Prescott Valley, AZ Fence Regulations: Retaining Walls (2026)

Section 13-11-080 of the Prescott Valley Town Code sets retaining wall height caps by zone class. In residential zoning districts a retaining wall cannot exceed six feet in rear and side yards or four feet in front yards. In every other district the caps are 12 feet in rear and side yards and eight feet in front yards. The stated purpose is to minimize visual impacts from cuts and fills and excessively high retaining walls.

Subsection B applies in all districts. Any fencing above a retaining wall must be set back three feet from the wall and landscaped. If higher walls are required, terraced or stepped walls can be allowed, each wall within the height limits above and separated by a minimum horizontal spacing of five feet so landscaping can be established and maintained and is visible from the bottom of the lowest wall. In an enclosed back yard of residentially zoned property used for residential purposes, subsection F lets walls sit three feet apart without landscaping. Outside residential districts, subsection D.2 applies the street-frontage landscaping standards for non-pedestrian frontage, and the required street trees can be replaced with shrubs of similar size from the approved plant list. Under subsection E, grade changes not held by a wall carry groundcover in a minimum ratio of 50% living vegetation to 50% inorganic groundcover, and cuts too steep for vegetation follow the terrace guidelines.

Permits sit in the building code, section 7-01-140. Subsection A requires a permit for construction, installation, or alteration of retaining walls. Subsection C.5 exempts retaining walls not over 32 inches in height, measured from the top of the footing to the top of the wall, unless supporting a surcharge or impounding certain flammable liquids. Subsection B adds that a building permit exemption is not an exemption from zoning or engineering permit requirements. Section 13-11-080 was re-codified by Ordinance No. 2024-947 on December 11, 2024; it was previously section 13-26-080, enacted by Ordinance No. 630 on June 30, 2005.