City of Prescott fence permit
Do you need a fence permit in the City of Prescott? Not confirmed. Contact the City of Prescott 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 Prescott (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 source
- Front (street) yard
- 4 ft in the front yard (flag lots may have 6 ft where the flag lot's front line adjoins a neighbor's rear line) source
- Corner lots
- Nothing over 3 ft within a corner setback (40 x 40 ft street-to-street, 40 x 20 ft street-to-driveway, 20 x 20 ft driveway-to-driveway) source
- Good side faces
- Finished side faces the outside of the fenced property. source
- Not allowed
- Barbed wire and electric fences are prohibited in residential districts within 10 ft of a City street; barbed or razor wire may not project into City right-of-way; razor wire only in IL and IG districts. source
- How to apply
- Online portal, email source
Still being confirmed with Prescott: Does a fence 4 ft or lower (or between 4 and 6 ft) need a building permit?
How to file for a fence permit in the City of Prescott
Steps based on prescott-az.gov — building permits
- Check the Fences and Walls checklist and draw a site plan showing lot lines, the fence location, distances to lot lines, height and materials.
- Log in to PrescottPermits.com (or email [email protected]) and apply, uploading your site plan; fences over 6 ft also need engineered structural plans.
- Wait for review: about 5 business days for completeness, then 15 business days for the first residential review.
- Pay the fee shown in the portal and keep the approved plans and permit on site.
- Schedule inspections in the PrescottPermits.com portal.
- Call Arizona 811 at least two full working days before digging.
- Paying
- Per the City's Permit Fees page
- Review time
- 5 business days for completeness check; 15 business days first residential review, 7 business days for each additional round
- Inspections
- Schedule online through PrescottPermits.com; Monday-Friday 8 am-3 pm
Who to contact
Building Permit Center
City of Prescott Community Development
- Phone
- 928-777-1371
- [email protected]
- Hours
- Monday-Friday 8 AM-5 PM
- Address
- 201 N Montezuma St, Prescott, AZ 86301
Contact from prescott-az.gov — contact permits center
What to submit
- Site plan with parcel lot lines and address, existing structures, fences and retaining walls
- Size and location of the proposed fence or wall with distances from lot lines and between structures
- Height and materials labeled
- Structural plan and calculations sealed by an Arizona registered structural engineer for residential fences over 6 ft and retaining walls over 32 in
Other rules to know
- Sources conflict on small fences: the Building Division's 2026 'What needs a permit' list says fences 6 ft or under need a building permit, while Land Development Code Sec. 6.4.3 requires a permit for fences or walls more than 4 ft high or any retaining wall.
- A right-of-way permit is also needed if the fence is in the right-of-way.
- Retaining walls need a building permit; walls over 32 in need engineered plans.
- Pool enclosure chain link mesh openings may be no more than 1 3/4 in.
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 Prescott, AZ?
Not confirmed. Contact the City of Prescott before you build; the rules below are what we found in the ordinance. Sources conflict on small fences: the Building Division's 2026 'What needs a permit' list says fences 6 ft or under need a building permit, while Land Development Code Sec. 6.4.3 requires a permit for fences or walls more than 4 ft high or any retaining wall.
How tall can a fence be in the City of Prescott?
Side and rear yards: 6 ft. Front (street) yard: 4 ft in the front yard (flag lots may have 6 ft where the flag lot's front line adjoins a neighbor's rear line). Corner lots: Nothing over 3 ft within a corner setback (40 x 40 ft street-to-street, 40 x 20 ft street-to-driveway, 20 x 20 ft driveway-to-driveway).
Which side of the fence has to face the neighbor in the City of Prescott?
Finished side faces the outside of the fenced property.
How do I apply for a fence permit in the City of Prescott?
Check the Fences and Walls checklist and draw a site plan showing lot lines, the fence location, distances to lot lines, height and materials. Log in to PrescottPermits.com (or email [email protected]) and apply, uploading your site plan; fences over 6 ft also need engineered structural plans. Wait for review: about 5 business days for completeness, then 15 business days for the first residential review. Pay the fee shown in the portal and keep the approved plans and permit on site. Schedule inspections in the PrescottPermits.com portal. buildit.dog can turn a fence drawn on an aerial photo of your lot into a complete permit application package for the City of Prescott (site plan, aerial photo and filled-in details) in a few minutes.
Who do I contact about a fence permit in the City of Prescott?
Building Permit Center, City of Prescott Community Development. Phone 928-777-1371, email [email protected].
Sources
Summarized from the City of Prescott's own ordinances, forms and permit pages. Each link opens the original.
Work for the City of Prescott? 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.