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Yavapai County, AZ Fence Regulations: Fence Permit Requirements (2026)

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

Key Facts

Permit trigger (fence)
over 6 feet high, any length
Exempt fence
under 50 linear feet, 6 feet or less
Permit trigger (wall)
over 4 feet high, any length
Exempt wall
under 50 linear feet, 4 feet or less
Permit issued by
Land Use Specialist
Late-application fee
doubled under § 206.F

Summary

Unincorporated Yavapai County requires a Zoning Clearance for most fences under Planning and Zoning Ordinance Section 205.F. A residential fence under 50 linear feet is exempt, but any fence over six feet high needs a permit regardless of length, and masonry or concrete walls over four feet also require one.

City-specific rules exist: Sedona has its own fence permit requirements rules that differ from Yavapai County's county-level regulations. If you live in Sedona, check the city-specific page instead.

F. ZONING CLEARANCE: No building or structure shall be erected, added to, usage/occupancy changed (Zoning Clearance used as a Change of Use Permit) or structurally altered until a Zoning Clearance therefore has been issued by the Land Use Specialist... 1. Exemptions from clearances: a. No such Zoning Clearance shall be required for repairs or improvements (except as required by adopted building codes) to include the following: ... (2) Any residential fence under 50 linear feet (fences over six feet will require a permit regardless of length). (3) Any residential block, masonry, stone or concrete wall under 50 linear feet (walls over four feet in height from grade will require a permit regardless of length).

Full Breakdown

F of the Yavapai County Planning and Zoning Ordinance requires a Zoning Clearance before any structure, including a fence, is erected in the unincorporated county; applications go to the Land Use Specialist's office with a plot plan showing the proposed construction, and the clearance must be obtained before construction starts and displayed on site afterward. a. A residential fence under 50 linear feet does not need a clearance, but the exemption comes with a hard cap: any fence over six feet in height requires a permit regardless of how short a run it covers.

The same subsection separately addresses masonry, block, stone or concrete walls: a residential wall under 50 linear feet is exempt, but any such wall over four feet in height from grade requires a permit no matter its length. These two thresholds, height for fences and height plus length for walls, are treated as distinct triggers, so a short but tall fence or wall still needs a Zoning Clearance even though a longer low one would not. Because the clearance functions as the county's building-and-use sign-off, homeowners planning a perimeter fence on rural or subdivided unincorporated parcels should measure both the total linear footage and the height before assuming the project is exempt; a corner lot or a fence built in short exempted segments does not escape the six-foot cap. D separately makes it unlawful to erect a fence requiring a Zoning Clearance without first obtaining it from the Land Use Specialist.

Violations & Fines

Building a fence or wall that exceeds the exempted thresholds, over six feet for a fence or over four feet for a masonry/concrete wall, without first obtaining a Zoning Clearance is unlawful under Section 206.D and triggers the Ordinance's general civil penalty scheme: up to $750 per day for an individual or $10,000 per day for an entity under Section 206.A, plus the doubled permit fee under Section 206.F for applying after construction has already begun.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a permit to build a fence on my unincorporated Yavapai County property?
Only if it exceeds the exemption in Section 205.F.1.a: a residential fence under 50 linear feet is exempt from Zoning Clearance, but any fence over six feet high needs a permit regardless of its total length.
What about a masonry or concrete wall instead of a fence?
The same section exempts a residential block, masonry, stone or concrete wall under 50 linear feet, but requires a Zoning Clearance for any such wall over four feet in height from grade, again regardless of length.
Who issues the fence Zoning Clearance?
The Land Use Specialist within Development Services issues clearances under Section 205.F after review of an application and plot plan; it must be obtained before construction begins and displayed on site.
What happens if I build a tall fence without a permit?
Section 206.D makes unpermitted construction requiring a Zoning Clearance unlawful, exposing the owner to civil penalties up to $750 per day (or $10,000 for an entity) under Section 206.A, plus a doubled fee if a permit is later sought after the fact.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Yavapai County

All Yavapai County rules

Compare Yavapai County to another location·View the Arizona fence regulations overview

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