Tucson, AZ Fence Regulations: Retaining Walls (2026)

I lets that go up to ten feet under specific conditions, one of which directly governs retaining walls. Where the wall or fence is part of, or sits on top of, a retaining wall, the combined structure cannot exceed ten feet measured from design grade, and the portion above the retaining wall itself cannot exceed six feet measured from the top of the retaining portion. This two-part measurement matters because it stops a homeowner from stacking a full six-foot fence on top of a tall retaining wall to get an effectively much higher barrier: the retaining wall's own height counts against the ten-foot ceiling.

I are unrelated to retaining walls: leaving at least 75% of the area above six feet open through architectural elements like arches, columns, or wrought iron; obtaining a greater height through the rezoning or special exception land use process; or where a specific UDC standard independently requires greater height. J allows walls or fences to exceed these height standards outright provided the wall or fence complies with the perimeter yard standards applicable to buildings on the site, effectively removing the six/ten-foot cap tied to residential perimeter yards.

1-A, Height of Wall or Fence within a Side or Rear Perimeter Yard, for the visual measurement standard. Planning and Development Services Department (PDSD) reviews building permit applications for walls against these dimensional limits.