Fence permit in Manatee County

What Manatee County says

On its Permitting Section page, the county lists Fence as a standard permit type. It says fence permits always require building plans and a site plan or survey. A Notice to Building Official and a Private Provider affidavit may also be required.

Apply through Accela Online Services or at 9000 Town Center Parkway, Lakewood Ranch. Call the Permitting Section at 941-748-4501 ext. 3800 or email permitting@mymanatee.org.

If you live in Palmetto

The City of Palmetto's Building Department page says: "A permit is also required to erect a fence." It also says storage sheds and other minor projects need permits and to call 941-721-2166 if unsure. See our Palmetto permit guide. We found no fence rule on the City of Bradenton page we read, so call that office at (941) 932-9414 if you live in Bradenton. See Bradenton permits.

Height and placement rules

We could not read the county's land development code text on fence heights. One third-party website, CityRuleLookup, lists these rules for Manatee County, citing Land Development Code section 511.6:

• Front yard: 48 inches maximum above ground.
• Other yards: up to 8 feet.
• No fences in rights-of-way or easements.

That website has no update date, and we could not check it against the county's own text. Treat it as a starting point, not a rule. Ask the Building Division to confirm the height for your yard before you order materials.

Pool fences and barriers

The county says pools and screen enclosures have a 5 foot setback from side and rear property lines and cannot encroach on easements or drainage swales. We could not find an official pool barrier or pool fence height rule. If a fence is part of a pool project, ask the office about it directly.

Check your survey and HOA

Because the county wants a site plan or survey, find yours before you call. Our guide on site plans explains what the office is looking for. If you have an HOA, check its fence rules too. You file that application, and we give you the specs and drawings.

Choosing the fence

The permit does not choose the material, but HOA and cost often do. Our page on vinyl, aluminum and wood fences in Florida compares them.

What to have ready before you call

• Your survey or a sketch of your lot with the fence line drawn in.
• The fence length and the height you want.
• Which yards the fence touches: front, side or rear.
• Any easements or drainage swales you know of.
• The material: wood, vinyl or aluminum.

The county's Fence permit asks for plans and a site plan or survey, so the sketch you make for your call can start that work.

Timing

Manatee County permits expire after 180 days if no required inspection has been approved. Order materials and book your install around that. The county has not published a review time for fence permits on the pages we read, so ask when you call. Our page on permit expiration has more.

Check your contractor's license

Before anyone pulls a permit for you, check their license at myfloridalicense.com. It is free and takes a minute. Hildebrand Construction & Remodeling holds Florida Certified Building Contractor license CBC1257253 and has been licensed since 2009. Our page on how to check a contractor license walks through it step by step.

How Hildebrand handles fence installs

Hildebrand Construction & Remodeling installs wood, vinyl and aluminum fences. We pull every required permit, and one licensed contractor runs the whole job. Every job is quoted after an on-site visit, so we see your yard and property lines before pricing. Your written estimate does not change without your written approval.

See our fence installation. Call or text (941) 284-2218, Monday to Friday, 8 AM to 5 PM.

Questions homeowners ask