Building official.
The director of inspection service for the city.
Electrified fence.
Any fence, barrier or enclosure partially or totally enclosing a building, field or yard, carrying any electrical pulse or charge through any part, section or element thereof.
(Ordinance 4609, sec. 4.01.1, adopted 8/5/2014)
Electrified fences conforming to the requirements specified herein shall be permitted. To the extent that the construction of an electrified fence does not conflict with the requirements specified herein, such fence shall be constructed or installed in conformance with the specifications set forth in International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) Standard 60335-2-76.
(Ordinance 4609, sec. 4.01.2, adopted 8/5/2014)
(a) 
Electrified fences shall be limited to outdoor storage areas only in zoning designations: Light Manufacturing, Heavy Manufacturing, and Commercial. Unless specifically designated in this subsection, electrified fences or barriers shall not be permitted in any zoning district.
(b) 
Electrified fences are permitted only as an integrated component of a monitored security system for the purposes of securing outdoor storage, motor vehicle storage, major utility and recycling facilities, general warehouse, contractor yard, or manufacturing.
(c) 
Only battery-powered units may be used to energize electrified fences. Units must be approved by a Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratory (NRTL) with final installation acceptable to the building official. The energizer must be driven by a commercial storage battery not to exceed 12 volts DC.
(d) 
The installation of an electrified fence is prohibited:
(1) 
Within 25 feet of any outdoor area used for the handling of hazardous materials pursuant to the fire code; or
(2) 
Within five feet of any public sidewalk.
(Ordinance 4609, sec. 4.01.3, adopted 8/5/2014)
Electrified fences must be designed and certified by an authorized representative of an electrified fence or barrier equipment manufacturer. Upon installation, said representative shall certify the installation meets the following design and safety requirements:
(1) 
AC current shall not be, and is not, used to energize the electrified fence.
(2) 
The energizer for the electrified fence shall be, and is, driven by a commercial storage battery not to exceed 12 volts capacity charged by a solar panel. A commercial trickle charger may be used to augment power source.
(3) 
The electric charge produced by the fence upon contact shall, and does, meet the energy output requirements specified in paragraph 22.108 and depicted in figure 102 of IEC Standard No. 60335-2-76.
(4) 
All ground system cables shall be, and are, properly insulated.
(5) 
The controller ground system shall not be, and is not, connected to any plumbing systems in or out of use and shall not restrict other utility and buried water pipes.
(6) 
The fence controller ground wire shall not, and does not, touch any buildings on site.
(7) 
The fence controller and its ground system shall not, and does not, interfere with or restrict any radio or buried telephone wires.
(8) 
The electrified fence shall be, and is, installed at a minimum clearance from power or telephone lines in accordance with table BB.1 of the IEC.
(9) 
A lightning diverter (commonly referred to as a lightning arrestor) shall be, and is, installed between the fence and the fence controller.
(10) 
A Knox box shall be, and is, installed to provide secure access to the cut-off switch.
(11) 
Each energizer shall be, and is, connected to its own ground system and must not be, and is not, connected to any other ground system(s).
(12) 
Two or more energizers shall not be, and are not, connected to the same fence unless the use of multiple energizers does not increase the overall charge transmitted on the fence and adequate access is provided to the cut-off switch to each energizer.
(13) 
All cabling/wire and connectors shall be, and are, of appropriate material (steel, copper, etc.).
(14) 
All wires shall be, and are, separated at minimum clearance in accordance with section 29.101 of the IEC.
(Ordinance 4609, sec. 4.01.4, adopted 8/5/2014)
Electrified fences shall be a minimum of six (6) feet in height and shall not exceed a maximum of ten (10) feet in height measured at existing grade.
(Ordinance 4609, sec. 4.01.5, adopted 8/5/2014)
(a) 
No electrified fence shall be installed or used unless it is completely surrounded by a non-electrified, perimeter fence that is not less than six (6) feet in height and no more than eight (8) feet in height at its highest point measured at existing grade.
(b) 
The distance between the electrified fence and required perimeter fence shall be a minimum of three (3) inches at its closest point and no greater than twelve (12) inches.
(c) 
The area between the perimeter wall or fence and the electrified fence shall be kept clear of shrubbery, weeds, trash and debris.
(Ordinance 4609, sec. 4.01.6, adopted 8/5/2014)
All electrified fences shall have warning signs and shall be in accordance with the following requirements:
(1) 
Signs shall be a minimum of four (4) inches by eight (8) inches in accordance with annex BB of the IEC.
(2) 
All lettering shall be a minimum of two (2) inches high.
(3) 
Signs shall consist of a yellow background with black inscriptions and kept in good condition to ensure continued visibility.
(4) 
Signs shall be placed at a maximum of sixty (60) feet distance along the fence with at least one sign per side and one on each gate.
(5) 
Signs shall bear the words “WARNING” and “ELECTRIC FENCE” in indelible letters in English and Spanish.
(6) 
The warning signs shall be clearly visible from the ground on both sides of the electrified fence or perimeter fence.
(Ordinance 4609, sec. 4.01.7, adopted 8/5/2014)
The installation of an electrified fence requires an approved permit from the building official prior to installation. It shall be unlawful for any person to install, maintain or operate an electrified fence in violation of the provisions of this section.
(1) 
A completed application for a permit must include the following:
(A) 
Site plan indicating the location of the electrified fence and perimeter fence;
(B) 
Schematics and load calculations indicating and/or displaying the:
(i) 
Location of the power source;
(ii) 
Materials used for the fence construction;
(iii) 
Location of the regulating and monitoring equipment; and
(iv) 
Location of emergency access, Knox box and cut-off switch.
(2) 
A permit shall be renewed every two years with a notarized statement attached to the renewal application from an authorized representative of the fence equipment manufacturer indicating the installation is operating in conformance with the original design and complies with acceptable safety standards and all provisions of this division.
(Ordinance 4609, sec. 4.01.8, adopted 8/5/2014)
Prior to the installation or use of an electrified fence and upon permit issuance, the permit holder must register the electrified fence with the fire marshal to identify the location of said fence and required cut-off switch and Knox box in the event that deactivation is required.
(Ordinance 4609, sec. 4.01.9, adopted 8/5/2014)
An electrified fence shall only be energized during the hours when the general public does not have legal access to the protected property.
(Ordinance 4609, sec. 4.01.10, adopted 8/5/2014)
The established fee for a permit to install an electrified fence shall be paid by the applicant at the time of filing an application and upon the renewal of the permit.
(Ordinance 4609, sec. 4.01.11, adopted 8/5/2014)
(a) 
The building official shall be authorized to revoke a permit upon evidence of any violation of this division. The building official or designee must send a notice of revocation to the last known address of the permit holder with such notice detailing a time of no more than ten (10) working days to appeal the official’s decision.
(b) 
Notice of appeal of the building official’s decision to revoke must be sent to the official as soon as practical, but no later than ten (10) working days past the revocation. The official’s decision shall be final upon the expiration of the ten (10) working day period. A filed appeal shall suspend the building official’s action to revoke the permit. A permit holder shall be entitled to a hearing before the construction board of adjustment and appeals (“board”) within a reasonable time. The board shall either affirm or deny the building official’s decision. The board’s decision shall be based on the same evidence reviewed by the building official and any subsequent information produced.
(Ordinance 4609, sec. 4.01.12, adopted 8/5/2014)