Oro Valley, AZ Fence Regulations: Height Limits (2026)

Oro Valley Zoning Code Chapter 23 establishes height limits for walls and fences in all zoning districts. In residential zones, fences in side and rear yards may not exceed 6 feet measured from finished grade. Front yard fences within the required front setback are limited to 3 feet to maintain neighborhood visibility and desert streetscape aesthetics. Decorative pilasters, columns, and posts may extend 12 inches above the fence panel, allowing up to 7 feet for accent elements. At street intersections and driveway entrances, sight-visibility triangles require that fences and landscaping within the triangle area not exceed 3 feet in height to maintain safe sightlines for drivers. Where a fence is installed on top of a retaining wall, the combined height is measured from the lower finished grade on the downhill side. Corner lots have two front yards, which can limit fencing options along both street frontages. The Zoning Code Administrator may grant minor deviations for topographic hardship in hillside areas of the Catalina foothills where grade changes make strict compliance impractical. HOAs frequently specify exact fence heights and may require heights lower than the zoning maximum.