Pima County, AZ Fence Regulations: Fence Permit Requirements (2026)
Key Facts
- Permit type
- Zoning use permit
- Governs
- Erection or alteration of any structure
- Small-structure exception
- ≤200 sq ft and ≤$1,000 cost
- Applies in
- Unincorporated Pima County only
Summary
In unincorporated Pima County, erecting or altering a fence requires a zoning use permit even when no building permit is needed for the work.
A zoning use permit shall be required for the erection, construction, reconstruction or alteration of any structure, or the change in use of any property or structure, whether or not the activity requires a building permit. A zoning use permit is required for the above activities when the activities do not require a building permit, except that an accessory building or accessory structure of two hundred square feet or less in area does not require a zoning use permit when the cost of the accessory building or accessory structure is one thousand dollars or less.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: 2026 S-64: Contains Supplement, with local legislation through Ordinance 2026-9, passed 7-28-2026, current through 7-28-2026).
Full Breakdown
Pima County Code § 18.01.030(E) requires a zoning use permit for the erection, construction, reconstruction or alteration of any structure, a category that includes fences, whether or not the work also needs a building permit. The only carve-out is a small accessory structure of 200 square feet or less costing $1,000 or less, which still must meet the underlying zone's development standards. This applies to unincorporated county land, not Tucson, Marana, Oro Valley, Sahuarita or South Tucson, which permit fences under their own codes.
Violations & Fines
Building without the required zoning use permit is a code violation enforceable by Pima County Development Services; the county can require permitting after the fact or order corrective action.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does a fence need a permit even without a building permit?
Is there any fence exempt from this permit?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Pima County
Compare Pima County to another location·View the Arizona fence regulations overview
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