What's Required in Tucson
- Apply for a Fence/Wall permit in TDC Online for every fence or wall, whatever its height.
- Submit a site plan showing the fence location, height and distance from structures and property lines.
- Keep fences and walls in a side or rear setback at six feet or less unless a Design Development Option is approved.
- Provide a structurally engineered design for walls and fences over 7 feet, and expect engineering to be requested over 6 feet or for retaining walls.
- Meet the pool barrier rules if the fence encloses a pool: at least five feet high with self-closing, self-latching gates.
- Get special district review first if the property is in a Historic or Neighborhood Preservation Zone.
- File the Owner/Builder Affidavit if you will build it yourself; rental properties need a licensed contractor.
Do you need a permit to build a fence in Tucson?
Yes. Inside City of Tucson limits, every fence and wall needs a permit for zoning review of its location, height and distance from structures. That includes the short backyard fence most cities let you build freely. Shorter fences may not need a full permit or an inspection, but the zoning review is always required, and the city files them as a Fence/Wall permit through Tucson Development Center (TDC) Online. Fences are in PDSD's Fast Lane, which has a 15-day review target. Parcels in unincorporated Pima County follow the county's rules instead.
How tall can a fence be?
The Unified Development Code caps a wall or fence inside a perimeter yard (the setback along side and rear lot lines) at six feet. The CODE Tucson '26 package proposes raising that to seven feet. As of the city's August 2026 update it was still at the Planning Commission study-session stage, with Mayor and Council action expected later in 2026, so design to six feet. A Design Development Option (DDO) can add height, but not more than two feet for an accessory wall or fence (up to four feet for entry features).
Two city pages set the engineering trigger differently. The Residential Permits page says walls and fences over 7 feet tall need a building permit with a structurally engineered design. The exemptions page says engineered plans may be required over 6 feet, or whenever the wall retains soil. Ask the reviewer at intake if your design is over six feet.
| What you are doing | City filing | Rule |
|---|---|---|
| Wood or metal fence, any height up to the limit | Fence/Wall permit (zoning review) | $28.08 + $5.62 per 100 linear feet + review |
| Masonry or block wall | Fence/Wall permit (zoning review) | $16.85 + $33.70 per 500 sq ft of wall face + review |
| Fence over six feet in a side or rear setback | DDO application first | Six feet is the code maximum; DDO adds up to two feet |
| Wall over 7 feet or retaining soil | Building permit, engineered design | Structural review on top of zoning |
| Fence that is also a pool barrier | Fence/Wall permit + pool rules | State law: at least five feet, self-latching gate |
| Fence in a Historic or Neighborhood Preservation Zone | Permit + special district review | NPZ review of a fence: $33.44 |
How much does a Tucson fence permit cost?
Wall permits are priced on the height and length of the wall, not on job cost. From the fee schedule that took effect July 1, 2026: a wood or metal fence is $28.08 plus $5.62 per 100 linear feet, and a masonry wall is $16.85 plus $33.70 per 500 square feet of surface area. Both add plan review at the standard hourly rate of $100, minimum half an hour ($50). Every application also pays the digital filing fee: 1% of the total, minimum $18.54. Values round up to the next threshold.
- 150 ft wood fence: $28.08 + 2 × $5.62 = $39.32; review $50; filing $18.54; about $108.
- 150 ft of 6 ft block wall (900 sq ft of face): $16.85 + 2 × $33.70 = $84.25; review $50; filing $18.54; about $153.
- 300 ft of 6 ft block wall (1,800 sq ft): $16.85 + 4 × $33.70 = $151.65; review $50; filing $18.54; about $220.
Plan review beyond half an hour is billed at $100 an hour, and engineered walls also pay building permit fees, so treat those figures as the floor.
How to Get a Fence Permit in Tucson
Step 1: Check jurisdiction, zone and district
Look up the parcel in Map Tucson. Parcels in a preservation zone need special district review, and parcels outside city limits go to Pima County.
Step 2: Measure and draw
Record the length and height of each run and the material, and mark them on a site plan with distances to lot lines and buildings.
Step 3: Apply in TDC Online
File a Fence/Wall permit, adding engineered drawings if the wall is over six feet or retains soil.
Step 4: Zoning review and fees
Fences are in the Fast Lane with a 15-day review target. Fees are figured from length or wall area plus at least half an hour of review.
Step 5: Build within the approval
Build to the approved height and location, and schedule any inspections listed on the permit.