Fences, walls, and screening are allowed in all yards provided they meet the following height limitations and construction standards unless otherwise stated:
(A) Fence construction standards.
(1) All posts and bracing shall face towards the owner.
(2) Shall be constructed on the owner's property and shall be allowed on the property line. And it is the fence owner's responsibility to know for sure where the line is. If it's found that the fence is on the wrong side of the line, it has to be (re)moved at their expense.
(3) Materials:
(a) Fences shall not be constructed of electrically charged wire, razor wire or wire fences such as those with hardware cloth, chicken wire, agriculture, or others. Moreover, materials not specifically manufactured for permanent fencing are not allowed, and no fence shall be made of, in whole or in part, cloth, canvas or other like material. With the exception of a snow fence.
(b) The cut or selvage end of wire or metal fencing materials may not be exposed at the top of a fence if the height of the fence is less than six feet. Fences designed for painting or similar surface finishes shall be maintained in their original condition as designed. All exposed steel, except galvanized metal fences, shall have a colored finished coat applied to them and be preserved against rust and corrosion.
(c) Property owners shall be responsible for the maintenance of the fencing, walls and hedges on their property, and for removal of any fence, wall, or hedge if it becomes unsightly or a menace to public safety, health or welfare.
(B) Residential District - front yards.
(1) Shall not exceed five feet.
(2) Shall not exceed two and one-half feet within the herein-defined "Traffic Visibility Triangle" on corner lots, unless construction is of a see through type.
(a) Residential District. Side and rear yards shall not exceed six feet; and front yard shall not exceed feet.
(b) Commercial and Industrial. All fencing, walls, buffer zones and screening shall not exceed eight feet.
(c) Temporary fence. The Board of Trustees may require that a temporary fence be constructed on or around any demolition or construction site, when deemed necessary to protect the public.
(d) Flood zone. A fence constructed in the flood zone requires a floodplain permit and approval by the Floodplain Administrator. Fences generally must be a breakaway or drop fence (designed to fail under flood conditions.).
(C) Variance; standards for variance approval. When determining a variance to fence, wall, and hedge requirements, the zoning board shall consider the following:
(1) Safety in regard to the subject property, adjacent properties, ingress and egress, streets, alleyways, and water bodies.
(2) Visual impact on adjacent properties, streets, alleyways, and water bodies.
(3) Design in relation to other structures on the same lot, adjacent properties, and the neighborhood.
(4) Impact on ingress and egress, if applicable.
(5) Screening, buffering or separation of any nuisance or hazardous feature.
(6) Compatibility with adjacent properties.
(Ord. passed 11-3-2020)