Unincorporated Pima County fence permit
Do you need a fence permit in the Unincorporated Pima County? Not confirmed. Contact Unincorporated Pima County 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 Unincorporated Pima County (site plan, aerial photo and filled-in details) in a few minutes. Start with your address.
Quick facts
- Permit required
- Not confirmed source
- Distance from lot line
- Walls and fences 7 ft or less (security/privacy/screening) are exempt from yard and setback requirements (Zoning Code 18.07.050(B)). source
- How to apply
- Online portal source
Still being confirmed with Unincorporated Pima County: Does Pima County zoning set a maximum front-yard fence height, or is the 7 ft exemption the only limit?
How to file for a fence permit in the Unincorporated Pima County
Steps based on pima.gov — Do I Need a Permit
- Check the county's Do I Need a Permit page: non-retaining walls and fences no more than 7 feet in height are listed as not needing a building permit, but a permit may still be required (Native Plant Preservation Ordinance, Buffer Overlay Zone Ordinance or floodplain rules).
- Call Development Services at 520-724-9000 with questions (Regional Flood Control District 520-724-4600 for floodplain questions).
- If a permit is required, use the Permit Gateway at permits.pima.gov to find the right permit, then apply online through Accela Citizen Access.
- Call Arizona 811 at least two full working days before digging.
Who to contact
Pima County Development Services Department
- Phone
- 520-724-9000
Contact from pima.gov — development services
Other rules to know
- Zoning Code 18.77.030(B)(3)(a): walls and fences shall be permitted within required yards and setback areas, subject to 18.07.050(B) (Exception for Walls and Fences) and Chapter 18.73; those sections were not read.
- Corner lots (18.77.020(A)): no fence, structure, sign or planting within twenty feet of the property corner where it would block sight lines.
- Do I Need a Permit page: 'Non-retaining walls and fences no more than 7 feet in height' - building permit: No. Retaining walls are not listed as exempt.
- Zoning Code 18.07.050(B): walls or fences seven feet or less in height designed as security, privacy or screening elements are exempt from yard and setback requirements; up to 8 ft in a side or rear yard on lots of one acre or more; wall/fence location and height must meet sight visibility standards. No separate front/side/rear height limits were found.
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 Unincorporated Pima County, AZ?
Not confirmed. Contact Unincorporated Pima County before you build; the rules below are what we found in the ordinance. Do I Need a Permit page: 'Non-retaining walls and fences no more than 7 feet in height' - building permit: No. Retaining walls are not listed as exempt.
How close to the property line can I put a fence in the Unincorporated Pima County?
Walls and fences 7 ft or less (security/privacy/screening) are exempt from yard and setback requirements (Zoning Code 18.07.050(B)).
How do I apply for a fence permit in the Unincorporated Pima County?
Check the county's Do I Need a Permit page: non-retaining walls and fences no more than 7 feet in height are listed as not needing a building permit, but a permit may still be required (Native Plant Preservation Ordinance, Buffer Overlay Zone Ordinance or floodplain rules). Call Development Services at 520-724-9000 with questions (Regional Flood Control District 520-724-4600 for floodplain questions). If a permit is required, use the Permit Gateway at permits.pima.gov to find the right permit, then apply online through Accela Citizen Access. 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 Unincorporated Pima County (site plan, aerial photo and filled-in details) in a few minutes.
Who do I contact about a fence permit in the Unincorporated Pima County?
Pima County Development Services Department. Phone 520-724-9000.
Sources
Summarized from Unincorporated Pima County's own ordinances, forms and permit pages. Each link opens the original.
Ordinance: Pima County Zoning Code 18.07.050 Development standards exceptions (B. walls and fences)
Work for Unincorporated Pima County? 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.