In addition to any requirements imposed pursuant to title 9 of this code, a building permit shall be required for any wall or fence greater than six feet (6') in height and shall also be required for any wall or fence, regardless of its height, that is located in a front yard.
A. Thickness: No wall or fence shall exceed two feet (2') in thickness. Cavities or spaces within a wall or fence shall not be used for the support, storage, shelter, or enclosure of persons, animals, or personal property.
B. Finish: A wall or fence located within five feet (5') of a property line and approximately parallel to that property line shall have a finished appearance in a similar manner on both sides. Acceptable finish treatments include colored stucco, wood stain, natural or polished stone, slumpstone, split-faced concrete block, prefabricated finish texture, color coated tubular steel or wrought iron, or a combination thereof. Plain or colored concrete block masonry shall be permitted only if coated with colored stucco or other coating finish approved by the Director of Building and Safety.
If the construction of a wall or fence along shared property lines requires access on a neighboring property in order to provide an equivalent finish on the side of the wall or fence facing the neighboring property, and access is not granted by the neighboring property owner, documentation to this effect shall be provided to the Director of Community Development, or his or her designee. This documentation shall be satisfactory to the Director of Community Development to relieve the requestor of the above requirement regarding the finish of the wall or fence on that side, and may include a written letter stating that access has not been granted, or proof that a request for access has been sent but no response has been provided.
C. Supporting Elements: No column, pillar, post, or other supporting element of a wall or fence shall be more than twenty four inches (24") in width.
D. Front Yards: The maximum allowable height of a wall, fence, or hedge located within the first twenty percent (20%) of the front yard, measured from the front lot line, shall be three feet (3'). Walls and fences over eighteen inches (18") in height shall be set back a minimum of three feet (3') from the front lot line and landscaping shall be provided in the area between the wall or fence and the front lot line, except for paving, including driveways and walkways, that conforms to the requirements of section 10-3-2422 of this chapter.
The maximum allowable height of a wall, fence, or hedge located within the front yard at a distance from the front lot line of more than twenty percent (20%) of the front setback shall be six feet (6'); provided, however, any portion of such wall, fence, or hedge which exceeds three feet (3') in height shall be open to public view.
E. Side Yards: The maximum allowable height for that portion of a wall, fence, or hedge located in both a side yard and a front yard shall be six feet (6'); provided, however, that any portion of such wall, fence, or hedge which exceeds three feet (3') in height shall be open to public view.
The maximum allowable height for that portion of a wall, fence, or hedge located in a side yard, but not in a front yard, shall be seven feet (7'), except that the maximum allowable height shall be ten feet (10') for such a wall, fence, or hedge located within five feet (5') of a rear lot line.
Furthermore, any portion of such wall, fence or hedge that exceeds three feet (3') in height and is located in a street side yard shall be open to public view or the wall, fence or hedge shall be set back an average of at least one foot (1') and no less than six inches (6") from the street side lot line for the purpose of providing landscaping on the street side of the wall.
1. Side Yards Adjacent To An Alley: The maximum allowable height for a wall or fence located in a side yard adjacent to an alley shall be ten feet (10'), except for that portion of the wall or fence that is also located in the front yard, which shall be subject to the requirements of subsection D of this section.
The maximum allowable height for a hedge located in a side yard that is adjacent to an alley shall be sixteen feet (16'), except for that portion of the hedge that is also located in the front yard, which shall be subject to the requirements of subsection D of this section.
F. Rear Yards: The maximum allowable height for a wall or fence located solely in a rear yard shall be ten feet (10').
The maximum allowable height for a hedge located solely in a rear yard shall be sixteen feet (16'). (Ord. 14-O-2669, eff. 12-5-2014; amd. Ord. 22-O- 2860, eff. 6-10-2022; Ord. 22-O-2865, eff. 10-21-2022)