§ 151.098 FENCE INSTALLATION.
   (A)   General requirements. No fence shall be installed, except in strict compliance with this subchapter, site-specific permit conditions and the following requirements:
      (1)   Structural and support components of a fence shall face away from adjacent properties and public rights-of-way;
      (2)   Fences shall be installed with the finished side facing the adjacent property or public right-of-way, and the fence posts must be located on the inside of the fence facing the property on which the fence is located;
      (3)   Fences shall follow the contour of the ground to the extent practical. Adjustments for grade shall occur at the bottom of the fence;
      (4)   The height of the fence shall be controlled by the applicable provisions of this subchapter for the district in which the fence will be located. Fence height shall be measured from the surface of the ground immediately below the fence. Raising the finished grade by placing fill solely for the purpose of adding height to a fence is prohibited. Berms, retaining walls or other methods to raise the elevation of the site in excess of the fence height restrictions contained herein shall require a zoning variance prior to installation;
      (5)   The project site shall be marked by J.U.L.I.E. before commencing construction or digging holes for fence installation; and
      (6)   No fence in the visual clearance area shall exceed three feet in height above the mean street grade.
   (B)   Fences in front yards. Fences in front yards shall be allowed in residentially zoned areas. Fences shall not exceed three feet in height and shall be allowed within required front yard setback areas. No fence over three feet in height shall be permitted within residentially required front yard setback areas.
   (C)   Fences in rear/side yard. Fences in rear and side yards shall meet the following requirements:
      (1)   In residentially zoned areas, no fence shall exceed six feet in height in any side or rear yard. Fences not greater than six feet in height are permitted in side or rear yards, except that said fence shall not extend beyond the front of the principal structure or the required building setback line, whichever is furthest from the road right-of-way. All fences located in a side yard beyond the front of the principal structure or the required building setback line (whichever is greater) shall be treated as a fence in a front yard pursuant to § 151.097(B), and shall not exceed three feet in height; and
      (2)   Fences which exceed three feet in height in side or rear yards shall not encroach within visual clearance areas.
   (D)   Fences on corner lots. No fence over three feet in height shall be permitted within a visual clearance area of any portion of the lot.
   (E)   Approved fence materials; residential. All fences shall meet the following material requirements:
      (1)   Fences in side and/or rear residential yards shall be constructed using materials suitable for residential-style fencing, including but not limited to brick, fieldstone, wrought iron, vinyl, stockade, board-on-board or wood. Chain link fences shall be a minimum of nine gauge and shall have a top rail support and shall have the knuckle portion of the fence at the top with no barbs exposed at the top; and
      (2)   Residential front yard fences shall be 50% open (see-through) and be of split rail, wrought iron or picket design. Chain link fencing is only permitted in residential front yards when the fencing remains open (see-through) and no slats or other visual barriers are attached to the fence.
   (F)   Approved fence materials; commercial and manufacturing. All fences shall meet the following material requirements: fences in commercial and manufacturing areas shall be constructed using materials suitable for commercial-style fencing, including but not limited to brick, fieldstone, wrought iron, vinyl, stockade, board-on-board or wood. Chain link fences shall be a minimum of nine gauge and shall have a top rail support.
(Ord. 2008-09, passed 7-21-2008)