How tall can my fence be in Tempe, AZ?

Up to 8' in the rear yard, 4' in front of the building line.

How much does a Tempe, AZ fence permit cost?

We have Tempe, AZ's fence ordinance on file but not a permit fee, so we do not publish an amount for it. Ask the building department what a fence permit costs before you apply.

What does a fence plot plan need to show?

Your property outline, location of the proposed fence, total linear feet, height, material, distance from any street/sidewalk, and (in most cities) the location of your house. Fence Plotter generates this automatically from a satellite image and your fence drawing.

Can I draw my plot plan myself?

Yes — most building departments accept owner-drawn plot plans as long as they're clear, dimensioned, and to scale. Fence Plotter produces a permit-ready plot plan + elevation sketch in two minutes.

Tempe, AZ fence permit site plan

Plan your fence on a satellite map of your Tempe, AZ property and get a permit-ready PDF in 2 minutes. Free, no sign-up.

If Tempe's form asks for a site plan and this page says plot plan, they are the same drawing for a fence application: a to-scale overhead view of your lot with the property lines, the existing structures and the proposed fence dimensioned on it. A surveyed site plan is the one genuinely different document, and only a licensed surveyor can seal one. What a fence permit site plan has to show.

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What you'll get for Tempe, AZ

✓ Satellite site plan — top-down map of your property with the fence drawn on it, every side dimensioned.
✓ Fence elevation — side view showing height, panel count, and gates.
✓ Real lot lines — pulled from county GIS so your fence sits on the actual property boundary.
○ Filled Tempe, AZ permit form — pending. Until then you get the universal plot plan + a checklist of what to handwrite on the city's form.
✓ Tempe, AZ ordinance check — height limits, setbacks, and neighbor-consent rules specific to Tempe, AZ.

Tempe, AZ fence rules

Max height (rear yard): 8'
Max height (front of building line): 4'

A building permit is required for any fence or wall over 7' tall, or as determined by the Building Code.
Walls and fences in the required front yard building setback are limited to 4'.
For single-family uses, walls and fences behind the front yard building setback and within the required side and rear yards are limited to 8' (10' for non-single-family uses).
No wall, fence, or other visual obstruction over 2' in height, measured from the street curb, may sit within a clear vision triangle at a street intersection or driveway entrance.
A use permit can allow a front-setback wall or fence up to 6', plus up to 2' more for architectural features such as archways or pergolas, and must show that natural surveillance to the street is maintained.
Reverse frontage lots, including single-family, require an 8' masonry wall along the rear.

Do you need a permit? Yes, over 6'. Tempe's Building Code Directive #2, Fences and Free Standing Walls, from the Building Safety Division, states that no permit or inspection is required for fences and freestanding walls six feet or less in height, and that a masonry wall built of ten-inch fence block may reach 6 feet 5 inches before permits are required. The ordinance bullet above states seven feet and defers to the Building Code, so the building permit threshold in Tempe is six feet. Above it a fence is a Group U occupancy and engineering drawings and calculations go in with the application. (source)

Source: https://library.municode.com/az/tempe/codes/zoning_and_development_code?nodeId=ZONING_DEVELOPMENT_CODE_PT4_DEST_CH7_LAWA

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FAQ

Do I need a permit to build a fence in Tempe, AZ?: Yes, over 6'. Tempe's Building Code Directive #2, Fences and Free Standing Walls, from the Building Safety Division, states that no permit or inspection is required for fences and freestanding walls six feet or less in height, and that a masonry wall built of ten-inch fence block may reach 6 feet 5 inches before permits are required. The ordinance bullet above states seven feet and defers to the Building Code, so the building permit threshold in Tempe is six feet. Above it a fence is a Group U occupancy and engineering drawings and calculations go in with the application.
How tall can my fence be in Tempe, AZ?: Up to 8' in the rear yard, 4' in front of the building line.
How much does a Tempe, AZ fence permit cost?: We have Tempe, AZ's fence ordinance on file but not a permit fee, so we do not publish an amount for it. Ask the building department what a fence permit costs before you apply.
What does a fence plot plan need to show?: Your property outline, location of the proposed fence, total linear feet, height, material, distance from any street/sidewalk, and (in most cities) the location of your house. Fence Plotter generates this automatically from a satellite image and your fence drawing.
Can I draw my plot plan myself?: Yes — most building departments accept owner-drawn plot plans as long as they're clear, dimensioned, and to scale. Fence Plotter produces a permit-ready plot plan + elevation sketch in two minutes.

Not sure what Tempe means by “site plan”? See the nine things a plan reviewer checks — the same list whatever city you are applying in.

Do I need a survey?·Free template — which kind?·Do I need a permit?·Why permits get rejected

Fence Plotter is informational only. Always confirm specific requirements with the Tempe, AZ building department before submitting.

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Plan a fence in Tempe →

Tempe, AZ fence permit site plan

What you'll get for Tempe, AZ

Tempe, AZ fence rules

FAQ

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