Chain Link Fences

Why Chain Link Works in Central Florida

Chain link fences — also called cyclone, hurricane, or diamond-mesh fences — are heavy-duty steel wire woven into a diamond pattern. The wire is galvanized or coated so it will not rust, which matters in Orlando where humidity, afternoon storms, and sandy soil are hard on fencing. The open weave also lets wind pass through instead of catching it, so a chain link run often comes through a storm that flattens a solid privacy fence.

• Lowest cost per foot of any fence we install, both up front and over the life of the fence.
• Almost no maintenance — galvanized and vinyl-coated mesh resist weather and corrosion. Nothing to stain, seal, or repaint.
• Decades of service life when the posts are set properly.
• Secure without blocking sightlines — you can still see the yard, the pool, or the dog from the house.
• Fast to install, which matters when a storm has already taken the old fence out.

Chain Link Options We Install

Chain link is more configurable than most people expect. These are the choices that come up on nearly every estimate.

Heights

Residential runs are usually 4 ft or 6 ft. We install from 3 ft up to 12 ft for commercial and industrial perimeters. In the City of Orlando, 6 ft is the standard maximum in side and rear yards and 4 ft in the front-yard street setback.

Finishes and Colors

• Galvanized:the standard silver finish, zinc-coated for rust resistance. The most economical option.
• Aluminized:a heavier coating that holds up longer in humid, coastal-influenced air.
• Vinyl-coated:mesh and framework coated in PVC, typically black, green, or brown. Black is the most requested — it visually recedes and almost disappears against landscaping.

Mesh Size and Wire Gauge

Two-inch diamond mesh is the residential standard. Gauge runs backwards — a lower number means thicker wire — so 11-gauge is typical for homes and 9-gauge for commercial or higher-security work. Smaller mesh openings are available where code or security calls for them.

Top Rail or Top Tension Wire

A top rail gives a cleaner finished look and more rigidity along the top of the fence. A top tension wire costs less and is common on long commercial runs.

Privacy Slats

Slats woven vertically through the mesh turn an open chain link fence into a semi-private one. They are also how a chain link pool barrier meets Florida’s mesh-opening limit, covered below.

Gates

Walk gates for pedestrian access and double drive gates for vehicles, sized to the opening and hung on posts set for the weight. If you want the gate automated, see gate installation.

Chain Link Pool Fences and Florida Code

Chain link can serve as a residential pool barrier in Florida, but the mesh size is regulated. Under the Florida Building Code, mesh openings on a pool barrier may be no larger than 2 1/4 inches square, unless slats are fastened at the top or bottom to reduce the openings to no more than 1 3/4 inches. The barrier itself must be at least 48 inches tall, and gates must be self-closing and self-latching and swing away from the pool.

If the fence is going around a pool, say so at the estimate. It changes the mesh specification, and getting it wrong means failing inspection. For pool enclosures where appearance matters more, most homeowners choose ornamental aluminum instead.

Orlando Fence Permits and Height Limits

The City of Orlando does not require a permit for most residential fences. A fence permit is not needed when all of the following are true:

• The property is a one- or two-family residence
• The fence is 6 feet or less, measured from normal building-site grade
• The material is wood, vinyl, chain link, aluminum, wrought iron, or plant material
• The fence complies with Orlando City Code Chapter 58, Part 5B(5)

Anything over 6 feet still requires a permit, as does a masonry wall over 4 feet. Orlando also enforces a 25-foot sight-distance triangle at street intersections, so corner lots have a lower allowable height near the road.

Addresses in unincorporated Orange County permit through the County rather than the City, and the rules are not identical — we confirm which jurisdiction your property falls under before quoting. HOA requirements are separate from both and are often stricter than either.

Commercial and Industrial Chain Link

Chain link is still the default for commercial perimeter work: securing equipment yards, parking areas, storage, utility enclosures, and construction sites. Commercial jobs generally mean taller runs, 9-gauge mesh, heavier terminal posts, and double drive or rolling gates.

One local note for commercial buyers: adding barbed wire or similar defensive features changes how Orlando classifies the fence, which affects what is permitted and where. We check that before quoting perimeter work. We also build chain link dumpster and trash enclosures, and chain link is a common choice for pet and dog enclosures where airflow and visibility matter.

How We Install Chain Link

• Layout and boundary check:we walk the fence line, confirm placement against your property line, and mark gate and access points.
• Setting the posts:terminal posts — end, corner, and gate posts — are set in concrete first, then line posts at intervals of up to 10 feet.
• Rails and tension components:top rail, tension bands, and brace assemblies go on before any mesh is hung.
• Stretching the mesh:the mesh is attached at one end, stretched tight, then secured at the other. A properly stretched fence does not sag.
• Gates and hardware:gates are hung, squared, and latched so they still close correctly a year later.
• Final alignment and cleanup:we haul the debris away.

Post depth and spacing are where a chain link fence is won or lost. In Orlando’s sandy soil, shallow footings are the single most common reason a fence starts to lean.

Serving Orlando and Surrounding Areas

We install chain link fencing throughout Orlando, Orange County, and Seminole County. See our service areas, or compare chain link against wood, PVC vinyl, and ornamental fencing. If an existing chain link fence is failing rather than damaged in one spot, fence replacement is usually the better value.

Get a Free Chain Link Fence Estimate

All County Fence has installed chain link across Central Florida for more than 20 years. We are licensed and insured, our products are made in the USA, and lifetime warranty options are available. Reach out today for an estimate, or call (407) 885-5520.