Unincorporated Hillsborough County fence rules
Do you need a fence permit in the Unincorporated Hillsborough County? No. Unincorporated Hillsborough County does not require a permit for a typical residential fence, but height and placement rules still apply.
At buildit.dog you can draw your fence on an aerial photo of your lot and check it against Unincorporated Hillsborough County's rules before you build. Start with your address.
Quick facts
- Permit required
- No (typical residential fence) source
- Side and rear yards
- 6 ft (maximum average height) source
- Front (street) yard
- 4 ft in required front yards source
- Corner lots
- Up to 6 ft allowed in one front yard that functions as a side yard, extending no more than 10 ft into the required front yard; 2.5 ft within the visibility triangle at roadway intersections source
- Distance from lot line
- The fence must be entirely on your own property; none in the right-of-way. source
- Good side faces
- Finished side faces outward where visible from a road right-of-way (not required in side or rear yards); posts and support beams go on the unfinished side. source
- Not allowed
- Residential fences may not contain barbs, electrically charged wiring, or similar materials designed to injure; no house siding, scrap metal or unsuitable second-hand materials. source
- How to apply
- Online portal source
How to build within the rules in the Unincorporated Hillsborough County
Steps based on hcfl.gov — work exempt from permits
- No permit is needed for a wood, PVC or chain-link fence; call Development Services at (813) 272-5600 to check zoning restrictions for your property.
- Keep it to 4 ft in the front yard and 6 ft average elsewhere, fully on your own land, finished side facing any road.
- Building a wall, concrete fence or electric fence? Apply for a building permit through HillsGovHub.
- Call Sunshine 811 at least two full business days before digging.
Who to contact
Development Services
Hillsborough County Development Services
- Phone
- (813) 272-5600
- [email protected]
Contact from hcfl.gov — permits for homeowners
Other rules to know
- No zoning or building permit is needed for a fence made of PVC, wood or chain link. Walls, and electrical or concrete fences, need a building permit and must meet the Florida Building Code.
- The County asks homeowners to call zoning to check restrictions for their area before building any fence.
- Height is measured from the lowest average grade of the adjoining lots; berms count toward height.
- Walls up to 8 ft are allowed along arterial or collector streets where no access is provided.
- A fence may not block or divert water in a drainage way without written approval from Public Works.
- If you have an HOA/COA, check its rules too.
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 Hillsborough County, FL?
No. Unincorporated Hillsborough County does not require a permit for a typical residential fence, but height and placement rules still apply. No zoning or building permit is needed for a fence made of PVC, wood or chain link. Walls, and electrical or concrete fences, need a building permit and must meet the Florida Building Code.
How tall can a fence be in the Unincorporated Hillsborough County?
Side and rear yards: 6 ft (maximum average height). Front (street) yard: 4 ft in required front yards. Corner lots: Up to 6 ft allowed in one front yard that functions as a side yard, extending no more than 10 ft into the required front yard; 2.5 ft within the visibility triangle at roadway intersections.
How close to the property line can I put a fence in the Unincorporated Hillsborough County?
The fence must be entirely on your own property; none in the right-of-way.
Which side of the fence has to face the neighbor in the Unincorporated Hillsborough County?
Finished side faces outward where visible from a road right-of-way (not required in side or rear yards); posts and support beams go on the unfinished side.
Who do I contact about a fence permit in the Unincorporated Hillsborough County?
Development Services, Hillsborough County Development Services. Phone (813) 272-5600, email [email protected].
Sources
Summarized from Unincorporated Hillsborough County's own ordinances, forms and permit pages. Each link opens the original.
Ordinance: Hillsborough County Land Development Code Sec. 6.07.01-6.07.02 Fences and Walls
Work for Unincorporated Hillsborough 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.