digging.
Who to contact
Construction Services
City of Tampa Development and Economic Opportunity
- Phone
- 813-274-3100, Option 1
- Hours
- Monday to Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM
- Address
- Construction Services, 2555 E. Hanna Avenue, Tampa, FL 33610
Contact from tampa.gov — documents and forms
What to submit
- Site plan: address or legal description, property lines, existing and proposed site elevations, wall location and dimensions, on-site structures, easements, wall cross section
- Trees within 20 ft of the work area (location, species, size), tree barricades and mitigation table
- Building plans: scope of work, structural design criteria, wall height detail (signed and sealed by a Florida architect or engineer unless the wall has no columns or lintels)
Other rules to know
- The City's 'Residential Perimeter Wall' permit guide covers privacy and retaining walls, filed in Accela as Residential Miscellaneous > Walls > Privacy/Retaining Wall. City pages do not say whether an ordinary wood, vinyl or chain-link fence needs a building permit.
- Height is measured and averaged at regular intervals (typically 8 ft) on both sides of a common property line.
- Decorative features may exceed the maximum height by up to 1 ft, spaced at least 8 ft apart.
- Special rules apply in YC (Ybor City) subdistricts, PD/SH-PD districts (per site plan) and CBD districts.
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 City of Tampa, FL?
Not confirmed. Contact the City of Tampa before you build; the rules below are what we found in the ordinance.
How tall can a fence be in the City of Tampa?
Side and rear yards: 6 ft where the property adjoins a residential use; 8 ft where it adjoins a non-residential use or an alley. Front (street) yard: Required front yard: 3 ft if opaque, 4 ft if transparent (single-family and all residential uses). Corner lots: Fences and walls must meet the visibility rules of Sec. 27-283.5.
Which side of the fence has to face the neighbor in the City of Tampa?
Exposed framing must face the interior of your yard (the zoning administrator can allow otherwise if an existing fence or hedge makes that impractical, or with all adjacent owners' written consent).
How do I apply for a fence permit in the City of Tampa?
Call Construction Services (813-274-3100, Option 1) to confirm whether your fence needs a permit; masonry or privacy walls do. For a wall, prepare a site plan (property lines, elevations, wall location, easements, nearby trees) and a wall cross section and height detail. Apply online in Accela as Residential Miscellaneous > Walls > Privacy/Retaining Wall. Keep front-yard fences to 3 ft (opaque) or 4 ft (see-through), and side/rear fences to 6 ft next to homes, with framing facing your yard. Call Sunshine 811 at least two full business days before digging. buildit.dog can turn a fence drawn on an aerial photo of your lot into a complete permit application package for the City of Tampa (site plan, aerial photo and filled-in details) in a few minutes.
Who do I contact about a fence permit in the City of Tampa?
Construction Services, City of Tampa Development and Economic Opportunity. Phone 813-274-3100, Option 1.
Sources
Summarized from the City of Tampa's own ordinances, forms and permit pages. Each link opens the original.
Ordinance: Tampa City Code §27-290.1 Fence and wall regulations
Work for the City of Tampa? 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.