City of Sanford fence permit
Do you need a fence permit in the City of Sanford? Yes. The City of Sanford 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 Sanford (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 source
- Front (street) yard
- 4 ft in the front yard (front fencing must be decorative and semitransparent; decorative/ornamental fences max 4 ft) source
- Corner lots
- Up to 6 ft in the side yard facing a street if set at least 4 ft in from the property line along the street; 2 ft 6 in max inside the clear vision triangle at intersections source
- Distance from lot line
- Decorative/ornamental fences at least 1 ft inside all property lines; no fences in the public right-of-way; no fence in the visibility triangle at roadway intersections; may not block required drainage flow. source
- Good side faces
- Fences on the property line or in a setback must have the finished side facing the street, right-of-way or adjoining property; support posts and stringers face inward. source
- Not allowed
- Corrugated or sheet metal; electrified or other injurious materials; chain link or wire on the front building line (except agricultural districts or temporary securing of unsafe structures); barbed wire except atop a 6 ft+ chain link fence on property not in or next to residential or park zoning. source
- How to apply
- Online portal source
How to file for a fence permit in the City of Sanford
- Get a survey or site plan showing where the fence goes.
- Apply for a building permit through the City's Citizenserve portal (all permitting is done there).
- Keep fences to 4 ft in the front yard and 6 ft in side and rear yards, finished side out and out of the corner visibility triangle.
- Call Sunshine 811 at least two full business days before digging.
Who to contact
Building Division
City of Sanford Building Division
- Phone
- 407-688-5150
- [email protected]
- Hours
- Mon-Fri 7:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m.
- Address
- Building Division, 300 N Park Ave, Sanford, FL 32771
Contact from sanfordfl.gov
What to submit
- Building permit application (Citizenserve portal)
- Survey or site plan showing the fence (a plot plan may be used for recorded parcels)
Other rules to know
- Fences over 6 ft need Building Official approval; residential fences may go to 8 ft if the top 2 ft is open lattice.
- Wire or chain link fences must be vinyl-coated with no exposed points on top.
- Fences longer than 100 ft in one plane along a right-of-way need landscape insets, openings or architectural features.
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 Sanford, FL?
Yes. The City of Sanford requires a permit before you build a fence.
How tall can a fence be in the City of Sanford?
Side and rear yards: 6 ft. Front (street) yard: 4 ft in the front yard (front fencing must be decorative and semitransparent; decorative/ornamental fences max 4 ft). Corner lots: Up to 6 ft in the side yard facing a street if set at least 4 ft in from the property line along the street; 2 ft 6 in max inside the clear vision triangle at intersections.
How close to the property line can I put a fence in the City of Sanford?
Decorative/ornamental fences at least 1 ft inside all property lines; no fences in the public right-of-way; no fence in the visibility triangle at roadway intersections; may not block required drainage flow.
Which side of the fence has to face the neighbor in the City of Sanford?
Fences on the property line or in a setback must have the finished side facing the street, right-of-way or adjoining property; support posts and stringers face inward.
How do I apply for a fence permit in the City of Sanford?
Get a survey or site plan showing where the fence goes. Apply for a building permit through the City's Citizenserve portal (all permitting is done there). Keep fences to 4 ft in the front yard and 6 ft in side and rear yards, finished side out and out of the corner visibility triangle. 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 Sanford (site plan, aerial photo and filled-in details) in a few minutes.
Who do I contact about a fence permit in the City of Sanford?
Building Division, City of Sanford Building Division. Phone 407-688-5150, email [email protected].
Sources
Summarized from the City of Sanford's own ordinances, forms and permit pages. Each link opens the original.
Ordinance: Sanford LDR Schedule F, Section 6.0 Fences and walls
Work for the City of Sanford? 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.