Tampa City Council overturned a staff-granted design exception that had allowed exposed fence framing to face outward at a Bayshore Way property.

Neighbor William Heller appealed staff approval, presenting photographs and arguments that an existing, code-compliant six-foot fence on his property had framing facing inward and that there was sufficient space on the applicant's property to construct the fence to code. The property owner and contractor said site conditions and an adjacent picket fence or a recent temporary structure prevented standard installation; the owner said a short section had been fixed after staff response.

Council reviewed the evidence, received public comment urging consistent application of the fence framing rule, and voted unanimously to deny the design exception, concluding the application did not meet the de novo criteria in code section 27-60.

Next steps: The council decision requires the applicant to bring the fence into compliance with code by reversing framing where practicable or otherwise returning with a revised application for council consideration or appeal.