How tall can my fence be in Tampa, FL?

Up to 6' in the rear yard, 3' in front of the building line.

How much does a Tampa, FL fence permit cost?

We have Tampa, FL's fence ordinance on file but not a permit fee, so we do not publish an amount for it. Ask the building department what a fence permit costs before you apply.

What does a fence plot plan need to show?

Your property outline, location of the proposed fence, total linear feet, height, material, distance from any street/sidewalk, and (in most cities) the location of your house. Fence Plotter generates this automatically from a satellite image and your fence drawing.

Can I draw my plot plan myself?

Yes — most building departments accept owner-drawn plot plans as long as they're clear, dimensioned, and to scale. Fence Plotter produces a permit-ready plot plan + elevation sketch in two minutes.

Tampa, FL fence permit site plan

Plan your fence on a satellite map of your Tampa, FL property and get a permit-ready PDF in 2 minutes. Free, no sign-up.

If Tampa's form asks for a site plan and this page says plot plan, they are the same drawing for a fence application: a to-scale overhead view of your lot with the property lines, the existing structures and the proposed fence dimensioned on it. A surveyed site plan is the one genuinely different document, and only a licensed surveyor can seal one. What a fence permit site plan has to show.

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What you'll get for Tampa, FL

✓ Satellite site plan — top-down map of your property with the fence drawn on it, every side dimensioned.
✓ Fence elevation — side view showing height, panel count, and gates.
✓ Real lot lines — pulled from county GIS so your fence sits on the actual property boundary.
○ Filled Tampa, FL permit form — pending. Until then you get the universal plot plan + a checklist of what to handwrite on the city's form.
✓ Tampa, FL ordinance check — height limits, setbacks, and neighbor-consent rules specific to Tampa, FL.

Tampa, FL fence rules

Max height (rear yard): 6'
Max height (front of building line): 3'

In a front yard the limit is 3' for a fence built of opaque materials and 4' for one built of transparent materials.
Elsewhere in single- and multiple-family districts the cap is 6'.
Allowed materials are chain link, wood, masonry or decorative wrought iron, galvalume corrugated metal panels with a decorative perimeter framing and structural bracing, or a PVC product manufactured and designed as a fence.
The use of broken glass or other similar materials is prohibited.
The exposed framing of each section of fence must face the interior yard.
Where a fence sits on a common property line with varying elevation, height is measured and averaged at regular intervals, typically 8' apart.

Do you need a permit? Usually no. Tampa Code 5-105.2, Work Exempt from Permit, lists fences not over seven (7) feet high among the building work that needs no permit, so a fence above 7 feet needs one and a shorter fence does not. The zoning code caps a residential fence at 6 feet in the side and rear yards regardless, so a fence that already complies with the height rules is normally exempt from the building permit as well. (source)

Source: http://tampa-fl.elaws.us/code/coor_ch27_artvi_div7_sec27-290.1

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FAQ

Do I need a permit to build a fence in Tampa, FL?: Usually no. Tampa Code 5-105.2, Work Exempt from Permit, lists fences not over seven (7) feet high among the building work that needs no permit, so a fence above 7 feet needs one and a shorter fence does not. The zoning code caps a residential fence at 6 feet in the side and rear yards regardless, so a fence that already complies with the height rules is normally exempt from the building permit as well.
How tall can my fence be in Tampa, FL?: Up to 6' in the rear yard, 3' in front of the building line.
How much does a Tampa, FL fence permit cost?: We have Tampa, FL's fence ordinance on file but not a permit fee, so we do not publish an amount for it. Ask the building department what a fence permit costs before you apply.
What does a fence plot plan need to show?: Your property outline, location of the proposed fence, total linear feet, height, material, distance from any street/sidewalk, and (in most cities) the location of your house. Fence Plotter generates this automatically from a satellite image and your fence drawing.
Can I draw my plot plan myself?: Yes — most building departments accept owner-drawn plot plans as long as they're clear, dimensioned, and to scale. Fence Plotter produces a permit-ready plot plan + elevation sketch in two minutes.

Not sure what Tampa means by “site plan”? See the nine things a plan reviewer checks — the same list whatever city you are applying in.

Do I need a survey?·Free template — which kind?·Do I need a permit?·Why permits get rejected

Fence Plotter is informational only. Always confirm specific requirements with the Tampa, FL building department before submitting.

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Plan a fence in Tampa →

Tampa, FL fence permit site plan

What you'll get for Tampa, FL

Tampa, FL fence rules

FAQ

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