City of Tempe fence permit
Do you need a fence permit in the City of Tempe? Yes. The City of Tempe requires a permit before you build a fence.
buildit.dog can turn a fence drawn on an aerial photo of your lot into a complete permit application package for the City of Tempe (site plan, aerial photo and filled-in details) in a few minutes. Start with your address.
Quick facts
- Permit required
- Yes source
- Side and rear yards
- 8 ft for single-family uses (10 ft other uses) behind the front setback source
- Front (street) yard
- 4 ft maximum in the front yard setback (single-family included); use permit can allow up to 6 ft source
- Corner lots
- Clear vision rules of ZDC 4-702(G) apply to fences and walls source
- How to apply
- Online portal source
How to file for a fence permit in the City of Tempe
Steps based on tempe.gov — permit types
- Call Building Safety at 480-350-8341, Option 1, to confirm which approval your fence or wall needs (all fences and walls need City review; a building permit applies over 6 ft).
- Keep front-yard fences to 4 ft (taller needs a use permit) and side/rear fences to 8 ft for single-family lots.
- Register an account on the Tempe Citizen Access Portal and submit your application online (residential submittals need a Project Submittal Form and two complete sets of plans).
- Pay plan review and permit fees, which vary by project.
- Call Arizona 811 at least two full working days before digging.
- Paying
- Plan review and permit fees vary by project
Who to contact
Permit Center
Building Safety, Community Development
- Phone
- 480-350-4311
- [email protected]
Contact from tempe.gov — permit center
What to submit
- Development plan review or Development Services Manager approval (all fences and walls)
- Project Submittal Form and two complete sets of plans if a building permit is required (over 6 ft)
Other rules to know
- All fences and walls require City review and approval, through development plan review or approval of the Development Services Manager or designee.
- A building permit is required for any wall over 6 feet (Building Code); the permit-types page says a Building Permit is required for "fences over 6 feet in height."
- A use permit is required for front yard walls above 4 ft (up to 6 ft); anything above 4 ft must keep natural surveillance of the street.
- Height is measured from the highest adjacent finished surface within 20 ft.
- Older Tempe Building Code Directive #2 (rev. 7/05) says fences/walls 6 ft or less need no building permit and gave a 4 ft front/10 ft side-rear limit; the current Code Compliance page above is used for heights.
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 Tempe, AZ?
Yes. The City of Tempe requires a permit before you build a fence.
How tall can a fence be in the City of Tempe?
Side and rear yards: 8 ft for single-family uses (10 ft other uses) behind the front setback. Front (street) yard: 4 ft maximum in the front yard setback (single-family included); use permit can allow up to 6 ft. Corner lots: Clear vision rules of ZDC 4-702(G) apply to fences and walls.
How do I apply for a fence permit in the City of Tempe?
Call Building Safety at 480-350-8341, Option 1, to confirm which approval your fence or wall needs (all fences and walls need City review; a building permit applies over 6 ft). Keep front-yard fences to 4 ft (taller needs a use permit) and side/rear fences to 8 ft for single-family lots. Register an account on the Tempe Citizen Access Portal and submit your application online (residential submittals need a Project Submittal Form and two complete sets of plans). Pay plan review and permit fees, which vary by project. 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 Tempe (site plan, aerial photo and filled-in details) in a few minutes.
Who do I contact about a fence permit in the City of Tempe?
Permit Center, Building Safety, Community Development. Phone 480-350-4311, email [email protected].
Sources
Summarized from the City of Tempe's own ordinances, forms and permit pages. Each link opens the original.
Ordinance: Tempe Zoning and Development Code §4-706 Fence and Wall Height Standards
Work for the City of Tempe? 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.