Best Fence Styles for Privacy in Orlando Neighborhoods

Orlando is growing fast, and with that growth comes tighter lot spacing, more neighbors, and less natural privacy. Maybe you're in an established neighborhood like Winter Park where mature trees provide some screening. Or maybe you're in a newer Dr. Phillips subdivision where you can practically reach out your window and touch your neighbor's house. Either way, the right privacy fence makes your backyard feel like your own space again.

But "privacy fence" doesn't mean one thing. There are several styles, each with different levels of privacy, aesthetics, and cost. Let's walk through the options that work best for Orlando homes.

Board-on-Board Privacy Fence

This is the most popular privacy fence style we install across Orlando, and for good reason. A board-on-board fence uses overlapping pickets on alternating sides of the horizontal rails. Each board slightly overlaps the one next to it, eliminating gaps while still allowing some air flow through the fence.

Why Orlando homeowners love it:

• True privacy: No direct line of sight through the fence from any angle
• Wind-friendly: The slight gaps between overlapping boards let air through, reducing the sail effect during Orlando's summer thunderstorms
• Looks good from both sides: Unlike a standard stockade fence, board-on-board has a finished appearance on your neighbor's side too — which is a big deal in neighborhoods like College Park, Audubon Park, and Baldwin Park where community aesthetics matter
• Fits most HOAs: This style is approved by most Orlando-area homeowners associations

Board-on-board fences typically run 6 feet tall, though 8-foot versions are allowed in rear yards under Orlando's zoning rules. Cost for a wood board-on-board fence typically falls between $28-$50 per linear foot installed.

Solid Stockade (Dog-Ear) Privacy Fence

The classic stockade fence — also called dog-ear because of the rounded or angled cut at the top of each picket — is the most affordable option for full privacy. Boards are placed tightly side by side on one side of the rails with no gaps.

Pros:

• Lowest cost option for full visual privacy
• Simple, clean look that works in most settings
• Easy to repair — individual boards are simple to replace

Cons:

• One side has exposed rails and posts (the "ugly side"), which typically faces your neighbor. Some Orlando HOAs have "good neighbor" rules requiring the finished side to face outward.
• Solid panels catch more wind than board-on-board, putting more stress on posts during storms
• Boards can shrink as they dry after installation, creating small gaps (using kiln-dried lumber minimizes this)

Stockade fences are extremely common in Orlando's more affordable neighborhoods — Horizon West, Pine Hills, parts of UCF area — where function and budget are the top priorities.

Shadowbox Fence

A shadowbox fence places boards on alternating sides of the rails with a gap between each board. When you look straight at it, the boards on one side cover the gaps on the other, providing visual privacy from a direct view. But from an angle, you can see through the gaps.

This is a great middle-ground option — it provides reasonable privacy while looking open and airy. It's particularly popular in Orlando neighborhoods where HOAs require a "neighborly" appearance and don't want solid walls between properties.

Shadowbox fences also handle wind better than solid designs because air flows through the gaps. In a city that gets hit by remnants of tropical storms and severe summer thunderstorms, that's a real practical benefit.

The trade-off is that a shadowbox isn't fully private. If your main goal is blocking the view from your neighbor's second-story deck, a shadowbox won't completely do the job. For that, you need a solid or board-on-board design.

Vinyl Privacy Fence

Vinyl privacy panels come in several configurations — tongue-and-groove, solid panel, and lattice-top designs are the most common. They offer complete visual privacy with zero maintenance, which is their biggest selling point.

In Orlando's climate, vinyl handles humidity, rain, and UV exposure without rotting, warping, or fading. You'll never need to stain or paint it. A pressure washer or garden hose is all you need to keep it clean.

Style-wise, vinyl privacy fences have gotten much better looking over the years. Wood-grain textured panels in colors like weathered cedar, chestnut brown, and slate gray look much more natural than the plain white vinyl of years past. That said, some Orlando neighborhoods — particularly the historic districts like College Park, Lake Eola Heights, and Lake Davis — have design guidelines that may not allow vinyl.

Vinyl privacy fencing typically costs $35-$65 per linear foot installed, making it the premium option. But when you factor in zero maintenance costs over its 25-30 year lifespan, the total cost of ownership is often comparable to wood. For a detailed comparison, check out our post on wood vs vinyl fencing.

Horizontal Slat Privacy Fence

Horizontal fences have surged in popularity in Orlando over the past few years, especially in Mills 50, Thornton Park, and other neighborhoods with a more modern or contemporary design aesthetic. Instead of vertical pickets, boards run horizontally between posts.

The look is distinctly modern — clean lines, a low-profile feel, and a design that visually widens your yard. Horizontal fences can be built with tight spacing for full privacy or with gaps for a semi-private look.

A few things to know about horizontal fences in Orlando:

• Cost: Slightly more than a standard vertical fence because the framing is different and installation takes a bit more time. Expect $35-$55 per linear foot for wood.
• Material matters: Horizontal boards are more likely to warp and bow than vertical ones because of how they bear weight. Using high-quality lumber (cedar or premium pressure-treated) and keeping board lengths reasonable (6-8 feet max) minimizes this.
• Maintenance: Same as any wood fence — stain or seal every 2-3 years. Horizontal fences show weathering patterns a bit differently than vertical ones, so consistent maintenance is important for appearance.
• HOA approval: Not all HOAs allow horizontal fences. Check before you commit to this style.

Composite Privacy Fence

Composite fencing — made from a mix of wood fibers and plastic — is a newer option that's gaining traction in the Orlando market. It offers the look of wood with maintenance properties closer to vinyl.

Composite doesn't rot, resists insects, and doesn't require staining. It comes in a variety of wood-tone colors and textures. The downside is cost — composite is typically the most expensive fencing material, running $40-$70+ per linear foot installed.

We're seeing more interest in composite from homeowners in Orlando's higher-end neighborhoods — Dr. Phillips, Lake Nona, and Waterford Lakes — where the combination of aesthetics and low maintenance appeals to busy professionals who want a great-looking fence without the upkeep.

Adding Privacy to Existing Fences

If you have an existing fence that isn't quite private enough, there are some add-on options:

• Lattice toppers: Add a lattice panel on top of a shorter fence to gain height and screening without the solid-wall feel
• Privacy slats for chain link: Woven through existing chain link fencing, these provide decent privacy at minimal cost
• Reed or bamboo screening: Attached to an existing fence as a temporary or semi-permanent privacy layer
• Plantings: Evergreen shrubs like hollies, clusia, or podocarpus planted along a fence line add natural screening. These all grow well in Orlando's Zone 9b climate.

Choosing the Right Height

For real privacy, 6 feet is the standard minimum. At 6 feet, the fence blocks the view of someone standing at ground level. But it won't block the view from a second-story window or an elevated deck.

Orlando zoning allows up to 8 feet in rear yards, which provides substantially better privacy. An 8-foot fence also blocks more noise — useful if you live near a busy road like Colonial Drive, Orange Blossom Trail, or International Drive.

Keep in mind that taller fences cost more (more material) and create more wind load on the posts. Posts for an 8-foot fence should be set deeper — we recommend 36-40 inches — and spaced no more than 6 feet apart.

Let Us Help You Choose

The right privacy fence for your Orlando home depends on your budget, your neighborhood's rules, and your personal style. We've installed thousands of privacy fences across the Orlando metro area and can walk you through the options that make sense for your specific situation.

Call Orlando Fence at (704) 749-0642 or request a free estimate. We'll come to your property, discuss what kind of privacy you're looking for, and recommend the best approach.