City of Apache Junction fence rules
Do you need a fence permit in the City of Apache Junction? No. The City of Apache Junction does not require a permit for a typical residential fence, but height and placement rules still apply.
At buildit.dog you can draw your fence on an aerial photo of your lot and check it against the City of Apache Junction's rules before you build. Start with your address.
Quick facts
- Permit required
- No (typical residential fence) source
- Side and rear yards
- 6 ft (fences over 6 ft up to 8 ft must meet the district's main-structure setbacks; over 8 ft prohibited) source
- Front (street) yard
- 4 ft solid in the front yard setback, with up to 2 more ft of see-through material on top; solid fences over 4 ft up to 6 ft must meet the main structure's front setback source
- Corner lots
- No wall or fence over 3 ft within the 33-ft corner triangle on a corner lot source
- Distance from lot line
- Fences and walls 0-4 ft: no minimum front, side or rear setback. Over 4 ft to 6 ft: solid fences must meet the main structure's front setback; no side or rear setback. Over 6 ft to 8 ft: must meet the district's main-structure setbacks. source
- Not allowed
- Rope, string, wire products, chain, netting, tarp or fabric, broken glass, razor or concertina wire, paper, unframed reflective metal, plywood, fiberglass panels and materials not made as fencing. Barbed wire only for large livestock in districts that allow them (max 6 ft). Electric fences only in RS-GR, RS-54 and RS-54M for livestock. source
- How to apply
- Online portal source
How to build within the rules in the City of Apache Junction
Steps based on apachejunctionaz.gov — Frequently Asked Questions
- Fence or block wall 6 ft or under? No permit is needed, but follow the height, setback and material rules.
- Building near a public right-of-way, in an easement, across a drainage way or in a flood zone? Call Planning and Zoning (480-474-5083) for zoning review first.
- Over 6 ft? Have an Arizona registered structural engineer design it and apply for a building permit online through MyGovernmentOnline.
- Call Arizona 811 at least two full working days before digging.
- Review time
- Building permit review currently four to six weeks
Who to contact
Planning and Zoning Division
City of Apache Junction Development Services
- Phone
- 480-474-5083
- [email protected]
- Hours
- Monday-Thursday 7am-6pm; closed Friday
- Address
- 300 E. Superstition Blvd., Bldg. D, Apache Junction, AZ 85119
Contact from apachejunctionaz.gov — Frequently Asked Questions
What to submit
- No permit for fences or block walls up to 6 ft
- Over 6 ft: building permit application with a design by an Arizona registered structural engineer
Other rules to know
- City FAQ: no permit is required for a fence under 6 ft; fences or block walls up to 6 ft (measured 3 ft in from the exterior side) are exempt from building permits.
- Any fence or wall over 6 ft needs a permit and must be designed by an Arizona registered structural engineer.
- Fences in federally patented easements, next to public right-of-way, or across natural drainage ways need zoning review.
- In FEMA Special Flood Hazard Areas (Zones A, AE, AH) only flow-through fencing (welded wire, chain-link, horizontally spaced wrought iron) is allowed; block walls are not.
- Retaining walls need a permit unless 4 ft or less (bottom of footing to top) with no surcharge.
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 Apache Junction, AZ?
No. The City of Apache Junction does not require a permit for a typical residential fence, but height and placement rules still apply. City FAQ: no permit is required for a fence under 6 ft; fences or block walls up to 6 ft (measured 3 ft in from the exterior side) are exempt from building permits.
How tall can a fence be in the City of Apache Junction?
Side and rear yards: 6 ft (fences over 6 ft up to 8 ft must meet the district's main-structure setbacks; over 8 ft prohibited). Front (street) yard: 4 ft solid in the front yard setback, with up to 2 more ft of see-through material on top; solid fences over 4 ft up to 6 ft must meet the main structure's front setback. Corner lots: No wall or fence over 3 ft within the 33-ft corner triangle on a corner lot.
How close to the property line can I put a fence in the City of Apache Junction?
Fences and walls 0-4 ft: no minimum front, side or rear setback. Over 4 ft to 6 ft: solid fences must meet the main structure's front setback; no side or rear setback. Over 6 ft to 8 ft: must meet the district's main-structure setbacks.
Who do I contact about a fence permit in the City of Apache Junction?
Planning and Zoning Division, City of Apache Junction Development Services. Phone 480-474-5083, email [email protected].
Sources
Summarized from the City of Apache Junction's own ordinances, forms and permit pages. Each link opens the original.
Work for the City of Apache Junction? 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.