Scottsdale, AZ Fence Regulations: Height Limits (2026)
Key Facts
- Side/rear fence height
- 8 ft by right, § 5.014.G
- Extended side/rear height
- Up to 12 ft with 60-ft setback
- Front yard fence height
- 3 ft maximum
- Height measured
- From inside the enclosure
- Corner lot rule
- Must meet sight-distance manual, § 7.104.A
Summary
In Scottsdale's R1-190 single-family district, walls, fences and hedges can rise 8 feet by right along the property line or in the side and rear yards, up to 12 feet if set back 60 feet from the side or rear line, but only 3 feet in the front yard or required front setback. Corner lots carry an added sight-distance rule.
G.Walls, fences and landscaping. Walls, fences and hedges up to eight (8) feet in height are allowed on the property line or within the required side and rear yard. Walls, fences and hedges up to twelve (12) feet in height are allowed subject to a sixty-foot setback from the side and rear property line. Walls, fences and hedges up to three (3) feet in height are allowed on the front property line or within the required front yard, except as provided in Article VII. The height of the wall or fence is measured from within the enclosure. Exception: Where a corner lot does not abut a key lot or an alley adjacent to a key lot, the height of walls, fences and hedges in the yard of the longer street frontage need only conform to the side yard requirements.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 80).
Full Breakdown
G sets the baseline: walls, fences and hedges up to 8 feet are allowed on the property line or within the required side and rear yard, and can go up to 12 feet if the wall sits back 60 feet from the side or rear property line. Along the front property line or within the required front yard, the limit drops to 3 feet, except as Article VII otherwise provides. Height is measured from inside the enclosure, not from outside grade. A carve-out applies where a corner lot doesn't abut a key lot or an alley next to a key lot: on the longer street frontage, the fence only has to meet the side-yard height standard rather than the stricter front-yard limit.
A, which requires walls, fences, hedges, landscape materials, gateway features and structures to conform to the sight distance requirements of the city's Design Standards and Policies Manual, protecting visibility at intersections and driveways. This same 8-foot side/rear, 3-foot front pattern repeats verbatim in the property development standards sections for Scottsdale's other single-family residential districts, so the numbers carry across most R1 zoning categories, not just R1-190.
Violations & Fines
An oversized or improperly placed wall or fence is enforced as a Zoning Ordinance violation under §§ 1.1401-1.1402, carrying a civil sanction of up to $2,500 (minimum $500 where the violation involves a non-permitted use). The Zoning Administrator, a police officer, the City Attorney, or the City Manager's designee may issue the citation under § 1.1404, and § 1.1409 makes each day the fence remains out of compliance a separate offense.
Frequently Asked Questions
How tall can my backyard fence be in Scottsdale?
How tall can a front yard wall be in Scottsdale?
Do corner lots face extra fence restrictions?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Scottsdale
How Scottsdale compares: Cities That Allow the Tallest Residential Fences·Compare Scottsdale to another location·View the Arizona fence regulations overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.
Height Limits in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Maricopa County handle height limits.