City of Glendale fence permit
Do you need a fence permit in the City of Glendale? Not confirmed. Contact the City of Glendale 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 Glendale (site plan, aerial photo and filled-in details) in a few minutes. Start with your address.
Quick facts
- Permit required
- Not confirmed source
- Side and rear yards
- 6 ft source
- Front (street) yard
- 3 ft in the front yard (decorative columns up to 4 ft, spaced at least 6 ft on-center) source
- Corner lots
- 30 inches within the sight visibility triangles at street corners and driveways source
- Distance from lot line
- Front-yard fences/walls must sit outside the public right-of-way and public utility easements. Screening between dissimilar uses goes on the shared property line, outside sight triangles. source
- Not allowed
- Barbed wire is generally prohibited (only in listed districts, mounted 6 ft or more above grade). Preferred wall material is decorative masonry block. source
- How to apply
- Online portal source
Still being confirmed with Glendale: Does a standard residential fence or block wall (6 ft or under) need a building permit in Glendale, and what is the fee?
How to file for a fence permit in the City of Glendale
Steps based on glendaleaz.gov — Building Permits
- Check with the Planning Division (623-930-2800, ask for the Planner of the Day) whether your fence or wall needs a permit and which height rules apply.
- If a permit is needed, fill out the fillable building permit application and prepare drawings showing the wall location and height.
- Combine the application and drawings into one PDF and send through the city's Electronic Plan Review page (organized by project type).
- Pay fees per the city Fee Schedule (usually based on construction area).
- Call Arizona 811 at least two full working days before digging.
- Paying
- Fees depend on project type and size (city Fee Schedule)
Who to contact
Development Services Department - Building Safety
Building Official: Brian Hickman, (623) 930-3151, [email protected]
- Phone
- 623-930-2800
- Hours
- Counter assistance Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.
- Address
- 5850 W. Glendale Avenue, Glendale, AZ 85301
Contact from glendaleaz.gov — Contact Information
What to submit
- Completed permit application (fillable form)
- Construction drawings/plans as PDFs (combine into one PDF if possible)
- Structural calculations from a licensed structural engineer if the wall is over 6 ft
Other rules to know
- The Unified Development Code does not state a general permit requirement for ordinary walls; it requires structural calculations for walls over 6 ft (35.4.204.D), a building permit for electrical fences, and a temporary fence permit for temporary fencing.
- Where adjoining lots have different finish grades the wall may be up to 6 ft on the high side and 8 ft on the low side (35.4.204.F).
- Residential development in SR and R-1 to R-5 districts must provide at least a 6 ft wall along abutting property lines in some cases (35.4.205.A).
- The UDC copy read is the Dec 2023 PDF; the city FAQ page says planning pages are being updated for the Unified Development Code.
- The Building Permits Q&A page lists a staff email only for permit extensions, not for new applications, so email is not listed as a submission method.
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 Glendale, AZ?
Not confirmed. Contact the City of Glendale before you build; the rules below are what we found in the ordinance.
How tall can a fence be in the City of Glendale?
Side and rear yards: 6 ft. Front (street) yard: 3 ft in the front yard (decorative columns up to 4 ft, spaced at least 6 ft on-center). Corner lots: 30 inches within the sight visibility triangles at street corners and driveways.
How close to the property line can I put a fence in the City of Glendale?
Front-yard fences/walls must sit outside the public right-of-way and public utility easements. Screening between dissimilar uses goes on the shared property line, outside sight triangles.
How do I apply for a fence permit in the City of Glendale?
Check with the Planning Division (623-930-2800, ask for the Planner of the Day) whether your fence or wall needs a permit and which height rules apply. If a permit is needed, fill out the fillable building permit application and prepare drawings showing the wall location and height. Combine the application and drawings into one PDF and send through the city's Electronic Plan Review page (organized by project type). Pay fees per the city Fee Schedule (usually based on construction area). Call Arizona 811 at least two full working days before digging. buildit.dog can turn a fence drawn on an aerial photo of your lot into a complete permit application package for the City of Glendale (site plan, aerial photo and filled-in details) in a few minutes.
Who do I contact about a fence permit in the City of Glendale?
Development Services Department - Building Safety, Building Official: Brian Hickman, (623) 930-3151, [email protected]. Phone 623-930-2800.
Sources
Summarized from the City of Glendale's own ordinances, forms and permit pages. Each link opens the original.
Ordinance: Unified Development Code 35.4.206 Wall Placement (and 35.4.200 Screening, Walls & Fences)
Work for the City of Glendale? 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.