Fence Permit in Brevard County, Florida
It depends
Sometimes, depending on the project
Before adding a new fence or replacing 50% or more of an existing fence in unincorporated Brevard County
Issued byBrevard County Planning and Development Department, Building Permits Division
By Mario Bailey, verified against official sources
Quick answer
In unincorporated Brevard County, a Residential Fence permit is required to add a fence or to repair or replace an existing fence, unless the work replaces less than 50% of the fence using the same size and material in the same location. Applications are reviewed by county staff, and licensed contractors can apply online through Brevard's Advanced Service Site (BASS); property owners acting as their own contractor must apply in person. This applies only to unincorporated Brevard County; incorporated cities have their own building departments and permit rules.
Typical threshold: Permit not required for repair or replacement of less than 50% of an existing fence using the same size and material in the same location.
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When a permit is usually needed
Before adding a new fence or replacing 50% or more of an existing fence in unincorporated Brevard County
What a fence permit costs in Brevard County
How Brevard County compares in Florida
| Jurisdiction | Permit needed? | Threshold |
|---|---|---|
| Alachua County | Permit required | Any size |
| Brevard Countythis page | It depends | Permit not required for repair or replacement of less than 50% of an existing fence using the same size and material in the same location. |
| Broward County | Permit required | Any size |
| Charlotte County | Permit required | A permit is not required for fence enclosures of garbage containers or mechanical equipment with three panels or less and one gate. |
| Clay County | It depends | value of repair or replacement work to existing wood fence pickets or panels, not including fence posts |
| Collier County | Permit required | Any size |
| Escambia County | No permit needed | Exempt |
How to apply in Brevard County
In Brevard County, most residential fences fall under the model code's 7-foot building-permit exemption, so the real approval step is a lightweight zoning or land-use permit built around a simple site plan showing the fence's location, height, and material, checked against setbacks and any corner-lot sight-triangle rule. A fence that will serve as a required swimming-pool barrier is the exception, since barrier fences carry life-safety requirements of their own.
What most fence permit applications include:
- For Brevard County, a fence 7 feet or under is exempt from the model code's building permit, the same threshold the IRC uses for other small projects (IRC 2021 R105.2).
- That exemption only removes the building-code permit. It does not authorize skipping a jurisdiction's own zoning approval, which is why an exempt fence can still need its own land-use or zoning permit rather than a building permit (IRC 2021 R105.2).
- Whatever your jurisdiction calls that approval, the application centers on a basic site plan: a drawing of the property showing the fence's location, height, and material, and how it relates to the property lines (common local zoning practice).
- For Brevard County, the same plan is checked against required setbacks and, on corner lots or near intersections, a sight-triangle rule that caps fence height so it does not block sightlines for drivers (common local zoning practice).
- For Brevard County, a fence that will serve as a required swimming-pool barrier is handled as life-safety work rather than the light zoning process, and at least one state's adopted residential code requires a building permit for barrier fences regardless of the general fence exemption (Oregon Residential Specialty Code 2021, R101.2.2).
General submittal guidance from International Residential Code (IRC), 2021 edition, Section R105.2. Source. Brevard County Planning and Development Department, Building Permits Division sets the exact checklist for Brevard County.
Where to apply in Brevard County:
Brevard County Planning and Development Department, Building Permits Division
- 2725 Judge Fran Jamieson Way, Room A114, Viera, FL 32940
- Phone: (321) 633-2187
- Email: Building.Licensing@BrevardFL.gov
Fence Permit in Brevard County compared with nearby Florida localities
| Locality | Permit needed? | Threshold | What each Florida schedule says | Verified |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brevard County | It depends | Permit not required for repair or replacement of less than 50% of an existing fence using the same size and material in the same location. | Brevard's Residential Fence Permit Application fee table lists a $25.00 Application... | |
| Alachua County | Permit required | Any size | No fence-specific flat fee is published | |
| Broward County | Permit required | Any size | fences fall under the Structural permit schedule, the greater of a $125 minimum base fee... | |
| Charlotte County | Permit required | A permit is not required for fence enclosures of garbage containers or mechanical equipment with three panels or less and one gate. | ...County's Residential Fence page lists fees due at issuance: Zoning Review $30, plus... | |
| Clay County | It depends | value of repair or replacement work to existing wood fence pickets or panels, not including fence posts | ...general 'Minimum Fee for Any Building Permit (including amendments)' of $100.00... |
Inspections and closing out your permit
In Brevard County, inspection follows the permit: a fence that never needed one gets no inspection at all under the model code, and a permitted fence typically gets a single final check rather than the staged inspections used for a house. The exception is a fence serving as a swimming-pool barrier, which gets its own dedicated barrier inspection covering height, gaps, and gate hardware.
