Lifetime Fence Company 

Section 35.     Fencing, walls, and screening requirements.

35.1     Purpose:

To encourage the most appropriate use of land and conserve and protect the privacy and value of adjacent permitted uses. Regulations are prescribed for the location and type of various screening devices to be used when required in the various zoning districts or in this section in accordance with the following standards.

35.2     Screening of nonresidential and multifamily areas:

A.     In the event that multifamily or nonresidential uses side or back upon an SF, 2F, or residential PD district, or in the event that any nonresidential district sides or backs to a MF district, a solid brick or masonry screening wall of not less than six feet nor more than eight feet in height shall be erected on the property line separating these districts. The purpose of the screening wall or fence is to provide a visual and protective barrier between the properties.

1.     The owner of the multifamily property shall be responsible for and shall build the required wall on the property line dividing the property from the single-family or duplex residential district. This construction requirement applies only when multifamily is adjacent to residential uses. When screening is required between nonresidential and residential uses, it shall be the responsibility of the nonresidential use to construct and maintain the screening wall.

2.     Any screening wall or fence required under the provisions of this section, under a conditional use permit, planned development district, or other requirement shall be constructed of masonry, reinforced concrete, or other similar suitable permanent materials which do not contain openings. All wall or fence openings shall be equipped with gates equal in height and screening characteristics to the wall or fence.

3.     Alternative equivalent screening such as landscaping and berms may be approved through the site plan approval process, section 11.

4.     If a proposed residential use is located adjacent to an existing nonresidential use, the city council may waive the screening requirement or require the proposed (new) use install the screening fence.

B.     All required screening walls shall be equally finished on both sides of the wall.

C.     Open storage of materials, commodities, or equipment (see section 29 zoning districts permitting outside storage) shall comply with the following requirements:

1.     Located behind the front building line.

2.     Observe all yard setback requirements.

3.     Screened with a minimum six-foot fence or wall. See the definition section for definition of outside storage.

4.     Standards shall not apply to outside display (see definition of outside display).

D.     In all districts screening shall be required only for those areas used for open storage. A six-foot fence or wall shall be provided and maintained at the property line adjacent to the area to be screened.

E.     Refuse storage areas not adjacent to an alley or rear service area which are visible from a public right-of-way for all nonresidential and multifamily uses shall be visually screened by a six-foot masonry wall on all sides except the side used for garbage pickup service, such side shall provide a gate (see illustration 16 for gate design).

F.     Air conditioning units and similar mechanical equipment shall be screened from view of public streets.

35.3     Fences in residential areas:

A.     Any fence or wall located to the rear of the minimum required front yard line shall not exceed eight feet in height above grade.

B.     Except as provided in sections (C) and (G) below, no fence or wall shall be permitted in front of any single-family or duplex structure. No fence (except as allowed in (C) below) shall be erected in any front yard or side yard which is adjacent to a public street.

C.     Split rail and other similar fencing with openings covering not more than 50 percent of the fence area are permitted in the front yard of residential lots. No chain-link or woven wire fences are permitted.

D.     All fences require permits.

E.     Fencing around swimming pools is required by separate ordinance.

F.     No barbed wire or electrical fencing shall be allowed except as used for farm or ranching purposes on undeveloped land over one acre in size.

G.     If the rear yard of a lot is adjacent to the rear yard of another adjacent lot, then the fence may be constructed to the side and rear property lines. If the rear yard is adjacent to the side or front yard of an adjacent lot, then the fence may be constructed only to the building line. (See illustration 17B.)