Sahuarita, AZ Fence Regulations: Retaining Walls (2026)

010 defines a 'retaining wall' as a wall designed to withstand lateral and hydrostatic pressures and built to keep earth from sliding, that is two feet or greater in height measured from the lowest point of earth at the foundation to the top of the wall. Anything shorter falls outside this grading-code definition, but taller walls trigger the town's full grading process under Title 16. 010(F). Subsections (F)(1)-(2) set minimum setbacks for cut and fill slopes from property lines, and subsection (F)(4) lets the town engineer reduce the required setback of a slope toe next to a public right-of-way if there is no adverse effect and either an easement is unnecessary or a retaining wall is used in its place, giving builders a direct trade-off between wall height and setback distance.

010(G) further caps building height by the site's 'building height contour line,' which a retaining wall can help a builder meet by re-grading the pad. 080(B)(2) requires a building-site slope analysis and slope plan sealed by a civil engineer or land surveyor before the town will approve any clearing, grading, or issue a building or grading permit, a requirement that reaches retaining walls built as part of that grading. 080(E) also requires exposed retaining walls, like dwelling and accessory-structure walls, to be earthtone in color and blend into the natural setting; white is not permitted. 100, unless the town engineer finds an emergency justified starting work first.