- In Brevard County: inspection duty attaches only to work for which a permit is required, so a fence that qualified for the permit exemption carries no inspection obligation under the model code (IRC 2021 R109.1).
- In Brevard County: where a fence permit was issued, the process skips the staged foundation, frame, and rough-in inspections used for buildings and goes straight to one final inspection once the fence is finished (IRC 2021 R109.1.6).
- In Brevard County: that single check is typically a zoning compliance inspection rather than a structural review, confirming the fence matches the approved height and site plan (common local practice).
- A fence built as a swimming-pool barrier breaks that light-touch pattern in Brevard County: it is separately inspected for barrier compliance, commonly required before the pool itself can be signed off (ISPSC 305; local pool-barrier inspection programs).
- In Brevard County: that barrier inspection checks dimensional rules from the swimming pool and spa code rather than ordinary fence rules, including the minimum 48 inch barrier height and limits on openings and gaps a young child could pass through (ISPSC 305).
- Gate hardware is inspected too in Brevard County: a self-closing, self-latching gate is part of the barrier requirement, since an unlatched gate defeats the fence's purpose as a barrier (ISPSC 305).
Schedule each inspection in advance and pass the final before you use the work or close the permit. Request inspections through the Brevard County permit portal or by phone at (321) 633-2187.
Inspection sequence from International Residential Code (IRC), 2021 edition, Section R109, and ISPSC 2021 Section 305 (barriers). Source. An open permit left un-inspected can surface later in a title search or home sale.
Your Fence Permit checklist for Brevard County
- Confirm the requirement. Sometimes, depending on the project. Typical threshold: Permit not required for repair or replacement of less than 50% of an existing fence using the same size and material in the same location. Usually needed: Before adding a new fence or replacing 50% or more of an existing fence in unincorporated Brevard County.
- Budget the fee. Brevard's Residential Fence Permit Application fee table lists a $25.00 Application Processing Fee, a $34.00 flat Building Code fee, $15.00 Land Development Review, $15.00 Natural Resources Review, and $14.00 Zoning Review, plus a $10.00 Unlicensed Contractor Activity Enforcement fee and state surcharges of 1.5% (BCA, F.S. 468.631) and 1% (FBC, F.S. 553.721) on the Building Code fees. No effective date is shown on the fee table.
- Apply. In Brevard County, most residential fences fall under the model code's 7-foot building-permit exemption, so the real approval step is a lightweight zoning or land-use permit built around a simple site plan showing the fence's location, height, and material, checked against setbacks and any corner-lot sight-triangle rule. A fence that will serve as a required swimming-pool barrier is the exception, since barrier fences carry life-safety requirements of their own. Start at the Brevard County permit portal.
- Keep the office details handy. Brevard County Planning and Development Department, Building Permits Division. Phone: (321) 633-2187. Address: 2725 Judge Fran Jamieson Way, Room A114, Viera, FL 32940.
- Plan for inspections. In Brevard County, inspection follows the permit: a fence that never needed one gets no inspection at all under the model code, and a permitted fence typically gets a single final check rather than the staged inspections used for a house. The exception is a fence serving as a swimming-pool barrier, which gets its own dedicated barrier inspection covering height, gaps, and gate hardware.
Compiled from the official sources on this page. Last checked .
Frequently asked questions
- Do you need a fence permit in Brevard County?
- In unincorporated Brevard County, a Residential Fence permit is required to add a fence or to repair or replace an existing fence, unless the work replaces less than 50% of the fence using the same size and material in the same location. Applications are reviewed by county staff, and licensed contractors can apply online through Brevard's Advanced Service Site (BASS); property owners acting as their own contractor must apply in person. This applies only to unincorporated Brevard County; incorporated cities have their own building departments and permit rules. Permit not required for repair or replacement of less than 50% of an existing fence using the same size and material in the same location. Always confirm with the office before starting.
