A fence shall be maintained in sound structural condition. All
fences in violation of this chapter are hereby declared to be a public
nuisance. Fences shall be maintained by the owner of the property
in compliance with the requirements of this chapter including but
not limited to the following maintenance standards:
(A) A property
owner shall maintain fences, including those existing prior to the
adoption of this chapter, at all times in a state of good repair,
with all braces, bolts, nails, supporting frames and fastenings free
from deterioration, termite infestation, rot, rust or loosening, and
able to withstand at all times the wind load for which they were designed.
(B) A fence
more than four (4) feet in height shall not be out of vertical alignment
more than one (1) foot from the vertical measured at the top of the
fence. A fence four (4) feet or less in height shall not be more than
six (6) inches from the vertical measured at the top of the fence.
(C) Property
owners shall not erect or maintain a fence determined by the city
engineer to be a visual obstruction to traffic or otherwise interfering
with the line of sight or sight triangle.
(D) Property
owners shall regularly maintain painted fence supports, gates, structural
members and exterior surfaces that are covered with paint to prevent
rusting, peeling or blistering surfaces.
(E) Property
owners shall not affix signs or maintain graffiti, writings and other
symbols on a fence except for those which are permitted as signs under
this municipal code or which pertain to the address or occupancy of
a property.
(F) Property
owners shall replace broken, damaged, removed or missing parts of
a fence within ten (10) days of the day the owner received notice
of the violation, with the same material, or material with comparable
composition, color, size, shape and quality of the original fence
to which the repair is being made. No person shall use materials not
specifically manufactured as fencing materials such as plywood, corrugated
steel panels, or fiberglass panels as fencing materials. A fence not
required by a specific order of the city council, the zoning code
of the city, or required to enclose a swimming pool or spa, may be
completely removed within the 10-day period rather than repaired.
(G) If the
city determines the existing fence is unsafe, dilapidated, or a public
nuisance the fence must be repaired with materials approved by this
code or removed. The repairs must be made in complete sections extending
a minimum of support post to support post. If the extent of repair
on any existing fence (materials in noncompliance) is in excess of
fifty (50) percent of the linear length of the total fence or more
than a combined 100 linear feet, then the entire fence must be replaced
with materials approved by this code.
(Ordinance 939-08-03-11, passed 3-11-08)
Existing fences that were constructed prior to the adoption
of this chapter that were constructed with materials not currently
permitted by this code may be maintained as long as no part of the
fence is or becomes unsafe, dilapidated, or a public nuisance.
(Ordinance 939-08-03-11, passed 3-11-08)
Any person who shall violate any of the provisions of this chapter
or fail to comply therewith shall be deemed guilty of a class C misdemeanor
and, upon conviction, shall be fined not less than $1.00 nor more
than $500.00. This offense is hereby declared to be a strict liability
offense and the culpable mental state required by Chapter 6.02 of
the Texas Penal Code is hereby specifically negated and clearly dispensed
with. Each day that the violation occurs shall constitute a distinct
and separate offense.
(Ordinance 939-08-03-11, passed 3-11-08)