City of Clearwater fence permit
Do you need a fence permit in the City of Clearwater? Yes. The City of Clearwater 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 Clearwater (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 between the house and the rear property line source
- Front (street) yard
- 4 ft between the house and the front property line (fences over 3 ft need a 3 ft landscaped strip on the street side); brick/masonry walls with columns up to 6 ft in LDR, LMDR, MDR, MHDR front setbacks with Level One approval source
- Corner lots
- Corner and multi-frontage lots may be allowed 6 ft under Sec. 3-804.C; must meet the sight visibility triangle (Sec. 3-904.A) source
- Distance from lot line
- Fences over 3 ft in front need a 3 ft landscaped strip on the right-of-way side. Runs over 100 ft along a street must be offset or broken up. Setback fences need a gate or opening for maintenance. source
- Good side faces
- Finished side faces the street or adjoining property (wood fences: good side out). source
- Not allowed
- Corrugated or sheet metal; electric or other injurious materials; barbed wire (only on 6 ft+ chain link away from residential property); chain link with exposed points or prongs on top. source
- How to apply
- Online portal, in person source
How to file for a fence permit in the City of Clearwater
Steps based on myclearwater.com — 05 Fences
- Mark two copies of your property survey with the fence's exact location, height, length and material.
- Homeowners: bring the Fence/Wall Permit Application and surveys to Planning & Development, 100 S. Myrtle Ave., 2nd floor. Contractors: apply online through the City's Accela portal.
- Use the City's Fee Estimator for the fee; staff review the application and issue the permit if complete.
- Install the fence within six months and call for an inspection if your permit requires one.
- Call Sunshine 811 at least two full business days before digging.
- Paying
- See the City's online Fee Estimator
- Review time
- Staff review; permit issued when the application is complete
- Inspections
- Some fence permits require an inspection before closing
- Permit good for
- Fence must be installed within six months
Who to contact
Planning & Development Department
City of Clearwater Permits and Inspections
- Phone
- 727-562-4567
- [email protected]
- Address
- Planning & Development Department, Municipal Services Building, 2nd Floor, 100 S. Myrtle Ave., Clearwater, FL 33756
Contact from myclearwater.com — 05 Fences
What to submit
- Completed Fence/Wall Permit Application
- Two copies of a current property survey marked with the fence's exact location, height, length and material
- Notice of Commencement if a contractor's price is over $5,000
Other rules to know
- Walls need a decorative finish (masonry, brick, stucco or paint).
- Fences must be installed within six months of permit issuance.
- Check the Property Appraiser's tax district to confirm the property is in the City of Clearwater.
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 Clearwater, FL?
Yes. The City of Clearwater requires a permit before you build a fence.
How tall can a fence be in the City of Clearwater?
Side and rear yards: 6 ft between the house and the rear property line. Front (street) yard: 4 ft between the house and the front property line (fences over 3 ft need a 3 ft landscaped strip on the street side); brick/masonry walls with columns up to 6 ft in LDR, LMDR, MDR, MHDR front setbacks with Level One approval. Corner lots: Corner and multi-frontage lots may be allowed 6 ft under Sec. 3-804.C; must meet the sight visibility triangle (Sec. 3-904.A).
How close to the property line can I put a fence in the City of Clearwater?
Fences over 3 ft in front need a 3 ft landscaped strip on the right-of-way side. Runs over 100 ft along a street must be offset or broken up. Setback fences need a gate or opening for maintenance.
Which side of the fence has to face the neighbor in the City of Clearwater?
Finished side faces the street or adjoining property (wood fences: good side out).
How do I apply for a fence permit in the City of Clearwater?
Mark two copies of your property survey with the fence's exact location, height, length and material. Homeowners: bring the Fence/Wall Permit Application and surveys to Planning & Development, 100 S. Myrtle Ave., 2nd floor. Contractors: apply online through the City's Accela portal. Use the City's Fee Estimator for the fee; staff review the application and issue the permit if complete. Install the fence within six months and call for an inspection if your permit requires one. 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 Clearwater (site plan, aerial photo and filled-in details) in a few minutes.
Who do I contact about a fence permit in the City of Clearwater?
Planning & Development Department, City of Clearwater Permits and Inspections. Phone 727-562-4567, email [email protected].
Sources
Summarized from the City of Clearwater's own ordinances, forms and permit pages. Each link opens the original.
Ordinance: Community Development Code Article 3, Division 8 Fences and Walls (Secs. 3-801 to 3-808)
Work for the City of Clearwater? 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.