The purpose and intent of this article is to provide standards and regulations regarding the location, height, materials, maintenance, and appearance of fences and screens.
(Ordinance 14-05-01 adopted 5/12/14)
All new and existing fences, screens, walls, hedges, and retaining walls shall be maintained according to the requirements of this article.
(Ordinance 14-05-01 adopted 5/12/14)
All new development, redevelopment, and new, changed, or added uses shall provide sufficient screening so that neighboring properties are shielded from any negative impacts from that development and the development is shielded from the negative impacts of adjacent uses such as streets or railroads. All fencing and screening shall be constructed of new or good used material and in a good workmanlike manner.
(1)
General fencing and screening.
Screening shall be provided between residential and nonresidential development. The developer of an undeveloped property adjacent to an existing development shall be responsible for providing the screening. The screening shall be no less than six feet high and shall be a privacy fence, a landscaping screen, or a combination of both.
(2)
Swimming pools.
Swimming pools shall be fenced in accordance with the 2012 International Building Code.
(3)
Exhibit A.
Fence regulations will be attached to the end of Ordinance 14-05-01.
(Ordinance 14-05-01 adopted 5/12/14)
Used for fences, screens, and hedges. All fences and screens shall be of consistent design and material which is either new material or good, unbroken used material.
(1)
Permitted materials.
Along any property line or in any building setback where visible from a public street, permitted materials include chainlink, wood, masonry, decorative wrought iron, plastic or other manmade material manufactured for the purpose of fencing, or decorative tubular steel. Unless otherwise indicated in this section, any other material requires approval by the city administrator.
(2)
Prohibited material.
Fences or screens constructed of chicken-wire, plastic, unless manufactured for the purpose of fencing or plywood are prohibited along any property line or in any required building setback where visible from a public street.
(3)
Barbed wire.
Except in agricultural zones, industrial zones, designated hazardous locations, and when and where approved by the city administrator or a designee as not posing an unreasonable hazard, the use of barbed wire or other sharp pointed material as fences or screens or on top of fences, screens or retaining walls, is prohibited. Except in agricultural zones, barbed wire shall be allowed no lower than six feet above grade.
(4)
Electrically charged fence.
No electrically charged fence shall be erected or maintained, except in agricultural zones.
(5)
Wood posts.
Wood posts shall be redwood, cedar, all heartwood cypress, or any species of wood pressure-treated with an approved preservative.
(6)
Hedges and plantings.
Plants which have thorns, spines, or prickles shall not be planted, maintained, or allowed by the property owner to encroach upon public right-of-way.
(Ordinance 14-05-01 adopted 5/12/14)
(a)
Exemptions from height limitations.
The height limitations of this section do not apply to any fence enclosing part of all of a tennis court, swimming pool, playing field, park, recreation facility, electric substation, gas regulator station, sand and gravel excavation, or noise barrier fences approved by the city administrator.
(b)
Maximum height.
The maximum height of any fence or screen shall be eight feet. Grade level for establishing fence or screen height shall be the average of grade measured three feet from each side of the fence or screen.
(c)
Within the front setback.
No fence, screen, or hedge of any type more than 42 inches in height shall be permitted between the front setback line of the building and the front property line. Fences, screens, or hedges up to eight feet in height in the front setback are allowed in industrial zones when approved by the city council.
(Ordinance 14-05-01 adopted 5/12/14)
(a)
Regulations governing fences, screens, and hedges on public right-of-way.
A property owner may install, or cause to be installed, in residential and mobile home districts a fence, screen, and/or hedge on city property in front and/or on the side of his or her own property provided:
(1)
Such fence, screen, or hedge installed in front of the required front yard setback shall be installed and maintained as specified for front yard fences, screens, and hedges and fences, screens, and hedges on corner lots. Such fence, screen, or hedge back of the required front yard shall be installed and maintained, as required for fences, screens, and hedges on corner lots, side and rear yard fences, screens, and hedges.
(2)
Heights of such fences, screens, or hedges shall be measured from sidewalk grade. When no sidewalk exists, sidewalk grade shall be established by the city engineer.
(3)
The city engineer may require additional sidewalk widths and fence, screen, or hedge setbacks when additional requirements would be to the best interest of the city.
(4)
Such fence, screen, or hedge shall not be installed in any manner or of any material so as to endanger the health and safety of the general public, including but not limited to sharp edges protruding over sidewalk.
(Ordinance 14-05-01 adopted 5/12/14)
(a)
All fences, screens, and retaining walls shall be maintained in sound condition and good repair at all times. When a fence, screen or retaining wall is declared by an officer to be dilapidated or hazardous, the officer shall order that the fence, screen or retaining wall to be removed or repaired to a sound condition. Dilapidated shall include but not be limited to fences or screens which have broken or missing planks or portions, or which are out of plumb by more than one inch per foot of height measured at the posts.
(b)
Areas adjacent to fences, screens, hedges, and retaining walls shall be maintained in a clean, sanitary manner and shall be free and clear of all debris, trash, and weeds.
(Ordinance 14-05-01 adopted 5/12/14)
The city will charge a fee to issue a permit to any entity or person obtaining a permit in the amount of $30.00 per permit.
(Ordinance 14-05-01 adopted 5/12/14)
(a)
Building permit required.
A building permit is required for any fence over 7 feet tall.
(b)
Plans.
Plans showing proposed construction, material, location, and height of the fence, screen, or retaining wall shall be presented to the building inspector before a permit is issued. A property survey or plot plan shall be included in or presented with the plans.
(Ordinance 14-05-01 adopted 5/12/14)
It shall be the duty of the city administrator, the city building inspector, code enforcement officer and such other city employees as the city council may direct to set forth the provisions of this article, and to refuse to issue any permit for any building or structure, of the use of any premises which would violate any of the provisions of this article.
(Ordinance 14-05-01 adopted 5/12/14)
Any person, firm or corporation who violates the provisions of this article shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and shall, upon conviction, be fined in any amount not to exceed $200.00. Each and every day’s violation of this article constitutes a separate offense.
(Ordinance 14-05-01 adopted 5/12/14)