(a) Front Yards and Corner Lots.
(1) As used in this section, "vision-impairing fence" includes any fence, hedge, grouping of trees, bushes or plants or other type obstruction, which impedes the ability of pedestrians, especially children, to see oncoming objects approaching from the opposite side, or impedes the ability of such oncoming objects to see pedestrians, especially children, when such pedestrians are on the front or side sidewalk or other part of the dedicated area of the street commonly used for pedestrian traffic.
(2) The erection, planting or growth of any vision-impairing fence in excess of two feet in height, or the growth of any hedges, trees, bushes, plants or combination thereof into a vision-impairing fence in excess of two feet in height shall be prohibited if such fence is located in the area between the front or side sidewalk or other part of the street commonly used for pedestrian traffic, and the front or side yard setback lines of the house. Split-rail type fences not more than three feet, six inches in height shall be permitted in such areas, but are subject to the provisions of subsection (d) hereof.
(b) Other Yard Area Locations.
(1) The erection, planting or growth of any fence in excess of six feet in height or the growth of any hedges, trees, bushes, plants or combination thereof into a solid fence in excess of six feet in height shall be prohibited.
(2) Fences between, parallel with and adjacent to habitable dwellings shall be permitted, but such fence heights shall be equal to the distance from the dwelling to the line of the fence. In no case shall the fence exceed six feet in height, except as provided in subsection (d) hereof.
(c) Display and Erection of Fence.
(1) All fences shall be erected so that the finished or decorative side of the fence faces away from the lot upon which the fence is being erected. The finished or decorative side of the fence shall at all times be displayed or erected so that the surface of the finished or decorative side is not directed toward the lot or home upon which the fence is being erected. A fence may be placed directly on the property line between two parcels.
(2) No fence permit of any kind shall be issued where the installation of the fence abuts or establishes a property line unless the applicant for the fence permit locates the survey property pins where the fence is to be located and proves such fact to the Zoning Inspector at the time of applying for the fence permit. In the event that the property pins cannot be located, then before the fence permit can be issued for a fence that abuts or established a property line, the applicant for the fence permit shall have a boundary survey prepared and sealed by a surveyor registered in the State of Ohio so that property pins are established along the property line where the fence is to be located.
(d) Approval. All fence permit applications shall be subject to the approval of the Zoning Inspector. In unusual cases, the Planning and Zoning Commission shall have the authority to vary the requirements of this section with regard to locations, height, display and type of fences, and the decision of such Commission in such regard shall be final and binding.
(e) Other Permitted Landscape Features. Landscape features such as trees, shrubs, flowers or plants shall be permitted in any required front, side or rear yard, provided that the side yard line and front yard line of a corner lot shall have no obstructions to normal sight lines for a distance of forty feet on each side of the intersection.
(Ord. 91-0-11. Passed 6-25-91; Ord. 2019-O-24. Passed 11-12-19.)