Putting in a fence should feel like a weekend project. Then you hear the words Lee County fence permit , and suddenly you're thinking about site plans, easements, and inspections.

If you own a home or rental in unincorporated Lee County near Cape Coral (for example, North Fort Myers, parts of Matlacha, or county pockets along major roads), the county sets the rules, not the City of Cape Coral. In 2026, the big takeaway is simple: plan on pulling a permit and plan on drawing your fence location clearly.

Before you buy panels or schedule an installer, read this as a practical guide, then confirm your parcel's zoning and any special limits with Lee County Community Development (Building and Zoning). Requirements can change, and some lots have extra conditions.

Cape Coral addresses end at the city line, but neighborhoods can sit right next to it while still being unincorporated. That matters because Lee County's review process, submittal checklist, and zoning rules control your fence.

In unincorporated Lee County, a Lee County fence permit is required to install or replace a residential fence or wall. The county's own guide lays out what to submit, how review works, and how to request inspections. Keep it bookmarked because it's the closest thing to a fence permit "recipe" you'll get: Lee County Residential Fence Guide (PDF).

If you're comparing rules with friends inside city limits, don't assume the same height and placement rules apply. Even small differences can cause a failed inspection or a stop-work notice.

Use this table to sanity-check your plan before you submit.

The theme is consistency: what you draw, what you build, and what inspectors see must match.

Fence height problems usually happen in the "public-facing" parts of the lot. Think of the front area like the shallow end of a pool, a small mistake shows fast.

Front yard height is commonly capped at about 3 feet in unincorporated residential areas. That limit can also affect what feels like a side yard on a corner lot, because street frontage exists on two sides.

Visibility is the second issue. Even if your fence is short, a solid style near a driveway or intersection can block sight lines. Reviewers care about driver visibility for a good reason, because a fence can become a blind corner.

Meanwhile, side and rear yard fences often allow more height, commonly up to 6 feet. Still, taller designs can trigger structural requirements under the Florida Building Code (wind loads and anchorage). If you're thinking about a taller masonry wall or a heavy privacy build, expect extra paperwork.

Homeowners inside HOAs also face a second layer of approval. Even outside Cape Coral, many communities still require an ARC submission before permitting. If that's you, this walkthrough on preparing fence packets for fast HOA approvals helps you avoid the most common "resubmit" reasons.

Most fence headaches aren't about the fence. They're about the ground it sits on.

In unincorporated Lee County, you generally cannot build in:

• Public right-of-way along roads
• Recorded easements (drainage, access, utility, or conservation)
• Other encumbered areas shown on your survey or plat

That's why the county wants a site plan that clearly shows property lines, easements, and the fence route. The county also requires an Easement and Encumbrances Disclosure as part of the process (your permit package should reflect that).

Waterfront and drainage conditions add another layer. Some canal and water-adjacent lots have special limits on how close fencing can be to the water and how "open" it must remain near the shoreline. If your yard touches a canal, don't guess. Draw it, label it, then ask zoning to confirm your exact rule set.

For landlords, this is where tenant complaints start. A fence built in an easement can be required to move later, and that can mean lost rent time and a second install bill.

A standard yard fence is about boundaries and privacy. A pool barrier is about life safety. That difference shows up in gate hardware and spacing rules.

Even when Lee County reviews your fence under a basic fence permit, a pool enclosure can trigger additional requirements, such as self-closing or self-latching gates and limits on climbable features. If you're fencing around an existing pool, call that out in your plan set so reviewers can tell you what they'll enforce on your parcel.

Also, don't assume a fence that "looks safe" will pass. Inspectors check details, especially gate swing, latch height, and openings that a child could fit through.

A smooth permit feels like packing for a trip, you want the essentials in one place, not scattered across drawers.

Start with Lee County's guidance and build your submittal around it: Residential Fence Guide (PDF). For broader context on residential permit workflows (reviews, fees, inspections), this county document is also useful: Lee County Residential Building Guide (PDF). Lee County also updates its Land Development Code over time through ordinances, which are posted publicly (for example: Lee County ordinance updates (PDF) ).

Here's a practical pre-submittal checklist most homeowners can follow:

• Survey first : Use a recent survey when possible, especially if your corners aren't obvious.
• Draw a simple site plan : Show the house, property lines, easements, fence runs, and every gate.
• Label fence details : Height, material, and style (vinyl, wood, aluminum, chain link).
• Mark problem areas : Canals, drainage swales, sidewalks, or corner visibility constraints.
• Disclose easements : Include the required disclosure and avoid building in recorded easements.
• Plan inspections : Don't backfill posts or "finish" work before any required inspection steps.

Some homeowners apply as owner-builders, while contractors often submit through the county's online system. Either way, a clear plan reduces back-and-forth.

If you're budgeting the project at the same time, this Cape Coral fence installation cost breakdown helps you plan for gates, demo, and permitting, even when your job is just outside the city.

In 2026, the safest approach outside Cape Coral is to assume you need a Lee County fence permit , then build your plan around your survey and easements. Keep the front area low, protect sight lines, and treat pool barriers as a separate safety category, not "just a fence."

Confirm your zoning and parcel details with Lee County Community Development (Building and Zoning) before you dig. A little prep now keeps your fence standing, and keeps your project off the redo list.