Surprise, AZ Fence Regulations: Retaining Walls (2026)

Sec. 8(C)(5) of the Land Development Ordinance sets the land disturbance limits that apply in the city's hillside development areas (slopes of 10 percent or greater under the Slope Category Analysis). The combined maximum height of any fill and depth of any cut, including grading for public or private streets, building sites or driveways, is capped at 10 feet measured from natural grade, regardless of whether the fill or cut is retained, un-retained, or a mix of both. The planning and zoning commission can amend that limit on a site-by-site basis.

Separately, the community development director may approve an unexposed basement cut deeper than 10 feet only if the site is not graded into a flat, visible pad around the residence; the portion of the cut beyond 10 feet is completely screened from view and retained by building walls or, for light wells, retaining walls; natural grade is reestablished per the Chapter 101 building-height definition; and the total cut never exceeds 24 feet at any point. Elsewhere in the same hillside chapter, Sec. 6(C) separately requires that any exposed fill in a disturbed area be contained behind a retaining wall or covered with natural rock veneer, aged and landscaped with indigenous plants, so an exposed cut or fill slope cannot simply be left bare citywide in these areas.