City of Belleair Bluffs fence permit
Do you need a fence permit in the City of Belleair Bluffs? Yes. The City of Belleair Bluffs 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 Belleair Bluffs (site plan, aerial photo and filled-in details) in a few minutes. Start with your address.
Quick facts
- Permit required
- Yes source
- Side and rear yards
- 6 ft (8 ft as a residential/commercial buffer); yards abutting water: 36 in (pool barriers min 4 ft) source
- Front (street) yard
- 36 in forward of the front building setback (6 ft allowed on the west side of Bluff View Drive) source
- Corner lots
- No visual obstruction within the sight triangle formed by the right-of-way lines and a line 30 ft from their intersection source
- Distance from lot line
- On your own property, never in the public right-of-way; not within 6 ft of a fire hydrant; must not enclose drainage easements or cover water meters or manholes without written authorization, or redirect runoff onto neighbors. source
- Good side faces
- Finished side faces the public right-of-way or adjoining property, support posts inward. source
- Not allowed
- Broken glass, barbed wire, spikes, nails or similar injurious materials; electrically charged fences; dilapidated fences. Chain link must be installed with pointed ends to the ground. source
- How to apply
- Call 727-202-6825
Still being confirmed with Belleair Bluffs: Can fence permits be submitted online through SAFEbuilt, and what is the fee?
How to file for a fence permit in the City of Belleair Bluffs
- Call the City's building provider, SAFEbuilt (727-202-6825), for the permit application and how to submit.
- Prepare a scaled site plan in triplicate with the fence location, length, height and materials.
- Get the building permit before installing.
- Call Sunshine 811 at least two full business days before digging.
Who to contact
SAFEbuilt (City building services)
City of Belleair Bluffs building department provider
- Phone
- 727-202-6825
Contact from pinellas.gov — building departments in pinellas county
What to submit
- Building permit application
- Site plan to scale, in triplicate, showing structures, easements, the legal description, and the fence's location, length, height and materials
Other rules to know
- Double-frontage lots: front-yard height limits generally apply to the back yard too (variance needed for more).
- Replacing a fence, or repairs over 50% of its value, also needs a permit.
- Building permits have been handled by SAFEbuilt since Aug. 15, 2025 (older open permits stay with Pinellas County through final inspection).
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 Belleair Bluffs, FL?
Yes. The City of Belleair Bluffs requires a permit before you build a fence. Replacing a fence, or repairs over 50% of its value, also needs a permit.
How tall can a fence be in the City of Belleair Bluffs?
Side and rear yards: 6 ft (8 ft as a residential/commercial buffer); yards abutting water: 36 in (pool barriers min 4 ft). Front (street) yard: 36 in forward of the front building setback (6 ft allowed on the west side of Bluff View Drive). Corner lots: No visual obstruction within the sight triangle formed by the right-of-way lines and a line 30 ft from their intersection.
How close to the property line can I put a fence in the City of Belleair Bluffs?
On your own property, never in the public right-of-way; not within 6 ft of a fire hydrant; must not enclose drainage easements or cover water meters or manholes without written authorization, or redirect runoff onto neighbors.
Which side of the fence has to face the neighbor in the City of Belleair Bluffs?
Finished side faces the public right-of-way or adjoining property, support posts inward.
How do I apply for a fence permit in the City of Belleair Bluffs?
Call the City's building provider, SAFEbuilt (727-202-6825), for the permit application and how to submit. Prepare a scaled site plan in triplicate with the fence location, length, height and materials. Get the building permit before installing. 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 Belleair Bluffs (site plan, aerial photo and filled-in details) in a few minutes.
Who do I contact about a fence permit in the City of Belleair Bluffs?
SAFEbuilt (City building services), City of Belleair Bluffs building department provider. Phone 727-202-6825.
Sources
Summarized from the City of Belleair Bluffs's own ordinances, forms and permit pages. Each link opens the original.
Ordinance: Land Development Code Article XIX Fences (Sec. 102-148 et seq.)
Work for the City of Belleair Bluffs? 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.