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permit.guide
Cochise County, Arizona

City of Sierra Vista fence permit

Do you need a fence permit in the City of Sierra Vista? Not confirmed. Contact the City of Sierra Vista before you build; the rules below are what we found in the ordinance.

buildit.dog can turn a fence drawn on an aerial photo of your lot into a complete permit application package for the City of Sierra Vista (site plan, aerial photo and filled-in details) in a few minutes. Start with your address.

Quick facts

Permit required
Not confirmed
Fee
$75 (Processing Review Fee Schedule, effective July 1, 2025: Block walls / fences up to 6 feet) source
Side and rear yards
6 ft in rear yard setbacks (8 ft within the buildable area of the main building if Building Code requirements are met) source
Front (street) yard
Opaque fences or walls in the front yard setback: 4 ft on lots under 10,000 sq ft; 5 ft on lots over 10,000 sq ft source
Corner lots
No opaque fence or wall over 3 ft in the clear-vision area of a driveway, alley or intersection source
Distance from lot line
All fences and walls must be on private property; not in public rights-of-way, public drainageways or public dedicated easements. source
Not allowed
Exterior fences may not include barbed wire, razor ribbon, electrical current or charge, broken glass or similar hazardous materials (barbed wire allowed where livestock may be kept; commercial/industrial storage areas may use barbed wire or razor ribbon above 6 ft). source
How to apply
Call (520) 417-4413

Still being confirmed with Sierra Vista: Does every residential fence or block wall need a $75 Wall/Fence building permit, and how is the application submitted (in person, email or CitizenServe)?

Plan your fence and build the applicationLook up your address, draw the fence on an aerial photo of your lot, and get a site plan and filled-in application.

How to file for a fence permit in the City of Sierra Vista

  1. Call Community Development at (520) 417-4413 to confirm a permit is needed for your fence or wall and how to submit.
  2. Fill out the Building Permit Application (Owner Performing the Work) and check WALL/FENCE.
  3. Complete the Description of Work and Cost of Project and attach a plot plan with dimensions and distances to lot lines and existing structures.
  4. Submit as Community Development directs (City Hall, 1011 N. Coronado Drive; the form lists fax (520) 452-7023).
  5. Keep the approved plans and permit on site; the form lists (520) 452-7019 as the inspections-only number.
  6. Call Arizona 811 at least two full working days before digging.
Paying
$75 for block walls / fences up to 6 ft (fee schedule effective July 1, 2025)
Inspections
Inspections-only line (520) 452-7019 (per the permit application)
Permit good for
Expires if work does not start within 180 days of approval or is suspended or abandoned for 180 days

Who to contact

Phone
(520) 417-4413
Address
Community Development Department, City Hall, 1011 N. Coronado Drive, Sierra Vista, AZ 85635

What to submit

  • Building Permit Application (Owner Performing the Work) with the WALL/FENCE box checked
  • Description of Work and Cost of Project (must be completed for approval)
  • Plot plan with dimensions and distances to lot lines and existing structures

Other rules to know

  • Height is measured from the highest grade on either side of the fence.
  • Taller fences can be requested through the Administrative Modification process in Development Code Section 151.04.006.
  • The Building Permit Application lists WALL/FENCE as a project type and has a Wall/Fence Fee line; the Processing Review Fee Schedule (effective July 1, 2025) lists Block walls / fences (up to 6 feet) at $75. The code page opened does not state which fences need a permit.
  • Fences must be kept in reasonable repair.
  • The City's homepage lists CitizenServe for permits, inspections and code enforcement; the permit pages that described online filing could not be re-confirmed.

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 Sierra Vista, AZ?

Not confirmed. Contact the City of Sierra Vista before you build; the rules below are what we found in the ordinance. The Building Permit Application lists WALL/FENCE as a project type and has a Wall/Fence Fee line; the Processing Review Fee Schedule (effective July 1, 2025) lists Block walls / fences (up to 6 feet) at $75. The code page opened does not state which fences need a permit.

How tall can a fence be in the City of Sierra Vista?

Side and rear yards: 6 ft in rear yard setbacks (8 ft within the buildable area of the main building if Building Code requirements are met). Front (street) yard: Opaque fences or walls in the front yard setback: 4 ft on lots under 10,000 sq ft; 5 ft on lots over 10,000 sq ft. Corner lots: No opaque fence or wall over 3 ft in the clear-vision area of a driveway, alley or intersection.

How close to the property line can I put a fence in the City of Sierra Vista?

All fences and walls must be on private property; not in public rights-of-way, public drainageways or public dedicated easements.

How much is a fence permit in the City of Sierra Vista?

$75 (Processing Review Fee Schedule, effective July 1, 2025: Block walls / fences up to 6 feet).

How do I apply for a fence permit in the City of Sierra Vista?

Call Community Development at (520) 417-4413 to confirm a permit is needed for your fence or wall and how to submit. Fill out the Building Permit Application (Owner Performing the Work) and check WALL/FENCE. Complete the Description of Work and Cost of Project and attach a plot plan with dimensions and distances to lot lines and existing structures. Submit as Community Development directs (City Hall, 1011 N. Coronado Drive; the form lists fax (520) 452-7023). Keep the approved plans and permit on site; the form lists (520) 452-7019 as the inspections-only number. buildit.dog can turn a fence drawn on an aerial photo of your lot into a complete permit application package for the City of Sierra Vista (site plan, aerial photo and filled-in details) in a few minutes.

Who do I contact about a fence permit in the City of Sierra Vista?

Community Development Department. Phone (520) 417-4413.

Sources

Summarized from the City of Sierra Vista's own ordinances, forms and permit pages. Each link opens the original.

Ordinance: Sierra Vista Development Code §151.04.008 Fences and Walls

  1. codelibrary.amlegal.com — Municipal code: 0 0 0 1295
  2. sierravistaaz.gov — 638845366518330000
  3. sierravistaaz.gov

Work for the City of Sierra Vista? 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.