After a storm the calls are mostly about fences that are leaning, missing a section or blocked by a fallen tree. Between storms they're about gates that drag and posts that rotted at the ground line. Either way, the first question is whether the posts are still sound.
Typical repairs
- Wind-blown sections where panels or boards pulled loose.
- Leaning or snapped posts, often rotted where they meet wet soil.
- Tree damage, where a limb or trunk came down across the fence.
- Sagging gates and worn hinges or latches.
- Pool gates that no longer close and latch by themselves, which Florida's barrier statute requires.
Repair or replace
If only a few boards or one panel failed and the posts are firm, repair makes sense. If posts along the run are soft, new boards won't last on them. The storm guide has more on this.
Permits and digging
New posts mean new holes, and holes deeper than 10 inches fall outside Florida's homeowner exemption, so file a Sunshine 811 locate request two full business days or more before the work. For permits, ask the city whether your repair counts as a new fence.
Cost
Angi lists removing an old fence at about $3 to $5 per linear foot and gates from under $150 to about $2,000.
Sources
- Florida Statutes 515.29 (2025): Residential swimming pool barrier requirements
- Florida Statutes 556.108 (2025): Exemptions (one-call notice)
- Sunshine 811: Homeowner FAQ
- City of Pensacola Building Inspections: Frequently Asked Questions (revised November 16, 2023)
- Angi: How Much Does Fence Installation Cost? (national survey data, checked November 2026)
Checked November 10, 2026. City codes, statutes and prices change; the linked source is the authority.