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Coconino County, AZ Fence Regulations: Material Restrictions (2026)

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

Key Facts

Governing section
Zoning Ordinance § 4.6.C.4-5
Barbed wire/electric fencing
Industrial zones only
Tire walls
Must be fully encapsulated, permitted
Opaque fence, front setback
3-foot maximum height
Interior/rear wall or fence
6-foot maximum height
Max daily fine
$750 individual, $10,000 entity

Summary

Coconino County's Zoning Ordinance bars barbed wire and electrified fencing everywhere except Industrial-zoned property, where it can top a wall or fence only under separate screening standards. Tires cannot be used to build a wall at all unless every tire is fully encapsulated against trapping water, and even then a Building Permit is required.

These county ordinances apply to unincorporated areas of Coconino County. Incorporated cities within the county may have their own rules that take precedence over county-level regulations.

4. Tires may not be used to construct walls, unless they are fully encapsulated so as to prevent the accumulation of water inside the tires, and subject to the granting of a Building Permit. 5. Industrial Zones allowances Barbed wire, electrical fences, or other similar materials on top of walls and fences in Industrial Zone may be permitted per the standards of Section 5.6.

View official code

Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: the cited page had not changed since it was quoted.

Full Breakdown

B). Height limits come first: an opaque or solid wall or fence tops out at 3 feet in a required front or street-side setback, rising to 6 feet if it is at least 50 percent open (non-opaque), and interior side or rear yards allow a solid wall or fence up to 6 feet measured from the highest adjacent grade; stacked firewood along a property line counts as a wall or fence and must stay within those same limits. 5. Tires cannot be used to build a wall at all unless every tire is fully encapsulated so it cannot collect standing water, and that construction still needs a Building Permit.

6, not just be strung up freely. A residential, commercial, or agricultural property owner outside an Industrial zone cannot legally add barbed wire or an electric fence to a perimeter wall no matter the height. 1.

Violations & Fines

Building a fence with barbed wire or an electrified topper outside an Industrial zone, or a tire wall that is not fully encapsulated and permitted, is a violation of the Zoning Ordinance under Section 5.14.B and is treated as a public nuisance per se, with each day it stands counted as a separate offense. The Zoning Inspector can order it removed or brought into compliance, and an unresolved case can draw a Hearing Officer's civil fine of up to $750 per day for an individual or $10,000 per day for a business.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I put barbed wire on top of my backyard fence?
Not unless your property is zoned Industrial. Section 4.6.C.5 allows barbed wire, electrical fencing, or similar materials on top of a wall or fence only in an Industrial zone, and even there it has to meet the screening standards of Section 5.6. Residential, commercial, and agricultural properties cannot add it at all.
Can I build a fence out of old tires?
Only if every tire is fully encapsulated so it cannot hold standing water, and only with a Building Permit in hand. Section 4.6.C.4 bars tire construction outright otherwise, largely because open tires collect rainwater and become a breeding hazard in the county's climate.
How tall can my front yard fence be?
An opaque or solid fence in a required front or street-side setback is capped at 3 feet under Section 4.6.C.1. A see-through fence that is at least 50 percent open can go up to 6 feet in the same setback, and interior side or rear yard walls can reach 6 feet without needing extra approval.
Does stacked firewood count as a fence?
Yes. Section 4.6.C.2 specifically states that stacking firewood along a property line is considered a wall or fence for zoning purposes, so a woodpile taller than the applicable 3-foot or 6-foot limit is treated the same as an illegal fence.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Coconino County

Height LimitsSome RestrictionsParking Rules: RV & Boat ParkingSome RestrictionsFence Permit RequirementsSome RestrictionsNoise Ordinances: Barking DogsSome RestrictionsNoise Ordinances: Decibel LimitsSome RestrictionsParking Rules: Loading ZonesSome RestrictionsParking Rules: Driveway RulesFew RestrictionsParking Rules: Commercial & Oversized VehiclesSome Restrictions

All Coconino County rules

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