(A) General. The following standards shall apply to all fences and walls in all zoning districts unless otherwise noted.
(1) Fences and walls shall be maintained in good order.
(2) Fences shall not contain advertising, signs, logos or other lettering unless expressly permitted by the Zoning Administrator.
(3) Where a fence or wall is used as part of required screening, all required vegetation shall be planted on the exterior side of the fence or wall (exterior to the lot).
(4) Fences and walls shall be installed and maintained so as not to interfere with the sight distance requirements of this article or the sight distance needs of drivers in parking areas and at entrance and exit locations.
(B) Material and design. The following standards shall apply to all fences and walls in all zoning districts, unless otherwise noted.
(1) Chain link and other wire material fences shall not be permitted in a front setback along any street except in the GI and SP Districts except that such may be placed on the inside of a split rail or other wooden fence or is screened by vegetation. This standard shall not apply to publicly owned tennis courts and ballfields.
(2) Security walls and fences shall be accompanied by vertical landscaping to screen the wall or fence from view except for uses located within the GI and SP Districts where the uses do not abut a residential use or residentially zoned lot.
(3) Razor wire, concertina wire and similar high security fencing material shall not be used in any area unless substantially screened from public view and shall only be permitted in the CB, GI and SP Districts.
(4) Barbed wire shall be permitted in the OSR District where it is accessory to a permitted agricultural use and in the CB, GI and SP Districts.
(5) Electric fencing shall only be permitted in the OSR District where it is accessory to a permitted agricultural use.
(6) Walls and fences used for landscaping or screening shall be constructed of masonry, stone, wood, vinyl or a material similar in composition and appearance as the principal building. The walls and fences shall be opaque or shall be of a design approved by the Zoning Administrator.
(7) Fences and walls within a development shall be compatible in design and material.
(8) Unfinished concrete block walls shall not be permitted within any required yard.
(C) Height. The following height limitations shall apply to all fences and walls unless otherwise required by this article.
(1) In any Residential or Mixed Use District, the maximum height of fences and walls shall be four feet above grade when located within a required yard adjacent to a public street and a maximum of six feet when located within any required side or rear yard not located adjacent to a public street.
(2) In the HC and CB Districts, the maximum height of fences and walls shall be four feet above grade when located within a required yard adjacent to a public street and a maximum of six feet when located within any required side or rear yard not located adjacent to a public street.
(3) In the SP and GI Districts, the maximum height of fences and walls shall be six feet above grade when located within a required yard adjacent to a public street and a maximum of eight feet when located within any required side or rear yard not located adjacent to a public street. However, screening walls may be constructed to a height which effectively screens mechanical equipment, loading docks and similar service equipment from public and private streets and property lines. Screening walls shall be constructed to architecturally match the principal building requiring service and utility equipment. Any such wall shall maintain a setback from the public right-of-way or property line equal to the height of the wall. Vertical landscaping shall be installed between the public street or property line and the wall to reach a mature height of at least 75% of the height of the screening wall.
(2003 Code, § 8-3.5.2) (Updated 2009)