City of Miami fence permit
Do you need a fence permit in the City of Miami? Yes. The City of Miami 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 the City of Miami (site plan, aerial photo and filled-in details) in a few minutes. Start with your address.
Quick facts
- Permit required
- Yes source
- Fee
- Upfront fee based on total project cost (none for residential projects under $2,500), plus any re-review fees source
- Side and rear yards
- 8 ft in the Second and Third Layers (T3) source
- Front (street) yard
- T3 (single-family) First Layer: 4 ft; aluminum or iron picket fences up to 6 ft (pickets max 3 in wide, 3 in apart) source
- Corner lots
- Visibility triangle at driveways (Miami 21 §3.8.4.1); posts in the triangle no larger than 1 ft by 1 ft source
- Distance from lot line
- In the T3 First Layer, fences and walls may go up to and including the Frontage Line. source
- How to apply
- Online portal source
How to file for a fence permit in the City of Miami
Steps based on miami.gov — Get a Fence Permit
- Confirm the property is in City limits and find its zoning (T3 and so on) on the City's zoning map.
- Check the Miami 21 fence rules or the City's T3 Fence Guides.
- Create an iBuild account and start a building application; print and notarize the application package.
- Pay any upfront fee online, then upload drawings and documents to ePlan (ProjectDox).
- Answer review comments (first review usually about 14 business days), pay re-review fees, then pull the permit and print the permit card.
- Schedule inspections when the fence is done to close the permit.
- Call Sunshine 811 at least two full business days before digging.
- Paying
- Online (paydici) or at the 4th-floor cashier
- Review time
- First review cycle usually 14 business days
- Inspections
- Schedule after work is complete to close the permit
Who to contact
Building Department
City of Miami
- Phone
- 305-416-1100
- [email protected]
- Address
- City of Miami Building Department, 444 SW 2nd Avenue, 4th Floor, Miami, FL 33130
Contact from miami.gov — Get a Fence Permit
What to submit
- Recent site survey by a certified surveyor (to scale, no more than one year old)
- Site plan showing the fence location relative to buildings and property lines
- Fence details: height, materials, type and location (from your fence company, or the Building Department's standard details)
- Signed and notarized application package
- Base Building Line document from Public Works, if you have one
Other rules to know
- Residential fences over 6 ft go through structural review, which takes longer.
- Construction-site fences need a Temporary Use Permit instead.
- Owner-builders must pass an exam and interview.
- Rules shown are for T3 single-family zones; check your transect zone on the City's zoning map.
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 Miami, FL?
Yes. The City of Miami requires a permit before you build a fence.
How tall can a fence be in the City of Miami?
Side and rear yards: 8 ft in the Second and Third Layers (T3). Front (street) yard: T3 (single-family) First Layer: 4 ft; aluminum or iron picket fences up to 6 ft (pickets max 3 in wide, 3 in apart). Corner lots: Visibility triangle at driveways (Miami 21 §3.8.4.1); posts in the triangle no larger than 1 ft by 1 ft.
How close to the property line can I put a fence in the City of Miami?
In the T3 First Layer, fences and walls may go up to and including the Frontage Line.
How much is a fence permit in the City of Miami?
Upfront fee based on total project cost (none for residential projects under $2,500), plus any re-review fees.
How do I apply for a fence permit in the City of Miami?
Confirm the property is in City limits and find its zoning (T3 and so on) on the City's zoning map. Check the Miami 21 fence rules or the City's T3 Fence Guides. Create an iBuild account and start a building application; print and notarize the application package. Pay any upfront fee online, then upload drawings and documents to ePlan (ProjectDox). Answer review comments (first review usually about 14 business days), pay re-review fees, then pull the permit and print the permit card. buildit.dog can turn a fence drawn on an aerial photo of your lot into a complete permit application package for the City of Miami (site plan, aerial photo and filled-in details) in a few minutes.
Who do I contact about a fence permit in the City of Miami?
Building Department, City of Miami. Phone 305-416-1100, email [email protected].
Sources
Summarized from the City of Miami's own ordinances, forms and permit pages. Each link opens the original.
Ordinance: Miami 21 Zoning Code §5.3.2(8) Fences and walls (T3); §3.7
Work for the City of Miami? 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.