City of Benson fence rules
Do you need a fence permit in the City of Benson? No. The City of Benson does not require a permit for a typical residential fence, but height and placement rules still apply.
At buildit.dog you can draw your fence on an aerial photo of your lot and check it against the City of Benson's rules before you build. Start with your address.
Quick facts
- Permit required
- No (typical residential fence) source
- How to apply
- Online portal source
Still being confirmed with Benson: Are fences up to 6 ft still exempt from a building permit under the codes now in force (the amendments are for the 2015 codes), and what are the zoning height limits?
How to build within the rules in the City of Benson
Steps based on bensonaz.gov — Building Department
- Fences up to 6 ft do not need a building permit under the City's adopted amendments; call the Building Department permit tech at 520-720-6328 to check zoning height limits for your lot.
- For a fence over 6 ft, apply online through the City's building permit portal, uploading plans and documents as PDFs with the required A.R.S. Title 32 form.
- Call Arizona 811 at least two full working days before digging.
- Review time
- Plan reviews are first come, first served
- Inspections
- Request at least 24 hours in advance by email to the Building Department (name, phone, date, permit number, address, inspection type); the online inspection link is for contractors listed on the permit (call 520-720-6328 to be added)
Who to contact
Alysia Rasberry
Permit Tech, Building Department
- Phone
- 520-720-6328
- Hours
- City Hall: Mon, Tue, Thu, Fri 8 am-5 pm; Wed 1 pm-5 pm
- Address
- Benson City Hall, 101 East 6th Street, Benson, AZ (mail: P.O. Box 2223, Benson, AZ 85602)
Contact from bensonaz.gov — Building Department Staff
Other rules to know
- Benson's adopted amendments (document labeled 2016) to the 2015 International Building and Residential Codes list 'Fences not over 6 feet high' as work exempt from a building permit (IBC 105.2 item 2, IRC R105.2 item 2); taller fences are not exempt.
- Retaining walls holding 4 ft or more of earth need an engineered design with the plans.
- Zoning height limits for fences were not found online; ask the City.
Before you dig
Call Arizona 811 before digging post holes (dial 811). Utilities have two full working days to mark their lines, so call at least two working days ahead. Find your lot corner markers and keep the fence on your side of the line. County parcel maps can be off by several feet; if you're not sure where the line is, a licensed land surveyor can stake it.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a permit to build a fence in the City of Benson, AZ?
No. The City of Benson does not require a permit for a typical residential fence, but height and placement rules still apply.
Who do I contact about a fence permit in the City of Benson?
Alysia Rasberry, Permit Tech, Building Department. Phone 520-720-6328.
Sources
Summarized from the City of Benson's own ordinances, forms and permit pages. Each link opens the original.
Ordinance: Benson amendments to 2015 IBC §105.2 / IRC §R105.2 item 2
Work for the City of Benson? Help us keep this right
If anything on this page is wrong or out of date, tell us and we'll fix it. Municipal staff reports are reviewed first. Please include a link to the current ordinance, form or fee schedule if you can.