A 6-foot wooden privacy fence is still the most common backyard fence in Ocala, mostly because nothing else gives you a solid screen for less money per foot. It's also the material that asks the most of you over the years, so the details below matter more than the style.
Styles worth knowing by name
- Stockade or dog-ear: pickets butted side by side. Cheapest, and gaps open as boards shrink.
- Board-on-board: a second layer overlaps the gaps, so the fence stays solid when the wood moves.
- Shadowbox: boards alternate on each side of the rails; it looks finished from both yards, which neighbors appreciate.
- Horizontal: boards run sideways for a modern look. Spans need more support to stay straight.
Posts decide how long it lasts
Boards can be swapped one at a time; rotten posts take the fence down with them. Ocala's long, wet summers mean the bottom of every post sits in damp sand for weeks. Ask for posts treated for ground contact, not the lighter treatment meant only for weather exposure. The University of Georgia's fence bulletin puts the difference in numbers: 0.25 pounds of preservative per cubic foot for above-ground use, 0.4 for fence posts. Our climate guide covers it in more depth.
Height and permits inside city limits
The City of Ocala's building office says residential fences 6 feet or lower don't need a building permit, which covers the standard privacy fence. A 7- or 8-foot fence does, and so does any fence in a historic district. HOA rules apply on top of that. More on the permits page.
What it tends to cost
Angi's national figures run $10 to $45 per linear foot for wood. Height, style, the number of gates and how much digging the corners need move a quote around inside that range. See fence cost in Ocala.
Before digging
Florida law lets a homeowner dig only 10 inches without notifying the one-call center, and fence holes go much deeper. Sunshine 811 asks for two full business days' notice, and its homeowner FAQ notes that buried lines often run exactly where people want fences.
Sources
- University of Georgia Cooperative Extension Bulletin 1192: Fences for Horses (J. W. Worley, revised June 2024)
- City of Ocala Growth Management: Building Services ("Do I need a permit for a fence?")
- Angi: How Much Does Fence Installation Cost? (national survey data, checked November 2026)
- Florida Statutes 556.108 (2025): Exemptions (one-call notice)
- Sunshine 811: Homeowner FAQ
Checked November 10, 2026. City rules, statutes and price surveys change, so the linked original is the final word.