Unincorporated Okaloosa County fence permit
Do you need a fence permit in the Unincorporated Okaloosa County? Not confirmed. Contact Unincorporated Okaloosa County 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 Unincorporated Okaloosa County (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
- 8 ft (countywide maximum) source
- Front (street) yard
- 42 in. within the street front setback line on Okaloosa Island source
- Distance from lot line
- Fences may be placed along or within property lines. No fence within 25 ft of a street intersection. On Okaloosa Island, fences on property lines inside the setbacks may be any reasonable height consistent with construction on the property. source
- Not allowed
- Barbed wire, razor wire and chicken wire in residential districts. No fence across a public right-of-way or public easement without permission of the agency of jurisdiction. source
- How to apply
- Call 850-651-7180 source
Still being confirmed with Unincorporated Okaloosa County: Does a wood, chain link, vinyl or wrought iron fence need a building permit in unincorporated Okaloosa County, and how are applications submitted?
How to file for a fence permit in the Unincorporated Okaloosa County
Steps based on myokaloosa.com — fence wall
- Confirm from the county guide whether your fence material needs a building permit.
- Check for easements; Public Works decides whether each is public or private utility.
- Gather the application, ownership proof, and survey or site plan.
- Submit to a Growth Management office (Fort Walton Beach 850-651-7180 or Crestview 850-689-5080); confirm the submission method by phone.
- Call Sunshine 811 at least two full business days before digging.
Who to contact
Growth Management
Okaloosa County Growth Management
- Phone
- 850-651-7180
- Address
- 1250 N Eglin Pkwy, Suite 301, Shalimar, FL 32579
Contact from myokaloosa.com — forms
What to submit
- Building Permit Application, completed, signed and notarized
- Proof of ownership (recorded deed, closing statement or property tax information)
- Three copies of a certified survey or site plan
- Two sets of certified, signed and sealed plans (solid wall fences with footers only)
- Application for Easement Encroachment if building on an easement
Other rules to know
- The county guide says a building permit is needed for fences of materials other than wood, chain link, vinyl or wrought iron; it does not say whether those four materials need a permit.
- Fences in a Special Flood Hazard Area have additional requirements; call Growth Management.
- Public Works must approve before a permit is issued if the easement is for a public utility; for a private utility the owner must get the utility's approval.
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 Okaloosa County, FL?
Not confirmed. Contact Unincorporated Okaloosa County before you build; the rules below are what we found in the ordinance. The county guide says a building permit is needed for fences of materials other than wood, chain link, vinyl or wrought iron; it does not say whether those four materials need a permit.
How tall can a fence be in the Unincorporated Okaloosa County?
Side and rear yards: 8 ft (countywide maximum). Front (street) yard: 42 in. within the street front setback line on Okaloosa Island.
How close to the property line can I put a fence in the Unincorporated Okaloosa County?
Fences may be placed along or within property lines. No fence within 25 ft of a street intersection. On Okaloosa Island, fences on property lines inside the setbacks may be any reasonable height consistent with construction on the property.
How do I apply for a fence permit in the Unincorporated Okaloosa County?
Confirm from the county guide whether your fence material needs a building permit. Check for easements; Public Works decides whether each is public or private utility. Gather the application, ownership proof, and survey or site plan. Submit to a Growth Management office (Fort Walton Beach 850-651-7180 or Crestview 850-689-5080); confirm the submission method by phone. 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 Unincorporated Okaloosa County (site plan, aerial photo and filled-in details) in a few minutes.
Who do I contact about a fence permit in the Unincorporated Okaloosa County?
Growth Management, Okaloosa County Growth Management. Phone 850-651-7180.
Sources
Summarized from Unincorporated Okaloosa County's own ordinances, forms and permit pages. Each link opens the original.
Work for Unincorporated Okaloosa 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.