City of St. Petersburg fence rules
Do you need a fence permit in the City of St. Petersburg? No. The City of St. Petersburg 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 the City of St. Petersburg's rules before you build. Start with your address.
Quick facts
- Permit required
- No (typical residential fence) source
- Side and rear yards
- 6 ft (waterfront yards have separate rules) source
- Front (street) yard
- 4 ft in front yards (decorative fences/walls up to 6 ft with the top 2 ft open and landscaped on major streets, or on lots with more than 150 ft of frontage) source
- Corner lots
- Street side yard next to a neighbor's front yard: 4 ft source
- Distance from lot line
- Check the Minimum Building Setbacks table for your zoning district. Waterfront yards: a 6 ft fence or wall needs at least a 2 ft setback from the sidewalk. source
- Good side faces
- Finished side faces outward toward adjoining properties and streets (not alleys); the Zoning Official may waive for shared fences with neighbors' written approval. source
- How to apply
- Call 727-893-7471 source
How to build within the rules in the City of St. Petersburg
Steps based on cms5.revize.com — Fence Wall Hedge HANDOUT 07 18 25 ADA
- Look up your zoning district on the City's GIS Zoning Map (www.stpete.org/ldr) and check the fence handout heights.
- In a local historic district? Get a Certificate of Appropriateness first ([email protected]).
- A fence within the limits and without a footer needs no permit; walls or columns need a building permit from Construction Services and Permitting (727-893-7231, [email protected]).
- Zoning questions: [email protected] or 727-893-7471.
- Call Sunshine 811 at least two full business days before digging.
Who to contact
Zoning Division
City of St. Petersburg Planning & Development Services
- Phone
- 727-893-7471
- [email protected]
- Address
- Construction Services and Permitting, One 4th Street N, St. Petersburg, FL 33701
Contact from cms5.revize.com — Fence Wall Hedge HANDOUT 07 18 25 ADA
What to submit
- Property survey showing exact property lines (for zoning questions or waivers)
Other rules to know
- Fences and hedges that meet zoning rules and have no footer do not need a permit; walls and columns need a building permit.
- Properties in a local historic district need a Certificate of Appropriateness first (front-facing fences and walls go to public hearing).
- Hedges: 5-6 ft in front (within 5 ft of the line), up to 10 ft in side and rear yards.
- Height is measured from existing natural grade.
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 St. Petersburg, FL?
No. The City of St. Petersburg does not require a permit for a typical residential fence, but height and placement rules still apply. Fences and hedges that meet zoning rules and have no footer do not need a permit; walls and columns need a building permit.
How tall can a fence be in the City of St. Petersburg?
Side and rear yards: 6 ft (waterfront yards have separate rules). Front (street) yard: 4 ft in front yards (decorative fences/walls up to 6 ft with the top 2 ft open and landscaped on major streets, or on lots with more than 150 ft of frontage). Corner lots: Street side yard next to a neighbor's front yard: 4 ft.
How close to the property line can I put a fence in the City of St. Petersburg?
Check the Minimum Building Setbacks table for your zoning district. Waterfront yards: a 6 ft fence or wall needs at least a 2 ft setback from the sidewalk.
Which side of the fence has to face the neighbor in the City of St. Petersburg?
Finished side faces outward toward adjoining properties and streets (not alleys); the Zoning Official may waive for shared fences with neighbors' written approval.
Who do I contact about a fence permit in the City of St. Petersburg?
Zoning Division, City of St. Petersburg Planning & Development Services. Phone 727-893-7471, email [email protected].
Sources
Summarized from the City of St. Petersburg's own ordinances, forms and permit pages. Each link opens the original.
Ordinance: Land Development Regulations Sec. 16.40.040 Fences, walls and hedges
Work for the City of St. Petersburg? 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.