(A) Prior permit, discussion and approval shall be required from the agent of the City of Peru Plan Commission prior to fence installation.
(1) Any fence or exterior barrier shall be constructed so that the sub-structural portion of the wall (a.k.a. post, columns and support rails etc.) will face inward (a.k.a. finished side facing outward).
(2) (a) Barbed wire, razor wire, or sharpened fence top spikes shall not be allowed on any type fencing within any residentially zoned areas. No electric fencing shall be allowed within the corporate boundaries to the City of Peru with the exception of invisible type pet fencing. Electric fencing for livestock shall be allowed only within the two mile (3.22 km) fringe area to the City of Peru.
(b) Exceptions will be allowed for chain link fencing with a barbed wire/razor wire top collar to be erected and/or installed in residential areas for the purposes of enclosing properties for the protection of equipment and/or materials and the safety and well being of the general public. Example would be electric substation sites, domestic well water pump stations, water booster stations, water towers, cellular/communication towers, sanitary lift stations, natural gas regulator stations, etc.
(c) Prior discussion and approval shall be required from the agent of City of Peru Plan Commission prior to fence installation at said specified sites.
(3) All pre-manufactured decorative wall block shall be installed as specified by the manufacturer for the safety of the general public and adjoining properties.
(4) All fencing, regardless of materials, shall be installed to the most current manufacturer's standards and specification relating to that particular type of fencing.
(5) Fencing shall be securely attached to the required fence post/columns and sub-structure with no part of the fence or fence post/columns or its sub-structure leaning and/or encroaching upon adjoining properties, sidewalks, parking lots, alleys, streets, roadways, easements and/or public right-of- ways.
(6) Footers for concrete walls, decorative block, standard masonry block, etc. shall not be extending beyond the adjoining property line or public right-of-ways.
(7) All fence post/columns (a.k.a. treated wood, vinyl, steel and/or metal post, etc.) shall be installed at a minimum depth of no less than 36 inches (91.44 cm) below finished grade.
(8) Correct on center spacing of fence post/ columns and their placement shall be as follows:
(a) Wood post/columns shall be placed no greater than eight feet (2.44 meters) on center;
(b) Vinyl post/columns shall be placed six feet (1.83 meters) to eight feet (2.44 meters) on center (check manufacturer's specifications and/or recommendations relating to specific vinyl fence design);
(c) Chain link post/columns shall be placed no greater than ten feet (3.05 meters) on center.
(9) Commercial and/or industrial zoned areas shall be no greater in height than eight feet, with prior approval of the agent of City of Peru Plan Commission.
(10) Fences shall be no greater than eight feet in height along the side and rear of the front properties with Zoning Administrator approval, not greater than four feet in height along the front property line in all residential zoned areas. Fences shall be at least 18 inches (45.72 cm) from the alley, all gates will swing inward. It is recommended that fences are erected at least one inch (2.54 cm) inside the side property line and posts shall be placed inside toward the property of fence owner.
(11) Fences shall be set no closer than two feet from any public right-of- way where sidewalks do not exist.
(12) Fences shall be set no closer than four inches (10.2 cm) from the front property corners. Any exceptions shall be at the discretion of the City of Peru Plan Commission per recommendation the agent of said Commission. (See division (A)(5) for reference to sidewalk encroachment.)
(13) Fences shall not exceed a vertical height of four feet (1.22 meters) for the first eight feet (2.44 meters) of horizontal distance, being extending from the front property line setback point along adjoining property lines or property corners.
(14) (a) No fence shall be used as a billboard for the purpose of permanent advertisements for any commercial and/or industrial use of any nature or used as a means of displaying other signs with the exception of a temporary "special occasion" sign installed by the property owner in residential zoned areas.
(b) Examples of a "special occasion" sign shall be defined as but not limited to temporary advertisement for a birthday, anniversary, graduation, wedding and/or receptions, etc.
(15) Snow fencing of any nature shall be considered a seasonal fence and shall not be allowed within the corporate boundaries of the City of Peru. However, snow fencing shall be allowed within the two mile fringe area, adjoining the corporate limits to the City of Peru.
(16) (a) All solid fencing, being made of wood, aluminum, metal, steel, tin and/or vinyl materials shall be of uniform/standard lengths and widths with no splicing of sections. Any used materials shall be free of dents, holes, tears, etc.
(b) Any other type color schemes pertaining to a concrete, masonry block/brick walled fence shall be brought before the City of Peru Plan Commission for discussion and/or approval.
(17) Adjoining property lines and property corners shall be verified prior to installing any fence post, columns or fencing.
(18) Fences, hedges, and barrier walls cannot restrict an adjoining property owner from doing regular repairs and maintenance on his or her property.
(19) The City of Peru Plan Commission in all cases can have the final determination of where a fence shall be placed and/or erected per recommendation the agent of said Commission.
(B) Examples of commonly used fencing materials.
(1) Wood style fencing: standard woods such as redwood, cedar, pine, spruce, and/or oak should be considered for this type of fence. Other wood fencing such as cedar split rail, pre-stain/treated or painted wood/plastic lattice could be utilized.
(2) (a) Concrete, masonry block, pre- manufactured decorative wall block or brick with a sub-surface footer.
(b) (Exception: Pre-manufactured landscaping yard block, specifically designed and used for the exterior lining of flower beds, garden areas and/or edging shall not be used for solid wall fencing.
(3) Vinyl fencing/plastic, solid in nature or decorative post/rail construction.
(4) Chain link.
(5) Decorative steel.
(6) Wrought iron fencing.
(7) Aluminum sheet metal/tin.
(C) Unacceptable items/materials for fences for fence posts. Items such as but not limited to automobiles, automobile parts, trucks, truck parts, RVs, mobile homes, flat bed or box style semi-trailers, boats, amphibious vehicles, ATVs, lawn mowers, farm tractors, farm implements, dumpsters, tires, tire rims, railroad ties, utility poles, cross arms, barrels of any type material, wood pallets, garage doors, rubber or plastic/vinyl tarps, timbered fire wood or kindling, pre-cast concrete barriers, cable or conductor reels of any material, plastic/vinyl conduit shall not be utilized or constitute appropriate materials for the construction of a fence, fence post and/or support column.
(Ord. 8, 2013, passed 4-1-13; Am. Ord. 28, 2014, passed 9-2-14; Am. Ord. 33, 2015, passed 11-2-15; Am. Ord. 20, 2019, passed 11-6-19; Am. Ord. 21, 2023, passed 10-2-23)