Pima County, AZ Fence Regulations: Retaining Walls (2026)
Key Facts
- Street-facing wall max
- 6 feet, if grouped within 6 ft
- Other retaining walls
- 10 feet from natural grade
- Above first floor
- 10 ft unless veneer rock facing
- Governing chapter
- Hillside Development Overlay Zone, 18.61
- Applies to
- Unincorporated Pima County only
Summary
In unincorporated Pima County's Hillside Development Overlay Zone, retaining walls facing a street are capped at 6 feet and other retaining walls at 10 feet under the county's grading code.
Freestanding walls and retaining walls not a part of a building: a. In a yard abutting a street, the total height of freestanding walls, retaining walls, or any vertical combination thereof that are separated horizontally from each other by less than six feet (6'), shall be a maximum six feet (6'); ... d. All other freestanding walls and retaining walls not regulated in subsection a. through c. above shall be a maximum ten feet (10') high from existing natural grade to top of wall.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: 2026 S-64: Contains Supplement, with local legislation through Ordinance 2026-9, passed 7-28-2026, current through 7-28-2026).
Full Breakdown
Pima County Code Section 18.61.054(G)(6) sets wall heights within the Hillside Development Overlay Zone, unincorporated area. Walls in a yard abutting a street are capped at 6 feet total if grouped within 6 feet of each other horizontally. A retaining wall not abutting a street generally may not top 10 feet above the dwelling's highest first-floor elevation, though a wall finished with veneer rock facing can exceed that. All other walls default to a 10-foot maximum from natural grade to the top of the wall. This applies only inside the HD overlay on unincorporated land -- Tucson, Marana, Oro Valley, Sahuarita and South Tucson set their own limits.
Violations & Fines
Development Services enforces wall height during hillside grading plan review; oversized retaining walls must be reduced or reconfigured before the county will certify grading-plan conformance for a permit.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does this retaining wall limit apply inside Tucson?
How tall can a retaining wall be along a street in the overlay zone?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Pima County
Compare Pima County to another location·View the Arizona fence regulations overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.