How Far Off the Ground Should a Vinyl Fence Be on Your St. Petersburg Property?

how far off the ground should a vinyl fence be

Are you considering installing a new fence? Perhaps you want to replace your old one with a different material and style. In either case, you probably have questions about what St. Petersburg’s municipal ordinances permit. 

For example, how far off the ground should a vinyl fence be on your St. Petersburg property? Gulf To Bay Fence’s professional vinyl fence installers in St. Petersburg, FL, answer this and other questions below. 

How Is a Vinyl Fence Installed?

Vinyl fence installation involves the following steps:

  1. Obtaining permits: First, the fencing contractors acquire the necessary permits to complete the fence installation. 
  2. Measuring the property lines: Then, the crew double-checks property line locations to ensure they install the fence on your property and avoid any underground utilities.  
  3. Ground leveling: Next, the crew prepares the ground for construction by leveling it. 
  4. Gathering supplies: Before construction begins, contractors source the products needed to build the fence. 
  5. Digging holes for fence posts: An integral step of fence installation involves digging post holes. The fence posts secure and anchor the pickets. 
  6. Pouring the cement base: Fencing contractors use cement to secure each post into its designated hole. 
  7. Installing pickets and posts: Finally, they’ll add each post to its cement base and add the pickets by segment. 

How Far off the Ground Should a Vinyl Fence Be?

Different fencing materials perform best with varying measurements. So, how far off the ground should a vinyl fence be? Although St. Petersburg, FL, outlines numerous code requirements for fences, its municipality doesn’t specify space requirements between the ground and the bottom of the pickets. Therefore, the fencing contractors can provide picket-to-ground space at your request or based on general construction requirements.

Remember that most residential fences should not exceed four feet in height. These measurements generally include the area between the ground and the picket bottom. 

Does the Type of Fence Matter?

The fencing material matters for features like:

  • Trees
  • Shrubs
  • Landscaping
  • Location

For example, St. Petersburg fence regulations forbid using your fence as a laundry line. The ordinances also specify the minimum number of trees you should plant to populate the area outside various fences. 

Vinyl fences require a 15-foot buffer between the outside of the fence and the street. You should also plant a tree every 50 feet or a shrub every 30 feet around the fenced area. Beyond these specifications, fence material doesn’t shape city requirements. 

What Does Florida Say About Fencing?

Florida’s fence laws include the following:

  • You have no obligation to build a boundary fence for your property. 
  • If you and another landowner purchase bordering properties with a previously erected fence, you both own and are responsible for the fence. 
  • Your neighbors have no obligation to maintain or pay for fences you build unless they agree to do so. 
  • “Spite fences” are discouraged. 

Shop for Vinyl Fences From Gulf To Bay Fence

How far off the ground should a vinyl fence be? St. Petersburg has no specifications. Contact Gulf To Bay Fence for a free estimate.

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