[Moveeast31]

I am curious...I have noticed while looking up rental homes online in the SW Florida area that a lot of backyards are open and either have no fencing or very minimal fencing. I have read posts about people being very cautious, and rightfully so, about leaving their dogs outside due to random wildlife wandering in and endangering them. My question is, why does Florida not seem to have all that much fencing when it comes to their yards? I know some places have them but one thing I think I will miss about Arizona is the wall type fencing most houses have out here. I haven't seen much of it anywhere else and it works wonders for keeping people/wildlife out and maintaining privacy. Is it that people like a more natural open look in Florida or is it just not a trend in that area? I apologize in advance if there are areas that do have more fencing as I am only going on what I have seen while looking up rentals.

[gypsychic]

Originally Posted by Moveeast31

I am curious...I have noticed while looking up rental homes online in the SW Florida area that a lot of backyards are open and either have no fencing or very minimal fencing. I have read posts about people being very cautious, and rightfully so, about leaving their dogs outside due to random wildlife wandering in and endangering them. My question is, why does Florida not seem to have all that much fencing when it comes to their yards? I know some places have them but one thing I think I will miss about Arizona is the wall type fencing most houses have out here. I haven't seen much of it anywhere else and it works wonders for keeping people/wildlife out and maintaining privacy. Is it that people like a more natural open look in Florida or is it just not a trend in that area? I apologize in advance if there are areas that do have more fencing as I am only going on what I have seen while looking up rentals.

Lots of places have fencing - it varies by towns and neighborhoods. A lot of the planned communities don't have them or don't allow them. And different neighborhoods have certain deed restrictions. Where I live we can have a 6 ft. fence, but I'm on a corner and have 25' setbacks and cannot put the fence on the edge of my property. In town, however, I see some neighborhoods are allowed fences right up to the edge of their property. So, as I said, it just depends.

[ferret111]

I think that only newer developments lack fences, either due to regulations or just not getting around to installing them yet. I know that where I live, within Tampa city limits, that most people have fences. If you don't have a fence, chances are your yard will still be surrounded by your neighbors' fences!

[Moveeast31]

Interesting, I think the houses for rent that I have been looking at are mainly newer areas so that makes sense. Does anyone out there do the brick wall fencing like we have here in Arizona? I know a lot of people, mostly from the Midwest, don't like them but I love the privacy they afford.

[gypsychic]

Originally Posted by Moveeast31

Interesting, I think the houses for rent that I have been looking at are mainly newer areas so that makes sense. Does anyone out there do the brick wall fencing like we have here in Arizona? I know a lot of people, mostly from the Midwest, don't like them but I love the privacy they afford.

You will see more stucco than brick walls down here. You don't see them as often as wood due to the expense.

[BigRob69]

Not having a wall or even a fence in the backyard kind of sucks. I mean there's no privacy without them. I wouldn't want to see someone walking behind my house and I would like to let my dog out without having to put him on a leash. No backyard walls is ridiculous in my mind.

[debidibly]

Check your deed restrictions or homeowner's association rules carefully BEFORE you rent or buy. Many communities don't allow them, period. Some put such difficult restrictions on them that it is either not practical for their intended purpose, like keeping dogs in and giving them enough room to run, or not appealing to the homeowner. For example, one development we looked at would only allow the fence directly within the lines the home itself (so it couldn't extend to the property line or even beyond the footprint of the home) and could only be 10-15 feet deep behind the home. No stone, no brick, no cast aluminum. White vinyl only. Oh, and if you had a lot on the golf course - no fence at all.

Do your homework. Depending on where you are looking, my guess is that you aren't seeing fences because the associations don't allow them.

[Mike1306]

Make sure where you rent or buy allows fences.
If the house you buy does not have one put one up.
Problem solved.

Next?

[Moveeast31]

Originally Posted by Mike Peterson

Make sure where you rent or buy allows fences.
If the house you buy does not have one put one up.
Problem solved.

Next?

Actually what I asked last was if there was anyplace in Florida that has the brick wall fencing that Arizona has so much of. It wasn't really a problem as much as it was curiosity about Florida's home fencing situation.

[Moveeast31]

Originally Posted by debidibly

Check your deed restrictions or homeowner's association rules carefully BEFORE you rent or buy. Many communities don't allow them, period. Some put such difficult restrictions on them that it is either not practical for their intended purpose, like keeping dogs in and giving them enough room to run, or not appealing to the homeowner. For example, one development we looked at would only allow the fence directly within the lines the home itself (so it couldn't extend to the property line or even beyond the footprint of the home) and could only be 10-15 feet deep behind the home. No stone, no brick, no cast aluminum. White vinyl only. Oh, and if you had a lot on the golf course - no fence at all.

Do your homework. Depending on where you are looking, my guess is that you aren't seeing fences because the associations don't allow them.

Thank you...I totally missed this before my last post. Interesting, is there a reason why certain developments don't like the stone or brick fencing because I know that I think it looks pretty uniform and I wouldn't call it ugly. I'm just wondering because, at least out here, it seems to have so many positives.