Maricopa, AZ Fence Regulations: Fence Permit Requirements (2026)
Key Facts
- Front/street-side max
- 3.5 feet (residential)
- Side/rear max
- 6 ft residential, 8 ft commercial
- Prohibited materials
- Barbed, razor, electric fencing
- Exceeding limits
- Requires hearing officer waiver
- Governing code
- Maricopa City Code § 18.80.090
Summary
Maricopa caps residential fences at 3.5 feet in front and street-side yards and 6 feet in side and rear yards; taller fences need a hearing officer waiver under Maricopa City Code § 18.80.090, and barbed, razor, or electric fencing is banned outright in residential districts.
A. Maximum Height. 1. Front Yards and Street Side Yards. No fence or freestanding wall within or along the exterior boundary of the required front or street side yard shall exceed a height of three and one-half feet... 2.a. Residential Districts. No fence or freestanding wall within or along the exterior boundary of the required side or rear yards shall exceed a height of six feet.
Official source re-checked September 8, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: current through Ordinance 26-10, passed April 21, 2026).
Full Breakdown
Maricopa City Code § 18.80.090 sets the fence rules city-wide: 3.5 feet maximum in front and street-side yards, 6 feet in side and rear yards for residential districts, and 8 feet for commercial, mixed-use, and industrial districts. A taller front-yard fence needs a modification from the hearing officer, and commercial properties can get a waiver up to 6 feet in front yards or 10 feet in side/rear yards. Barbed wire, razor wire, embedded glass shards, and electrified fencing are prohibited in residential and open-space districts, and chain-link is barred anywhere it's visible from off-site. Corner lots must keep fences under 3 feet within the sight-distance triangle unless the hearing officer grants a waiver.
Violations & Fines
Fences that exceed the height or material limits are a zoning code violation: Maricopa City Code § 18.190.060 sets fines up to $500 per infraction or $1,000 per day as a civil penalty, plus removal.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Maricopa require a permit to build a fence?
Can I put up a barbed wire fence in Maricopa?
How tall can a fence be on a corner lot?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Maricopa
Compare Maricopa to another location·View the Arizona fence regulations overview
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