Measurements shall be taken from the nearest point of the wall of a building to the lot line in question, subject to the following qualifications.
(A) Cornices, canopies or eaves may extend into the required front yard a distance not exceeding four feet, six inches; except, in districts where no yards are required, they may not extend beyond any property line.
(B) Fire escapes may extend into the required front yard a distance not exceeding four feet, six inches.
(C) A landing place or uncovered porch may extend into the required front yard a distance not exceeding six feet, if the landing place or porch has its floor no higher than the entrance floor of the building. An open railing no higher than three feet, six inches may be placed around the place.
(D) The above enumerated architectural features may also extend into any side or rear yard to the same extent; except that, no porch, terrace or outside stairway shall project into the required side yard distance.
(E) Fencing. For the purposes of this chapter, a fence is defined as any partition, structure, wall, or gate, wider than four feet in width.
(1) Fence placement. All boundary line fences shall be entirely located upon the property of the person, firm or corporation constructing, or causing the construction of such fence unless the owner of the adjoining property agrees that such fence may be erected on the common property line of the respective properties. The property owner must be able to maintain both sides of their fence, if maintenance is required.
(2) Alleyway setback. Fences that abut an alleyway shall be located a minimum of five feet from the lot line.
(3) Fencing material. Fences shall be constructed in a professional manner and of standard fencing materials. Fences shall not be constructed from chicken wire, welded wire, plastic fence netting or similar product, snow fence, branches, or materials originally intended for other purposes. No barb wire or electrical fencing is allow in residential zones, except for agricultural uses allowed in the R-A zone.
(4) Fencing orientation. All posts or similar supporting devices used in the construction of fences shall face inward toward the property being fenced. That side of the fence considered to be the face shall be oriented toward abutting property or rights-of-way.
(5) Fencing height. All fence heights shall be measured by the body of the fence and all fencing measuring must be started within six inches of natural grade.
(a) In residential zones, fences may be located in any yard up to a height of six feet tall. Fences in the front yard must be a maximum of 50% opacity, excluding posts and supports. Fences in the front yard are limited to decorative fences such as picket fences, split rail fences, and decorative iron/brick fences. A chain link fence is not considered a decorative fence.
(b) When any side or rear lot line of a residentially zoned lot abuts a business or industrial zone, a fence height of up to eight feet shall be allowed. This height exception shall apply only to the side or rear yard which abuts the business or industrial zone.
(c) In business and industrial zones, fences shall not exceed a height of ten feet. Barb wire may be used for security fencing as long as it is at least six feet from natural grade.
(d) Corner lot exception. The maximum height of a fence or hedge on a corner lot shall be three feet for a distance of 20 feet from the corner intersection of the right-of-way lines. This regulation does not apply to an alleyway.
(F) On double frontage lots, the required front yard shall be provided on both streets.
(G) The required front yard of a corner lot shall not contain any wall, fence or other structure, tree, shrub or other growth which may cause danger to traffic on a street or public road by obscuring the view.
(H) In determining the depth of rear yard for any building where the rear yard opens into any alley, half the width of the alley, but not exceeding ten feet, may be considered a portion of the rear yard, subject to the following regulations:
(1) The depth of any rear yard shall not be reduced to less than ten feet by the application of this exception.
(2) If the door of any building or improvement, except a fence, opens toward an alley, it shall not swing closer than a distance of one foot to the alley right-of-way.
(2002 Code, § 7.42) (Ord. 324, effective 11-20-1965; Ord. 49, Third Series, effective 1-1-1981; Ord. 71, Third Series, effective 8-15-1982; Ord. 104, Third Series, effective 5-30-1984; Ord. 104, Sixth Series, effective 5-12-2009; Ord. 112, Sixth Series, effective 10-15-2009; Ord. 76, Seventh Series, effective 1-6-2019; Ord. 15, Eighth Series, effective 11-21-2021) Penalty, see §
154.999