Unincorporated Pinal County fence rules
Do you need a fence permit in the Unincorporated Pinal County? No. Unincorporated Pinal County 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 Unincorporated Pinal County's rules before you build. Start with your address.
Quick facts
- Permit required
- No (typical residential fence) source
- Side and rear yards
- 6 ft in rear setbacks source
- Front (street) yard
- 5 ft, open fencing only (or up to 5 ft with the part above 3 ft open; 6 ft pipe rail or wrought iron allowed; gates up to 8 ft) source
- Corner lots
- No fence over 24 inches in the sight visibility triangle on corner lots source
- Distance from lot line
- Fences meeting the front-yard and 6-ft side/rear limits are exempt from zoning setbacks. source
- Not allowed
- Electric fences except in rural zones for livestock; barbed wire except in rural and industrial zones; fences of broken glass, tires, junk, scrap or hazardous materials. source
- How to apply
- Call 520-866-6299 source
Still being confirmed with Unincorporated Pinal County: What is the main Pinal County Community Development phone number and online portal for fence permits over 7 ft?
How to build within the rules in the Unincorporated Pinal County
Steps based on pinal.gov — FAQ
- Check the rules: front yard 5 ft open fencing, side and rear 6 ft, and nothing over 24 inches in a corner sight triangle. Fences that meet them need no County permit.
- Questions? Use the County's online Verification Request Form on the Community Development FAQ page.
- Over 7 ft, or a retaining wall over 4 ft? Have an Arizona Registered Engineer prepare plans and apply for a building permit.
- Call Arizona 811 at least two full working days before digging.
- Inspections
- Building inspections 520-866-6299 (permit number needed)
Who to contact
Community Development - Building Safety
Pinal County
- Phone
- 520-866-6299
- Hours
- One Stop Shop 8 am-4:30 pm
Contact from pinal.gov — Frequently Asked Questions
What to submit
- No permit for fences that meet the height rules
- Walls or fences over 7 ft: building permit with plans by an Arizona Registered Engineer
Other rules to know
- County FAQ: if the front, side/rear and corner-lot rules are met, a permit is not required with the county.
- A building permit is required for walls or fences over 7 ft (measured from outside finished grade) and retaining walls over 4 ft (from the bottom of the footing).
- Allowed materials: wood, metal rails, wire, chain link or other customary fencing approved by the planning director.
- Fence and wall questions can be sent through the County's online Verification Request Form.
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 Pinal County, AZ?
No. Unincorporated Pinal County does not require a permit for a typical residential fence, but height and placement rules still apply.
How tall can a fence be in the Unincorporated Pinal County?
Side and rear yards: 6 ft in rear setbacks. Front (street) yard: 5 ft, open fencing only (or up to 5 ft with the part above 3 ft open; 6 ft pipe rail or wrought iron allowed; gates up to 8 ft). Corner lots: No fence over 24 inches in the sight visibility triangle on corner lots.
How close to the property line can I put a fence in the Unincorporated Pinal County?
Fences meeting the front-yard and 6-ft side/rear limits are exempt from zoning setbacks.
Who do I contact about a fence permit in the Unincorporated Pinal County?
Community Development - Building Safety, Pinal County. Phone 520-866-6299.
Sources
Summarized from Unincorporated Pinal County's own ordinances, forms and permit pages. Each link opens the original.
Ordinance: Pinal County Development Services Code §2.150.100 Fences
Work for Unincorporated Pinal 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.