In FishHawk Ranch, every screen enclosure must have a bronze, white or black frame with charcoal screen, sit behind the rear corners of the house and be approved in writing before work starts. Those three rules shape almost every enclosure job in Lithia, FL, because FishHawk is where most of the area's pool homes are. Older Lithia, on the eastern side, has its own mix of homes.
Both sit in unincorporated Hillsborough County about 20 miles southeast of downtown Tampa, so permits come from the county. The census area grew from under 2,000 people in 2000 to 14,087 in 2010 and 24,625 in 2020, and most homes date from the late 1990s to the 2010s.
FishHawk Ranch screen enclosure rules
FishHawk's ACC Design Standards, section 5.4, are among the most specific enclosure rules in Tampa Bay. The version updated May 27, 2026 sets out:
| Rule | What the standard says | What it means for your project |
|---|---|---|
| Frame color | Bronze, white or black | Pick one of three; no other colors |
| Screen color | Charcoal screening | Gray, black or clear screen is not on the list |
| Approval | Prior written approval before work is performed | Submit before the job, not after |
| Placement | Never forward of the rear corners of the home | No front or side-yard cages |
| New pools | Fence or enclosure application filed with the pool application | One package, not two |
| Corner lots | Landscape required where a pool or enclosure shows from the flanking street | Budget for screening plants |
| Everything else | All exterior changes need an application and approval | Repaints and screen changes included |
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From the FishHawk Ranch HOA ACC Design Standards (updated 5.27.26) and the FishHawk community information page (fishhawkconnect.com), fetched 2026-10-13. FishHawk Ranch West has its own HOA and documents.
Black frames are allowed, which many HOAs don't
Not every HOA allows black. Twin Lakes of Brandon, for instance, allows only bronze or white. In FishHawk a black frame with charcoal screen is an approved combination, which opens up a frame repaint from faded white or bronze to black, with ACC approval.
The rear-corner rule
Because nothing can go forward of the rear corners, a front entry screen enclosure is not an option in FishHawk Ranch, and a cage on a wide lot has to stay within the back line of the house. If you want more covered space, the answer is a larger rear cage or a screened patio behind the home.
FishHawk villages, CDD and older Lithia
FishHawk Ranch is a 3,000-acre master-planned community, and how your village was built affects your cage. Newland developed it with more than 25 miles of nature trails, and it was billed as the first green community in Hillsborough County. FishHawk Trails and FishHawk Ranch were built by two different companies in the 1990s, and the area also takes in Park Square, Starling and The Preserve. FishHawk is a CDD community, so residents pay CDD fees on top of HOA dues.
Cages on the first 1990s homes are now 25 years old or more. With screen lasting about 5 to 10 years in Florida and a sound frame 20 to 30 years or more, the first villages are where a pool cage rescreening turns into a frame question. Check posts, beams and screws before paying for new screen.
The older community of Lithia sits on the eastern side of the census area. Outside FishHawk's covenants, your own deed restrictions (if any) set the color rules, but every new cage or screen room still needs a county permit.
The Alafia River and Lithia storm history
The Alafia River forms FishHawk's northern border, and in Hurricane Milton it set a record. The river crested at 24.9 feet at Lithia in October 2024, and rescues ran along Lithia Pinecrest Road and Rose Street. The Hillsborough sheriff described six feet of flooding in homes a mile away from the river. Fishhawk Boulevard and Lithia-Pinecrest Road were both on the county's flood-warning list, and Lithia logged 9.67 inches of rain.
Insurance rarely helps with the cage itself: Citizens' HO-3 worksheet lists screen pool cages as not covered. The pool cage insurance guide explains your options.
Lithia and FishHawk local facts
The essentials for planning an enclosure in 33547, in one table.
| Topic | Fact |
|---|---|
| Status | Unincorporated; FishHawk census-designated place, Hillsborough County |
| ZIP code | 33547 |
| Population | 24,625 (2020 census) |
| Borders | Alafia River to the north, Boyette Road to the south |
| Permit | Hillsborough County Residential Miscellaneous Permit, sealed plans, $380 fee as published |
| HOA screen rule | Charcoal screen; bronze, white or black frame |
| Milton, 2024 | Alafia record crest of 24.9 ft; 9.67 in of rain at Lithia |
| Design wind speed | About 140 mph for nearby Brandon (ASCE 7-22); confirm for your lot |
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Compiled from Census 2020 data, the FishHawk ACC Design Standards (May 2026), Hillsborough County's checklist and fee schedule, Tampa Bay 28 and Fox 13 Milton coverage, Bay News 9's Milton rainfall totals and the ASCE 7-22 geodatabase, fetched 2026-10-13.
Screen for preserve and trail lots
On FishHawk's pond, preserve and trail-side lots, the color is fixed at charcoal but the mesh type is yours to choose. Charcoal comes in several weaves:
- Standard 18x14 fiberglass: the default and the lowest cost.
- 20x20 No-See-Um: Phifer's tighter weave for gnats and sand flies near marsh and water; about $10 to $20 more per panel.
- PetScreen: tear and puncture resistant for doors and lower panels.
- Glas-Shield: vinyl-laminated mesh below the chair rail to keep splash and debris out; not for roofs.
The pool cage screen types guide covers how visible each mesh is from inside the cage.
What enclosure work costs in Lithia
Expect roughly $1,500 to $4,500 to rescreen a typical cage and $10,000 to $30,000 or more for a new one. Tampa Bay and Florida published ranges:
| Job | Range | Source and date |
|---|---|---|
| Multiple panel repair | $250 to $600 | Tampa Bay contractor guide, Jan 2026 |
| Full rescreen | $1,500 to $4,500+ | Florida contractor price guide, Dec 2025 |
| Large two-story cage in 20x20 No-See-Um | $4,500 to $7,500+ | Tampa Bay contractor guide, Mar 2026 |
| Frame repaint | $1.50 to $2.50 per sq ft | Tampa Bay contractor guide, Jan 2026 |
| New pool cage | $10,000 to $30,000+ | Tampa Bay contractor price list, 2026 |
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Published contractor price pages, fetched 2026-10-13. Planning ranges, not quotes.
For a new cage, the county wants plans sealed by a Florida architect or engineer and a site plan showing easements and wetland setbacks, which matters on preserve and pond lots. The Tampa Bay pool enclosure permit guide has the full county picture, and pool enclosure installation covers roof styles.
Nearby: Valrico, Riverview and Brandon, plus every town on the service area page. Request a free quote any time.
