Tempe, AZ Fence Regulations: Fence Permit Requirements (2026)

Tempe's Zoning and Development Code, Chapter 7 (Landscape and Walls), sets height tiers before a permit kicks in. In a required front yard setback, including single-family lots, a wall or fence tops out at 4 feet; a use permit can raise that to 6 feet, plus another 2 feet for architectural features like archways or pergolas, provided the design keeps natural surveillance to the street through openings or transparent materials. Behind the front setback, in required rear and side yards, walls can reach 10 feet generally, but single-family uses are capped at 8 feet, unless a taller wall is needed to screen a service area under Section 4-706(G).

Regardless of these height tiers, Section 4-706(A)(5) draws the permit line: every fence and wall needs City review through development plan review or Community Development Director approval, and any fence or wall exceeding 7 feet, or a height otherwise determined by the Building Code, requires a building permit. Reverse-frontage lots carry a separate mandate, an 8-foot masonry wall along the rear property line. Clear-vision triangle rules under Section 4-702(G) also apply, barring obstructions over 2 feet near street intersections and driveways.