City of St. Ann, MO Chapter 520 Fences

Section 520.010 Yard Fences.

[R.O. 1998 § 520.010; CC 1988 §5-56; Ord. No. 1278 §1, 5-4-1987; Ord. No. 1419 §1, 8-7-1989; Ord. No. 1493 §1, 8-6-1990; Ord. No. 2417 §1, 3-9-2006]

A. A fence to be located within a side or rear yard shall be of the chain-link type, wood picket, board-on-board or solid vinyl/vinyl-covered fence material and shall not exceed a height of six (6) feet high and it shall be adjusted down in six-inch increments. All wood product fencing shall consist of minimum one (1) inch by four (4) inch normal size vertical members and minimum two (2) by four (4) inch normal size horizontal support members. Fences constructed of wood shall be of material pressure treated with a wood preservative or be of wood naturally resistant to rot and insect infestation such as redwood or cedar and provide a minimum airflow space of one-half (1/2) inch between vertical members for a picket design and four (4) inches of minimum space between vertical members for a shadow box or board-on-board design fence. Tight board wood fences such as stockade design are prohibited. However, solid vinyl or vinyl-covered fences may be constructed with zero clearance between members.

B. When a new fence is proposed along a property line that parallels an existing fence, then either the existing fence, with fence owner's permission, shall be removed or the proposed fence must be set back from the existing fence a minimum of three (3) feet.

C. It shall be the responsibility of the property owner to verify the property line location prior to erecting a fence or in authorizing another person to erect a fence.

D. The owner of a fence is required to maintain the growth of weeds and grass between, beneath and adjacent to all fences to a height not exceeding nine (9) inches.

E. All fences shall be designed and constructed to withstand wind gusts of seventy (70) miles per hour and shall be continuously maintained in an upright manner, ninety degrees (90°) vertical to the ground, free from defects and peeling paint, exposed wood and otherwise compromised finishes.

F. A fence to be located on an interior lot may not extend forward of the rear line of the main building except where there is a side entry to the building, in which case the fence may be located in front of said opening but behind the building line.

G. A fence to be located on a corner lot may extend to the front building line on each side that fronts a street.

H. No fence shall be permitted within a front yard; however, landscaped borders of picket or other ornamental design shall be permitted in the front yard to a height of eighteen (18) inches.

I. Fences shall be erected so that exposed supporting fence members face the area to be enclosed or bordered except, in cases where the fence looks identical from either side, this provision shall not apply.

J. Any fence proposed which does not conform with the provisions hereof may be approved by the Board of Adjustment, provided that the Board makes a finding that such fence is necessary to prevent hardship and that the Board shall approve the design, material and location of any such fence.

Section 520.020 Swimming Pool Fences.

[R.O. 1998 § 520.020; CC 1988 §5-57; Ord. No. 1278 §2, 5-4-1987; Ord. No. 1484 §1, 7-3-1990; Ord. No. 2417 §2, 3-9-2006]

The requirements of the currently adopted Building Codes for the City shall govern fences around swimming pools.

Section 520.030 Permit.

[R.O. 1998 § 520.020; CC 1988 §5-58; Ord. No. 1278 §3, 5-4-1987; Ord. No. 1607 §2, 2-3-1992; Ord. No. 2287 §3, 5-5-2003]

No fence shall be erected within the City without obtaining a permit therefor. There shall be a charge of fifty dollars ($50.00) for issuance of a fence permit. Any fence erected without a permit shall be removed at the expense of the owner of the property on which such fence is located.

Section 520.040 Erection Or Maintenance Of Barbed Wire Or Electrically Charged Fences.

[R.O. 1998 §215.760; Ord. No. 3031 §215.2210, 12-5-2016]

A. It shall be unlawful for any person to erect or maintain or for any property owner or occupant to allow to be erected or maintained on any property within the City, any fence equipped with or having barbed wire, spikes, or any similar device or any electrical charge sufficient to cause an electric shock.

B. It shall, however, not be unlawful, under this Section to maintain a barbed-wire fence so long as said barbed wire is at least six (6) feet above the ground and at least one (1) foot within the property line of the owner's or occupant's property and so long as said property is located within an industrial or business zoning classification.