Broward County Certificate of Competency 20-F-21966-X
Fence Installation & Repair in Washington Park, FL
Fence Installation & Repair for homes in Washington Park and the rest of Broward County. Free estimate.
Washington Park sits inside Broward County, which the Florida Building Code treats as the High-Velocity Hurricane Zone. That matters for fences as much as for roofs and windows: posts, panels and gates have to be designed and installed for the highest design wind pressures in the state, and products such as aluminum or vinyl fencing may need Florida Product Approval or a Miami-Dade NOA. A fence is a wind-loaded structure, not just a property line marker, and in a strong storm an under-set post or an unsupported gate leaf is usually the first thing to go.
We install and repair privacy, pool and decorative fencing in wood, vinyl, aluminum and chain link, plus driveway and walk gates, for homes in Washington Park and throughout Broward County. Because this is a small unincorporated community rather than a master-planned development, the permit path often runs through Broward County Building Code Services instead of a city counter — we confirm that on every job, apply with the survey, schedule the inspection and get the permit closed out. Estimates are free.
Housing here is predominantly modest single-family homes built from the 1950s through the 1970s, mostly concrete block with stucco, and many of those lots still carry fence lines and gate frames that have stood through decades of South Florida salt air and humidity. Washington Park sits a few miles inland from the Atlantic, so salt-laden air still reaches hardware: hinges, latches, chain link tension bands and gate hardware corrode faster here than in dry climates, and wood posts set in humid soil face rot and termites long before the panels look worn out. Formal HOAs and gated subdivisions are uncommon in this area compared with newer western Broward suburbs, so in many cases the controlling rules are zoning and the Florida Building Code rather than a board's design standards — though we still check whether an association applies.
Problems to watch for in Washington Park
Posts that were never set for HVHZ wind loads
Older fence lines on 1950s–1970s lots were often set shallow or at wide spacing. HVHZ provisions in Broward County drive post size, embedment and spacing, and in a strong storm a long run of solid privacy panels on undersized posts can lean or fail at the base.
Rusted and seized gate hardware
A few miles inland from the Atlantic, salt-laden air still corrodes hinges, latches and fasteners. Gate hinges and exterior hardware frequently seize or rust out well before the fence fabric or panels are finished.
Wood rot and termites
Year-round humidity drives rot in wood posts and rails, and termites are a standing concern in South Florida. Rot usually starts at grade where the post meets wet soil, so a fence can look sound from eye level and still be loose at the base.
Pool gates that don't self-close or self-latch
Florida Building Code pool barrier requirements and Florida's residential pool safety law call for barrier height, no-climb spacing, and self-closing, self-latching gates that open outward away from the pool. Worn springs and sagging leaves are a common reason an existing barrier no longer complies.
Fence placed over an easement or past the line
Permit review includes zoning checks for height, setbacks, corner visibility and location relative to easements and property lines. Without a current survey, a fence can end up in a position that has to be moved.
Storm-damaged sections after thunderstorms
Broward's May–October rainy season brings near-daily afternoon thunderstorms and wind-driven rain, and severe storms routinely topple wood and vinyl fence sections across the county. Partial repairs are often possible if posts and footings are still sound.
Sagging driveway gates
Wide driveway gates carry the most wind load and the most weight. Hinge wear, frame corrosion and racked leaves show up first as a gate that drags or won't latch cleanly.
What we do
- Privacy, pool and decorative fencingWood, vinyl, aluminum and chain link installed for Broward's HVHZ wind load requirements. Where a product approval applies, we use fencing with Florida Product Approval or a Miami-Dade NOA.
- Pool barrier fencing and gatesWe install barriers with attention to height, no-climb spacing and gates that are self-closing, self-latching and swing outward away from the pool, per the Florida Building Code and Florida's residential pool safety law.
- Driveway and walk gatesNew gates and gate replacement, including hardware suited to a humid, salt-influenced environment. Existing gates can often be re-hung or re-hardwared rather than replaced.
- Repairs and section replacementPost resets, rail and panel replacement, chain link repairs and hardware swaps after storms or corrosion. We look at footings first, since a sound-looking panel on a failed post won't last.
- Permit application with surveyWe apply for the permit with the survey the reviewer asks for, handle the zoning review items, schedule the final inspection and see the permit closed out.
Permits, codes and licensing in Washington Park
Florida does not issue a statewide fence contractor license as a standard CILB classification; fence work is most often licensed or registered at the county or municipal level, and larger or structural work such as masonry walls may require a state-licensed contractor. In Broward County, contractor qualification and local registration run through the Broward County Central Examining Boards, code administration is overseen by the Broward County Board of Rules and Appeals, and the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR) oversees state licensing through the CILB — verify requirements for a specific project with those offices. A permit is typically required for new fences and walls and for substantial replacement, with zoning review for height, setbacks, corner visibility and easements; in unincorporated areas permits come from Broward County Building Code Services rather than a municipal counter, so verify the correct office for your address before work starts. Cat 5 Home Shield holds Broward County Certificate of Competency 20-F-21966-X, which covers fence work.
Fence Installation & Repair work is done under Broward County Certificate of Competency 20-F-21966-X.
When to call
Fence work goes on year-round in Broward County but is easiest during the November–April dry season, when the daily afternoon thunderstorms of the May–October wet season aren't interrupting post setting and concrete cure time. Demand rises in spring, ahead of the June 1–November 30 hurricane season, and again after severe storms that take down wood and vinyl sections. Permit and survey steps take their own time, so starting earlier in the dry season gives more room. Call (954) 906-1715 or use the quote form on this page for a free estimate.
We serve Washington Park and nearby Broward County areas including Boulevard Gardens, Roosevelt Gardens, Franklin Park, Lauderdale Manors, Rock Island, Dorsey-Riverbend, Golden Heights, Melrose Park, Broadview Park and Sunland Park.
Fencing in Washington Park: questions we hear
- Do I need a permit for a fence in Washington Park?
- A permit is typically required for new fences and walls and for substantial replacement, along with zoning review for height, setbacks, corner visibility and easements. Washington Park is a small unincorporated community, so the application may go to Broward County Building Code Services rather than a city building department — verify the correct office for your address before work begins.
- Will I need a survey?
- A survey is often requested as part of the permit application, since the reviewer needs to see where the fence sits relative to property lines and easements. If you have a current one, send it with your estimate request; if not, we'll tell you what the reviewing office asks for.
- Does the HVHZ apply to fences?
- Yes — all of Broward County is in the High-Velocity Hurricane Zone, so fence and wall structures are designed for HVHZ wind loads under the Florida Building Code. Products such as aluminum or vinyl fencing may require Florida Product Approval or a Miami-Dade NOA, which is a product approval, not a service area.
- What are the rules for a fence around a pool?
- Pool barrier requirements under the Florida Building Code and Florida's residential pool safety law govern barrier height, no-climb spacing, and gates that are self-closing, self-latching and open outward away from the pool. These details are checked at inspection, so we build to them from the start.
- Which fence material holds up best near the coast here?
- Washington Park sits a few miles inland from the Atlantic, and salt-laden air still reaches hardware, so corrosion resistance on hinges, latches and fasteners matters regardless of material. Wood faces rot and termites in year-round humidity; aluminum, vinyl and chain link each have trade-offs we can walk through at the free estimate.
- Do you work outside Broward County?
- No. Cat 5 Home Shield works in Broward County, Florida only.
Get a free fencing estimate in Washington Park
Tell us what's going on. We'll get back to you to set up a visit.
Prefer to talk?
(954) 906-1715