Fence permits in Palm Beach County: a city-by-city guide
What ten Palm Beach County cities ask for before a fence goes in — Boynton Beach, Delray Beach, Boca Raton, West Palm Beach, Wellington, Jupiter, Palm Beach Gardens, Royal Palm Beach, Lake Worth Beach and Greenacres — plus what Florida’s HB 803 changed and what it didn’t. Summarized from each city’s published guidance, October 2026.
HB 803: what changed on July 1, 2026
Florida’s HB 803 exempted certain small residential projects from building permits starting July 1, 2026. How it applies to fences depends on the city:
- Wellington lists fences under 3 feet that aren’t pool barriers, and fence repairs that don’t touch the posts, among exempt projects — for residential work valued under $7,500. Work still has to meet zoning, HOA and licensing rules.
- West Palm Beach says its fence permit comes from the zoning code, not the building code, so fences still need a city permit.
- Pool barriers are not exempt.
Sources: Village of Wellington — House Bill 803 permit exemption · City of West Palm Beach — Permits FAQ
Fence permit rules by city
| City | What to expect |
|---|---|
| Boynton Beach | Permit via SagesGov: survey marked with fence (x x x) and gates (/), Fence Permit Affidavit, before/after photos, fee. Max 8 ft side/rear; 4 ft forward of the front building line. |
| Delray Beach | LDR 4.6.5: max 6 ft in front/street-side yards, 8 ft rear/interior side; front-yard chain link must be black or green vinyl-coated unless hedged. Permits via WebPermits. |
| Boca Raton | Building Department checklist: plans, survey/site plan, Fences, Walls & Gates Addendum, registered contractor. Heights per code §28-1356. |
| West Palm Beach | Zoning-based fence permit still required after HB 803; filed through Civic Access. |
| Wellington | Finished side out; 5 ft back from the front plane; 3 ft setback next to sidewalks/right-of-way; approved materials and colors; permit for repairs over 20% of a section. |
| Jupiter | Permit required. Single-family (R-1): max 4 ft front yard, 6 ft side/rear; 25 ft corner sight triangle (2.5 ft max inside it). |
| Palm Beach Gardens | Universal permit application, product specifications, survey; HOA letter if the reviewer asks. Residential max 6 ft (PUD perimeter 8 ft); no fences forward of the front building setback line; utility waivers for side/rear easements. |
| Royal Palm Beach | Chapter 9: permit required (repairs under 25% exempt); max 6 ft from the house front back, 4 ft in the front yard; finished side out where visible from the street. |
| Lake Worth Beach | Survey, site plan, Hold Harmless and Removal Agreements, Notice of Commencement. Max 4 ft front, 6 ft side/rear (8 ft on an alley); chain link black or dark-green vinyl-coated. |
| Greenacres | Survey or site plan (2 copies), HOA approval, utility easement waivers. Front: 3 ft solid / 4 ft open chain link; 6 ft elsewhere. |
Sources: City of Boynton Beach — Fence Permit · Delray Beach LDR §4.6.5 Walls, fences and hedges · City of Boca Raton — Fence / Site Wall permit checklist · City of West Palm Beach — Permits FAQ · Village of Wellington — Guidelines for Fences and Walls · Town of Jupiter Code §27-1326 · Palm Beach Gardens LDR §78-186 · Palm Beach Gardens — Residential fence permit requirements · Royal Palm Beach Code, Chapter 9 · Lake Worth Beach — Residential fence requirements · Greenacres — Fence checklist
Five things to sort out before any fence permit
- Find your survey. Most cities want a survey or site plan showing the fence and gates. If yours is outdated, a licensed surveyor can update it.
- Check your HOA first. HOA rules can be stricter than the city’s — Boynton Beach explicitly advises getting HOA approval before applying.
- Know your front-yard limit. Front-yard heights are lower than back-yard heights in most cities.
- Plan the finished side. Some codes (Wellington, for example) require the finished side to face out.
- Locate utilities and private lines. Public utilities are marked before digging; tell your contractor about sprinkler, lighting and pool lines.
Pool barriers are their own category
If the fence is part of a pool barrier, Florida’s §515.29 applies: at least 4 feet high on the outside, no gaps a young child could get through or climb, and gates that open outward, self-close and self-latch. See pool fence installation.
Source: Florida Statutes §515.29
How to use this guide
This guide summarizes each city’s published guidance as of October 2026 and links to the source. It isn’t legal advice, rules change, and HOA and unincorporated Palm Beach County rules aren’t covered here. FenceFox confirms the current requirements for your exact address before filing any permit.
Frequently asked questions
In most cities, yes — the details differ by city. Boynton Beach, Boca Raton, West Palm Beach, Jupiter, Palm Beach Gardens, Lake Worth Beach and Greenacres all publish fence permit requirements; Wellington exempts some small fences and repairs under HB 803, and Royal Palm Beach exempts repairs under 25% of a permitted fence.
No. It exempted certain small residential projects from building permits, but cities like West Palm Beach still require zoning permits for fences, and pool barriers are not exempt.
Usually the contractor. Boca Raton, for example, requires contractors to be registered with the city to pull permits. FenceFox prepares and files the permit for its projects.
Want us to check the rules for your address?
Text your address or ZIP and what you’re planning. We’ll tell you what the permit involves.