6 county-level rules, plus city-specific rules for 10 cities in Maricopa County, Arizona.
Verified from official government sources
Maricopa County zoning ordinance regulates fence and wall heights in unincorporated areas. Fences over 6 feet require a zoning clearance permit. Fences over 6 feet (or 9 feet for CMU walls 6 inches or thicker) require plans sealed by an Arizona Registered Professional. All fencing over 1 foot in height requires a permit from Planning and Development.
Maricopa County Planning and Development reviews fence and wall permits for unincorporated areas. Block walls over 6 feet require a building permit and may need structural engineering. Pool barrier fences require compliance with ARS §36-1681. Standard fences under 6 feet generally do not need permits.
Arizona has no state fence-sharing law like California's Good Neighbor Act. Each property owner in unincorporated Maricopa County is responsible for their own fence. Boundary wall disputes are civil matters. HOA CC&Rs may assign shared wall maintenance responsibility.
Retaining walls in unincorporated Maricopa County require building permits. Walls over 4 feet in height (including any fence or surcharge on top) require engineered plans sealed by an Arizona Registered Professional. Retaining walls must comply with grading and drainage standards enforced by the Flood Control District.
Arizona's Residential Swimming Pool Safety Act (ARS 36-1681) requires all residential pools in Maricopa County to have a minimum 5-foot barrier measured from the exterior side. Gates must be self-closing and self-latching. No openings may allow a 4-inch sphere to pass through. Horizontal components must be spaced at least 45 inches apart vertically to prevent climbing. Chain-link mesh maximum 1.75 inches.
ARS §36-1681(B)
36-1681. Pool enclosures; requirements; exceptions; enforcement B. A swimming pool or other contained body of water required to be enclosed by subsection A whether a belowground or aboveground pool shall meet the following requirements: 1. Be entirely enclosed by at least a five foot wall, fence or other barrier as measured on the exterior side of the wall, fence or barrier. 2. Have no openings...
Maricopa County zoning ordinance governs fence materials in unincorporated areas. Block/masonry walls are extremely common due to the desert climate providing privacy, heat reduction, and security. Barbed wire is allowed only in agricultural and rural zones. Chain-link fencing is permitted but may have screening requirements in some zoning districts.
10 cities in Maricopa County have their own fence regulations rules. Each link goes to that city's dedicated page with code citations.
6 verified rules • Height Limits, Material Restrictions
6 verified rules • Height Limits, Material Restrictions
6 verified rules • Height Limits, Material Restrictions
6 verified rules • Height Limits, Material Restrictions
6 verified rules • Height Limits, Material Restrictions
6 verified rules • Height Limits, Material Restrictions
6 verified rules • Height Limits, Material Restrictions
6 verified rules • Height Limits, Material Restrictions
7 verified rules • Fence Requirements, Height Limits
6 verified rules • Height Limits, Material Restrictions
See every category we cover for Maricopa County — parking, noise, fences, fires, animals, pools, and more.
Maricopa County Ordinance Hub →