In unincorporated Pinellas County, the county's Building FAQs state a building permit is not required for a fence, but you must still comply with zoning regulations in the Land Development Code (Article X, Division 4, Secs. 138-3700 to 138-3706), and the county's Permitting Guide lists fencing among work that may need a Development Review zoning clearance. The Access Portal also has residential record types for Fence, Masonry Fence/Wall, Retaining Wall and Seawall. Height limits are 6 feet in side/rear setbacks and 3 to 4 feet in front setbacks (up to 5 feet total with semi-opaque decorative toppers), with an absolute prohibition on fences within 15 feet of intersecting right-of-way lines at corners.
Property owners or contractors installing, replacing, or heightening a fence or wall in unincorporated Pinellas County. Standard chain link, wood, or vinyl fences generally need zoning compliance (and possibly a zoning clearance) rather than a building permit; masonry walls, retaining walls, seawalls, and 8-foot decorative perimeter fences involve permit records and, in some cases, engineer-sealed site plans.
Confirm jurisdiction
Fence rules vary by city. BDRS and the county Land Development Code apply only in unincorporated Pinellas County (BDRS also does building services for Belleair Beach, Belleair Shore, Indian Rocks Beach, Kenneth City, Oldsmar and Safety Harbor). Inside other municipalities, use that city's fence code and permits.
pinellas.gov/permitting-guide/Check the fence and wall code (Article X, Division 4)
Review height limits by setback area, materials, measurement rules, and the corner visibility rule (no fence or wall within 15 feet of the intersection of right-of-way lines). The county publishes a handout of Secs. 138-3700 through 138-3706, and its fence information link points to the Land Development Code on Municode.
pinellas.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Article_X_Division_4Determine whether you need a zoning clearance or permit record
Per the county Building FAQs, a building permit is not required for a fence, but zoning regulations still apply, and the Permitting Guide lists fencing under Development Review permits (zoning clearances). Special cases - 8-foot decorative perimeter fences on collector/arterial roads (engineer-sealed site plan review), corner/double-frontage lots (county traffic engineer no-objection statement), masonry walls, retaining walls, seawalls - go through the Access Portal record types. Call Development Review Services at (727) 464-3888 if unsure.
pinellas.gov/building-frequently-asked-questions/Apply on the Pinellas County Access Portal if a record is required
Residential 'Fences & Walls' record types on the portal include Fence, Masonry Fence/Wall, Retaining Wall, and Seawall. Upload site plan/survey documents and pay fees online.
aca-prod.accela.com/pinellas/Default.aspx| Item | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Zoning/development review or fence-related permit fees | see fee schedule | BDRS building, transportation and zoning fees are published in the FY25 Budget 'User Fees' book (effective Oct 1, 2024). Paid via the Access Portal. |
Fee amounts change, the linked official schedule always controls.
Fence rules vary by city - every Pinellas municipality has its own fence code and issues its own permits; this entry applies only to unincorporated Pinellas County. Gotchas: the county FAQ says no building permit for fences, yet a zoning clearance may still be required and the portal carries Fence and Masonry Fence/Wall record types - call (727) 464-3888 before building. The 15-foot corner intersection prohibition and sidewalk sight triangles catch many corner-lot projects. Fence-on-retaining-wall combos count the wall height. The county fence information link (pinellas.gov/services/fence-and-wall-information) redirects to Municode, whose page could not be fetched directly (403); the county's own PDF handout of the same division was used instead.