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Yavapai County, AZ Fence Regulations: Height Limits (2026)

Some Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified September 2026

Key Facts

Front yard, residential
4 feet solid maximum
Side/rear yard, residential
6 feet solid maximum
Commercial/industrial lots
8 feet solid maximum
Corner visibility triangle
3 feet, up to 4 with approval
Near driveway entrance
4 feet within 10 feet of entrance
Governing section
Ordinance Section 540.B

Summary

Yavapai County caps solid fences and walls at four feet in front yards and six feet in side or rear yards on residential lots, eight feet on commercial and industrial lots, under Section 540.B of the Planning & Zoning Ordinance. A three-foot cap applies within corner-lot visibility triangles for traffic safety.

City-specific rules exist: Sedona has its own height limits rules that differ from Yavapai County's county-level regulations. If you live in Sedona, check the city-specific page instead.

B. FENCES AND FREE STANDING WALLS: ... 2. Fences and free standing walls within the required yards/setbacks shall maintain the following maximum heights for that opaque or solid portion which obstructs the passage of air or light more than fifty percent (50%): a. On any Residential Zoned lot (or that portion of other lots contiguous thereto): four feet (4') in front yard and six feet (6') in side or rear yards, except may not exceed four feet (4') when within ten feet (10') of any vehicular entrance from a private or public right-of-way. b. On Commercial and Industrial Zoned lots: eight feet (8'). ... d. Three feet (3') within the triangular area formed by measuring ten feet (10') along the boundary of roadways and drives from the intersection thereof (including hedges and other plantings). Height may be increased not to exceed four feet (4') provided such height increase does not hamper visibility for traffic safety.

Full Breakdown

B measures fence height from the average ground elevation within a six-foot radius of the measurement point, and the numeric caps apply only to the opaque or solid portion of a fence or wall, meaning the part that blocks more than fifty percent of light or air passage. On a residential lot, or the residential-contiguous portion of another lot, the solid height limit is four feet in the front yard and six feet in side or rear yards, dropping back to four feet within ten feet of any vehicular entrance from a public or private right-of-way.

Commercial and industrial lots may build solid fencing up to eight feet. A corner lot backing to a "Key lot" is limited to four feet on the rear third of that lot along the line joining the Key lot's setback and the street right-of-way intersection. Within the sight-triangle formed by measuring ten feet along roadway and drive boundaries from their intersection, including hedges and plantings, height drops to three feet, though the County may allow up to four feet if the increase does not hamper traffic visibility.

Total fence height, solid portion plus any open lattice or picket work above it, cannot exceed the stated solid maximum by more than fifty percent on residential lots or twenty-five percent of the maximum on commercial and industrial lots. Fences built for required screening on a residential lot must meet that lot's residential height limits regardless of the use they screen.

Violations & Fines

An oversized or improperly placed fence is a zoning violation under Section 206: the Land Use Specialist can require removal or reconstruction to the conforming height, and each day the violation continues counts as a separate offense, with civil penalties up to $750 for an individual or $10,000 for a business, plus a possible Class 2 misdemeanor and injunctive action by the County Attorney or an affected neighbor.

Frequently Asked Questions

How tall can I build a fence in my front yard in unincorporated Yavapai County?
A solid fence or wall in a residential front yard is capped at four feet under Section 540.B. If the fence sits within ten feet of a driveway or other vehicular entrance from a right-of-way, the four-foot limit applies even where a taller fence would otherwise be allowed.
Can I build a taller fence in my back yard?
Yes. Side and rear yards on residential lots allow solid fencing up to six feet, two feet taller than the front-yard limit, measured from the average ground elevation within six feet of the measurement point on the fence.
What is the rule for fences on a corner lot?
Corner lots must keep fencing to three feet within the sight triangle formed by measuring ten feet along the two roadway or drive boundaries from their intersection, including hedges; the County can allow up to four feet if it does not hamper traffic visibility.
Do commercial properties get a higher fence limit?
Yes. Commercial and industrial zoned lots may build solid fences and walls up to eight feet, twice the four-foot residential front-yard cap, though the total height including any open lattice above the solid portion cannot exceed that maximum by more than twenty-five percent.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Yavapai County

All Yavapai County rules

How Yavapai County compares: Cities That Allow the Tallest Residential Fences·Compare Yavapai County to another location·View the Arizona fence regulations overview

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