Palm Coast's chain link rules
The city's fence regulations sheet, which excerpts section 4.01.02 of the Land Development Code, says:
- Black or bronze only. "Chain-link, aluminum, or similar metal fences shall be black or bronze in color," with white allowed only for aluminum. Plain silver galvanized chain link doesn't meet that wording, so ask for black or bronze coated fabric, posts and rails.
- No slats, fabric or screening. Chain link stays see-through. If you want privacy, chain link isn't the fence for it in Palm Coast.
- Not along arterial or collector roads. Chain link, aluminum other than decorative aluminum, and similar fences are prohibited in yards that front those roads.
- Height: up to 6 feet in side and rear yards behind the front of the house.
- Owner's acknowledgement for any new or replacement fence; no building permit.
If you aren't sure whether your street counts as an arterial or collector road, the Zoning Division at (386) 986-3751 can tell you.
Where chain link makes sense here
Being open works in chain link's favor under two Palm Coast rules:
- Canal lots. Within 20 feet of a saltwater waterway, a solid fence is held to 4 feet, but an open fence may reach 6. See canal lot fences.
- Shrub rows. The city's landscaping rules call for 3-gallon shrubs at 3 feet on center in front of fences along street sides, saltwater canals and golf courses, and the fence sheet names chain link as an open style that's exempt.
It also takes wind well. Engineering Express, a Florida engineering firm, notes that open designs let wind pass where solid fences let pressure build.
Coatings
Thumbtack's chain link guide (updated July 8, 2026) says galvanized is the most common coating, and vinyl-coated fabric is usually cheaper than powder coating. In Palm Coast, the color rule means you're choosing between black or bronze vinyl coating and black or bronze powder coat, on the fabric and on the posts and rails.
Around a pool
Chain link can serve as a pool barrier only if it meets the pool rules: at least 4 feet on the outside under Florida law, with no gap a young child can get through, under or over, and a gate that opens outward and closes and latches on its own. Engineering Express's summary of the building code puts the maximum chain link mesh at 2.25 inches. Ask what mesh size the fabric is, and say "pool" when you ask for a price. See pool fences.
What chain link costs
Thumbtack's two pages don't agree on the per-foot price, so both are shown. Neither is a Palm Coast price.
| Figure | Amount | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Typical chain link fence, national | $1,428 to $5,019; most pay about $2,713 | Thumbtack chain link page, updated July 8, 2026 |
| Per foot, national average | $20 to $27, based on a 238-foot fence | Thumbtack chain link page, July 2026 |
| Per foot, national | $7 to $12 | Thumbtack fence installation page, updated July 1, 2026 |
| 238 feet, 4 ft tall | $3,459 to $6,140 | Thumbtack chain link page |
| 238 feet, 5 ft tall | $3,832 to $6,799 | Thumbtack chain link page |
| 238 feet, 6 ft tall | $4,506 to $7,998 | Thumbtack chain link page |
| 4-ft black powder-coated, Orlando | $15 per foot | Thumbtack fence installation page |
| 4-ft chain link swing gate | About $100 | Thumbtack fence installation page |
The Orlando lines come from a single Orlando fence company Thumbtack surveyed, the only Florida city on its general fence page. The same page lists 4-foot galvanized at $12 a foot in Orlando, which shows roughly what black coating adds, but galvanized alone doesn't meet Palm Coast's color rule. More on the cost page.
What commonly goes wrong
- Silver galvanized installed where the city wants black or bronze.
- Privacy slats added later, which the city's sheet doesn't allow.
- Chain link along a collector road, where it's barred.
- Mesh too wide for a pool barrier.
- A gate post set like a line post, so the gate drags.
Who chain link isn't for
Anyone who wants privacy: with no slats allowed, chain link can't provide it in Palm Coast. Yards that front an arterial or collector road. Owners who want the look of a finished fence, who may find aluminum worth the extra cost.
Questions homeowners ask
Can I use regular galvanized chain link in Palm Coast?
The city's sheet says chain link and similar metal fences shall be black or bronze. Ask the Zoning Division at (386) 986-3751 if you're told otherwise.
Can I add privacy slats?
No. The sheet says chain link may not have slats, fabric or screening.
Is chain link allowed near my canal?
Yes, and as an open fence it may reach 6 feet within 20 feet of a saltwater waterway.
Do I have to plant shrubs in front of it?
Open-style fences such as chain link are exempt from the shrub row the city requires in front of solid fences along street sides, canals and golf courses.
How this site helps: your request goes to one independent local fence contractor, who prices and installs the fence. This site does neither.
Related guides
Sources
- City of Palm Coast, fence regulations sheet, read November 2026.
- Thumbtack, chain link fence cost, updated July 8, 2026; fence installation cost, updated July 1, 2026.
- Engineering Express, fence design overview, updated April 24, 2025.
- Florida Statutes 515.29, 2026.