Buffer strips, fences, walls or hedges used for any purpose shall, in all districts, conform to the following.
(A) (1) Whenever a commercial, multi-family or industrial district abuts a residential district or is across a street, alley or similar obstacle from a residential district, a buffer strip of landscaping and/or other treatment shall be required. If a buffer strip is live landscaping, a temporary artificial screening shall be provided until such time as landscape screening reaches maturity. Width shall be 20 feet, except that between areas zoned “I” and the designated zones, the width shall be 30 feet.
(2) Where an existing “SR-1” abuts a district requiring a buffer, the minimum setback from the buffer in that district requiring a buffer shall be ten feet providing that a street does not come between the districts.
(B) No new permanent barbed wire or electrically charged fence less than eight feet in height shall be erected or maintained anywhere except in connection with agricultural uses; when the agricultural use abuts a property line or a public right-of-way, the use of such fencing shall require the issuance of a special use permit.
(C) No fence, wall or other obstruction shall be erected on or within three feet of any alley or public right-of-way; temporary barricades shall require the written permission of the Zoning Administrator.
(D) No fence, wall or other obstruction shall be erected in violation of the Illinois Drainage Code (70 ILCS 605/2-1 through 605/2-13).
(E) No fence, wall or other obstruction shall exceed eight feet in height in any district except the industrial district where the maximum height shall not exceed ten feet; exemption: planting screen; in addition, in areas near street intersections, special height restrictions shall be applicable to fences, walls or other obstructions. (See § 155.048.)
(F) No fence, wall or other obstruction shall be erected in any front yard setback area, with the exception of landscape fences specifically approved by the Zoning Administrator. (See definition of “landscape fence”, § 155.021.)
(G) No fence, wall or other obstruction shall be erected on or within two feet of a property line without the mutual consent of the abutting property owners; in such instances, an applicant for an initial certificate of zoning compliance shall include on the application a statement to the effect that abutting property owners are aware of the type and proposed location of the fence, wall or other obstruction to be erected and have given their written consent.
(H) No fence, wall or other obstruction which completely encloses a lot shall be erected without the provision of a gate or similar type of moveable barrier for accessibility.
(1999 Code, § 40-5-3) (Ord. 5/9/2000-1, passed 5-9-2000)