Chapter 15.50
FENCES – SETBACK

Sections:

15.50.010    Fences, walls and hedges.

15.50.020    Violation – Enforcement – Penalties.

15.50.010 Fences, walls and hedges.

A. No fence shall be constructed without first obtaining a permit from the city.

B. No fence or wall shall be greater than six feet in height without a special use permit.

C. No fence, wall or hedge shall be constructed closer than 30 feet from an intersection of two streets or a street and an alley; provided, however, that if necessary for the public safety, said distance requirement may be increased by the code enforcement officer with the approval of the public works director. Corner lots must have 30 feet on either side of the corner intersection along street lines for traffic visibility, except fences, walls or plantings that are 36 inches or less in height are allowed in the 30-foot visibility area.

D. For lots with triple street frontages, fences, walls or hedges over 36 inches are permitted at the property line on one non-addressed street side.

E. No razor wire, barbed wire, chicken wire or electric wire fences or portion of fences are allowed in residential zones.

F. In all front yard fences or walls, whether on properties with single, double or triple frontage, rails, posts and other structural fence or wall supports shall not be visible from a public street, except that posts and rails that are an integral part of the fence or wall design and aesthetics and not used solely for structural support may be visible from a public street.

G. Nonconforming fences or walls installed without a building permit are not vested.

H. Amortization. Minor repair of less than 25 percent of the linear feet of a legal nonconforming fence or wall will not trigger compliance with this section. However, the cumulative repair of 100 percent within a two-year period or less shall trigger the necessity for compliance with this section. Repair of more than 25 percent of the linear length of an existing nonconforming fence shall trigger the necessity of compliance with this section.

I. Materials. Use of durable materials (e.g., masonry) is strongly encouraged. Fences or walls may not be built from old (or new) tires, plywood, pallets, press board, cardboard, or chicken wire or other materials that may harbor mosquitoes or rapidly deteriorate in the elements.

J. Fence or wall gates shall be no less than 30 inches wide and shall not open outward if such open gate would block any public sidewalk, street or alleyway.

K. Fences, walls or hedges or any plantings in public rights-of-way or easements may be approved only after a license agreement or encroachment permit has been entered into in writing with the city. No such allowed fences, hedges, or plantings shall result in any right to remain in the right-of-way if the permit holder is asked to remove said fences, hedges, or plantings by the city at any time. No such fence, hedge or plantings may be closer than 18 inches from the curb line or pavement of any street.

L. No fence or wall that is sagging, leaning, fallen, decayed, dilapidated or in any unsafe or unsightly condition shall be permitted.

M. No fence, wall, hedge or other plantings shall be closer than six feet to a fire hydrant outlet port or three feet on the backside of the hydrant or three feet from a city water meter. (Ord. 2008-3 § 2).

15.50.020 Violation – Enforcement – Penalties.

Violations of this chapter shall be enforced and penalties imposed in accordance with Chapter 15.72 GMC. (Ord. 2010-20 § 1; Ord. 2008-3 § 2).