- How much does a fence permit cost in Brevard County?
- Brevard's Residential Fence Permit Application fee table lists a $25.00 Application Processing Fee, a $34.00 flat Building Code fee, $15.00 Land Development Review, $15.00 Natural Resources Review, and $14.00 Zoning Review, plus a $10.00 Unlicensed Contractor Activity Enforcement fee and state surcharges of 1.5% (BCA, F.S. 468.631) and 1% (FBC, F.S. 553.721) on the Building Code fees. No effective date is shown on the fee table. Contact the office for current amounts.
- Where do you apply for a fence permit in Brevard County?
- You can apply through the Brevard County permit portal or contact the Brevard County Planning and Development Department, Building Permits Division directly. The links are listed on this page.
- Can a homeowner pull a fence permit themselves in Brevard County?
- Under Florida law (F.S. 489.103(7)(a)-(c)): Florida lets you pull your own permit as an owner-builder under section 489.103(7), Florida Statutes, which exempts property owners from the contractor licensing law when they act as their own contractor and provide direct, onsite supervision of all work not performed by licensed contractors. The exemption covers building or improving a one-family or two-family residence or a farm outbuilding for your own occupancy or use, and commercial buildings only up to a $75,000 cost, and the property may not be built or improved for sale or lease. If you sell or lease the property within 1 year after completing the work, the law presumes it was built for sale or lease, which violates the exemption. To qualify, you must personally appear and sign the building permit application and sign a state-prescribed disclosure statement acknowledging that you are the party legally and financially responsible for the construction, that you must provide direct, onsite supervision, and that unlicensed people you use must be your own employees, bringing federal tax withholding and workers' compensation obligations. You may not hire an unlicensed person to act as your contractor and may not delegate supervision to anyone who is not licensed for the work being done; if these requirements are violated, the local permitting agency shall withhold final approval, revoke the permit, or pursue unlicensed-activity remedies. A separate narrow branch of the exemption also lets an owner take over and complete a permit on a one-family or two-family residence when the original contractor substantially completed the project. Confirm how Brevard County applies this before you apply.
From the Library
What else needs a permit in Brevard County
Every other permit type we have verified for this jurisdiction, with the rule that applies here.
| Project | Permit needed? | Threshold | Typical fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Deck Permit | Permit required | Any size | Not published |
| Electrical Permit | It depends | Permits are required for the installation or replacement of electrical wiring, meter cans, and breaker panels; this does not include changing fixtures that do not require moving or changing wiring. | ...Electrical Permit Application fee table lists a Building Code Review fee of $75.00... |
| HVAC Permit | Permit required | Any size | ...Permit Application fee table lists a Building Code Review fee of $75.00 for the... |
| Plumbing Permit | It depends | Permits are required for the installation or replacement of water, sewer, or gas piping and systems; this does not include changing like-for-like water heaters or fixtures such as sinks. | ...Plumbing Permit Application fee table lists a Building Code Review fee of $75.00... |
| Pool Permit | It depends | Permits are issued for in-ground pools and spas, and for above-ground pools with a depth of 24 inches or greater. | ...Pool Permit Application fee table lists a Building Code Review fee of $75.00 for... |
| Roof Replacement Permit | Permit required | Any size | ...Reroof Permit Application fee table lists a Building Code Review fee of $75.00 for... |
| Shed Permit | It depends | A permit is required for an accessory structure (shed) over 100 square feet. | ...permit category, whose fee table lists a Building Code Review fee of $75.00 for the... |
| Solar Permit | Permit required | Any size | ...Permit Application fee table lists a Building Code Review fee of $75.00 for the... |
Fence Permit in other Florida localities
Everything above, sourced
Code references
National and state model-code sections the general guidance on this page is drawn from. They are not Brevard County documents; the office above sets the local rules.
How this fence permit page for Brevard County was verified. 2 official sources: brevardfl.gov, brevardfl.gov. Last checked by Mario Bailey, not confirmed with Brevard County Planning and Development Department, Building Permits Division. Rules change; confirm before you build. How we verify.
Last checked: Report an error on this page