There are lots of good reasons to install a fence. You may want to increase the curb appeal of your home, increase privacy and security, reduce noise, or keep kids and pets safely in the yard. Chances are, your reason for wanting a fence is multi-faceted. Knowing why you want a fence can help you to choose the fence material, height, and location that is right for your home. But the decision process isn’t finished.
Do I need a permit to build a fence
The short answer is, depending on the city and county in which you live and why you’re putting up the fence, you may need a permit. You’ll need to know specifications about the allowable fence heights, materials, location, and maintenance for your city and county.
Each city and county may have separate rules and regulations, though, so it will take some legwork to first see if you need a permit and then fill out the required paperwork.
Do you have an HOA?
More specifically, though, in addition to city and county permits you may also need approval from your homeowners’ association (HOA) in order to build a fence. Some HOAs have restrictions on fence types, others on fence heights. Going off of what your neighbors have is not necessarily a good measure because they may have been grandfathered in or it’s possible they didn’t get approval at all. Trying to go under the radar will only work for so long, though, because if the Association does notice, they may require you to take down the fence or pay a fine.
Before making firm plans to install a new fence, carefully review your HOA regulations and/or talk with your local board members. In your formal request to the HOA, include as much information as possible so that the board can make an informed decision. List the material, color, and height of the fence you want to build. If at all possible, include pictures of what the fence will look like. If you anticipate any problems with the fence, try to spell that out in your request and offer solutions.
Other considerations
It’s also vital that you check with underground utilities before digging to ensure that you won’t accidentally damage water, electric, or gas lines. The number to call to check on underground utilities is “811.” This is an important step because digging into a utility line could cause injury and/or property damage and may result in a hefty fine to cover the cost of repairs.
Fence Central in Central Florida is happy to offer advice about how to communicate with your HOA. We can provide fence descriptions and specs, site-plan drawings, and pictures to aid the process. HOA approval can take anywhere from one to six weeks or more, so if you’re planning to have your fence up by a certain date, it’s best to start early.
