City of Mesa fence permit
Do you need a fence permit in the City of Mesa? Not confirmed. Contact the City of Mesa 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 Mesa (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 in required rear yard (residential districts) source
- Front (street) yard
- 3.5 ft opaque in required front yard (up to 4.5 ft if the topmost 1.5 ft is visually transparent) source
- Corner lots
- No fence, wall or shrubbery between 3 ft and 8 ft high in the intersection visibility triangle; 10 ft x 10 ft visibility triangle where a corner lot abuts a key lot source
- Not allowed
- Chain-link, barbed wire, razor wire, embedded glass shards and electrified or other hazardous fencing are prohibited in residential districts (barbed wire allowed for livestock enclosures). source
- How to apply
- Online portal source
How to file for a fence permit in the City of Mesa
Steps based on mesaaz.gov — Residential Construction
- Call Permit Services (480-644-4273) or Planning (480-644-4726) to confirm whether your fence or block wall needs a permit; fences under 6 feet tall do not need a construction permit.
- Check height and location rules: 3.5 ft opaque in the front yard, 6 ft in side and rear yards, and keep the corner visibility triangle clear.
- If a permit is needed, create an account in the City's DIMES system and apply for a Residential Construction Permit, uploading your documents.
- Pay the fee, which is based on estimated construction cost (see the City's Development Services fee schedule).
- Call Arizona 811 at least two full working days before digging.
- Paying
- Fees based on estimated construction cost per the Development Services fee schedule
Who to contact
Permit Services
City of Mesa Development Services
- Phone
- 480-644-4273
- [email protected]
- Hours
- Monday - Thursday 7:00 am to 6:00 pm
- Address
- 55 N. Center St., Mesa, AZ 85201
Contact from mesaaz.gov — Residential Construction
What to submit
- Residential construction permit application in DIMES (only if a permit is needed)
- Site plan showing the fence or wall location
- Contact Permit Services/Planning first to confirm whether a permit is needed
Other rules to know
- City FAQ: "fences under 6 feet tall do not require a construction permit." Height, location and material rules still apply to all fences.
- Retaining walls under four feet tall can be built without a permit only if they do not hold back dirt or water.
- The FAQ does not address block walls; the City says to contact Planning or Permit Services to confirm.
- Continuous unbroken fence or wall plane along a right-of-way or private street is limited to 150 ft; posts/columns must protrude at least 6 inches and other protrusions, recesses or height variations at least 18 inches.
- Fence must be in good repair and structurally sound; electric fences prohibited.
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 Mesa, AZ?
Not confirmed. Contact the City of Mesa before you build; the rules below are what we found in the ordinance.
How tall can a fence be in the City of Mesa?
Side and rear yards: 6 ft in required rear yard (residential districts). Front (street) yard: 3.5 ft opaque in required front yard (up to 4.5 ft if the topmost 1.5 ft is visually transparent). Corner lots: No fence, wall or shrubbery between 3 ft and 8 ft high in the intersection visibility triangle; 10 ft x 10 ft visibility triangle where a corner lot abuts a key lot.
How do I apply for a fence permit in the City of Mesa?
Call Permit Services (480-644-4273) or Planning (480-644-4726) to confirm whether your fence or block wall needs a permit; fences under 6 feet tall do not need a construction permit. Check height and location rules: 3.5 ft opaque in the front yard, 6 ft in side and rear yards, and keep the corner visibility triangle clear. If a permit is needed, create an account in the City's DIMES system and apply for a Residential Construction Permit, uploading your documents. Pay the fee, which is based on estimated construction cost (see the City's Development Services fee schedule). 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 Mesa (site plan, aerial photo and filled-in details) in a few minutes.
Who do I contact about a fence permit in the City of Mesa?
Permit Services, City of Mesa Development Services. Phone 480-644-4273, email [email protected].
Sources
Summarized from the City of Mesa's own ordinances, forms and permit pages. Each link opens the original.
Ordinance: Mesa Zoning Ordinance §11-30-4 Fences and Freestanding Walls
Work for the City of Mesa? 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.