Sahuarita's Fence Regulations: The Rules That Matter

Every city handles fence regulations a little differently. In Sahuarita, Arizona, there are 3 distinct rules that residents and property owners should be aware of. Some are stricter than what neighboring cities enforce, and others are more relaxed. Here is what you need to know.

Retaining Walls

Sahuarita's grading code defines any wall holding back earth at two feet or more in height as a regulated 'retaining wall,' and requires a grading permit before that wall, or the site around it, is built. Using a retaining wall can also let the town engineer approve a reduced slope setback near a right-of-way.

Key details: Regulated wall height: 2 feet or more, foundation to top. Governing definition: STC Section 16.30.010. Setback trade-off: Wall use can reduce right-of-way setback. Hillside slope plan: Sealed by civil engineer, slopes 15%+. Wall color rule: Earthtone only; white prohibited.

Building a retaining wall, or grading the site around one, without the required grading permit is a violation under Section 16.80.010(C)(1), citable under Section 1.05.100, unless the town engineer grants an emergency exception. The town engineer can also issue a stop-work order under Section 16.80.010(B) the moment work is found out of compliance, and paying a fine does not excuse finishing the work to code.

Height Limits

Sahuarita lets property owners build perimeter walls and fences up to six feet tall without meeting the zone's yard setbacks under Town Code § 18.07.050(A). On corner lots, nothing including a fence may stand within 20 feet of the property corner under § 18.77.020(A), preserving sightlines for cross traffic.

Key details: Fence height exempt from setbacks: 6 feet or less. Corner visibility triangle: 20 feet from property corner. Governing chapters: STC Ch. 18.07 and 18.77. Taller fences: Allowed only under Ch. 18.73 screening rules. Max penalty: $750 individual / $10,000 corporation.

Fences or walls that exceed the six-foot exception without meeting the required yard setback, or that intrude on the 20-foot corner-visibility triangle, are civil infractions under STC § 18.95.030(E). The zoning administrator can order removal or relocation after a site inspection and written notice, and STC § 18.95.040 sets the maximum civil penalty at $750 per offense for an individual or $10,000 for a corporation, with each day of the violation counted separately.

Material Restrictions

Sahuarita restricts barbed wire fencing in rural and residential zones to livestock and poultry containment under Town Code Section 18.07.030(B). Barbed wire fences are allowed only in the RH, SR, and SR-2 zones and on unsubdivided GR-1, SH, and R-1 parcels, and only to keep animals confined.

Key details: Zones allowing barbed wire: RH, SR, SR-2, and unsubdivided GR-1, SH, R-1. Allowed purpose: Livestock and poultry containment only. Confinement duty: Applies in rural, residential, business, and industrial zones. Governing section: Town Code Section 18.07.030(B).

Installing barbed wire fencing outside the RH, SR, SR-2, or the listed unsubdivided GR-1, SH, and R-1 parcels, or using barbed wire for any purpose other than livestock and poultry containment in a rural or residential zone, is a zoning code violation. The planning and building department can require removal or replacement of the fence, and a landowner who fails to correct it after notice faces the town's standard code enforcement process for zoning violations.

This is one of the stricter rules in Sahuarita's municipal code. If you are unsure whether your situation complies, it is worth checking with the city before proceeding.

The Bottom Line

Sahuarita's fence regulations rules are a mixed bag. Some areas are strict, others are relaxed, and the details matter. The best approach is to check the specific rule that applies to your situation rather than assuming Sahuarita is broadly strict or permissive.

Keep in mind that Sahuarita can amend these rules at any council meeting. For the most current version of any rule mentioned here, check the specific ordinance page, where we track updates as they happen.