A. General.
1. It shall be the sole responsibility of the property owner to avoid erection of a fence over or within an easement and the City shall have no responsibility or liability for determining the location of an easement or for permitting the erection of a fence within an easement. Furthermore, fences may not encroach into a public right-of-way.
2. No fence shall be located within two feet (2') of a public sidewalk.
3. Fences must be securely fastened to the ground.
B. Materials.
1. For residential properties, front yard fences must be decorative in design, or made from wood, brick, iron, or stone, coated chain link, or an approved synthetic material;
2. Walls and fences shall be constructed with structural elements (e.g., posts, beams) facing inward (e.g., away from the property line). Walls or fences on a property line in which two (2) or more property owners share in the expense of the wall or fence, shall not be subject to this provision;
3. Fences shall not contain an electric charge except when located in the AG zone or on lots containing a commercial agricultural use;
4. No fence shall have as part of its design or construction metal prongs or spikes, or barbed wire; provided, however barbed wire may be permitted on the top of chain link fences only in the IM and IL zones; and
5. Chain-link fences shall be permitted only within the IM and IL zones and only in rear and side yards. No slat fencing is to be used in conjunction with a chain link fence.
C. Height.
1. Fence height is measured from the topmost point of the fence to the grade of the ground adjacent to the wall or fence.
2. Any portion of a fence that extends along the front lot line, or between the primary structure and the front street which runs parallel to and faces the front of the building, may not exceed four feet (4') in height.
3. No fence shall exceed six feet (6') i n height; provided, however within the IM and IL zones, fence heights may not exceed ten feet (10').
D. Opacity.
1. Fencing in any front yard for a commercial or residential property may not exceed fifty percent (50%) opacity.
E. Visibility Triangle.
1. No fence erected in any district or zone shall intrude within or interfere with the visibility triangle as described herein.
F. Screening: Trash Storage and Collection Areas.
1. Trash storage and collection areas must be screened by either of the following means:
a. A hedge-like screen of coniferous or approved deciduous plant material, capable of providing a minimum height of six feet (6') within three (3) years of planting and full opacity; or
b. A solid wood and/or masonry fence shall be installed and maintained at a height of twelve inches (12") above the vertical height of the trash receptacle.
c. Trash receptacles and the required screening may not be located in the front yard and may not have chain-link gates.
d. Slat enclosure doors are not permitted.
e. Enclosures shall be painted or finished in the same paint or finish as the substantial paint and finish on the primary structure.
f. Concrete block enclosures are not permitted.
g. Trash enclosures shall not be located in a front yard or located within five feet (5') of any property line.
G. Screening: Mechanical Equipment.
1. Mechanical equipment or other utility hardware on roof, ground, or buildings shall be screened from public view with a one hundred percent (100%) opaque screen of the same material as the predominant material of the building with the building and located as not to be visible from any public ways.
2. Residential meters are excluded from this requirement.
H. Signage not permitted.
1. Signage is not permitted on any fencing or screening; provided, however, up to a one (1) foot square foot metal or wood sign may be affixed to a fence.
(Ord. 20-29, §2, 9-21-20; Ord. 21-44, §1, 10-4-21)