The regulations in this section apply to walls and fences for single-unit, duplex, and multi-unit dwelling developments.
A. Front yards and street side yards. Walls or fences not exceeding 4 feet in height may be placed along the front and street side property lines or within the front-yard and street side-yard setback areas, subject to the following exceptions.
1. Exception-Welded-metal fences. A decorative, open wrought-iron or tubular-steel fence not exceeding 6 feet in height may be placed along the front and street side property lines or within the front-yard and street side-yard setback areas.
a. This exception does not authorize solid walls or fences composed of chain link, woven wire, wood, or materials other than open wrought iron or tubular steel.
b. A post or pilaster, consisting of masonry, brick, or other solid material, not exceeding 18 inches square and 6 feet tall, may be used to support a wrought iron or tubular steel fence at a minimum distance between posts of 6 feet.
2. Exception-Chain link and woven-wire fences. Chain link and woven-wire fences are prohibited within the front-yard and street side-yard setback areas.
3. Exception-Street side-yard setback area.
a. Fence location. A fence or wall not exceeding 6 feet in height may be placed within the street side-yard setback area if it is either located at least five feet from the street side property line or is placed on a line parallel to the street and that represents the extension of the wall of the main building that is nearest to the street.
b. Landscaping requirement. Climbing vines, shrubs, or trees shall be planted along the base of that portion of the wall or fence that fronts a public street. The remaining setback area between the wall or fence and property line shall be landscaped with grass or other low groundcover. All plants shall be properly irrigated and maintained. Only living vegetation may be used to meet the landscaping requirements.
4. Exception-Gate feature. A decorative gateway feature is permitted if the feature has a maximum height of 10 feet, a maximum length of 8 feet, and a maximum width of 24 inches.
B. Rear yard and interior side yard.
1. Except as provided in subparagraphs a and b below, a wall or fence not exceeding 6 feet in height may be placed along the rear or interior side property lines or within the rear or interior side yard setback area.
a. A wall or fence not exceeding 8 feet in height may be placed along a rear or interior side property line that abuts a school, park, alley, or other nonresidential use.
b. A development abutting a freeway or railroad may construct a solid wall up to 12 feet in height for purposes of sound attenuation. The wall shall comply with the development standards for sound walls in article III.
2. A decorative gateway feature is permitted as long as the feature has a maximum height of 10 feet, a maximum length of 8 feet, and a maximum width of 24 inches.
3. Fences exceeding 6 feet in height are allowed outside the required rear-yard and interior side-yard setback areas.
C. Multi-unit dwelling-Wall requirement.
1. A multi-unit dwelling located on a single parcel shall provide a minimum of 6-foot high solid wall of masonry, brick, or similar material along all property lines that border the on-site parking lot and which abut a single-unit dwelling, duplex dwelling, or a lot within any of the zoning districts in chapter 17.204.
2. The 6-foot wall shall not extend into any required front-yard or street side-yard setback of the multi-unit dwelling development or adjacent residential development.
3. The height of the wall in the front-yard or street side-yard setback area shall comply with subsection A of this section.
D. Concertina wire; barbed wire.
1. Concertina wire, serpentine wire, barbed wire, razor wire, and other similar fencing materials capable of inflicting significant physical injury is prohibited, unless required by court order or allowed pursuant to subsection D.2.
2. A site plan and design review deviation under article I of chapter 17.808 to allow use of these fencing materials may be approved if the decision maker finds that use of these fencing materials is reasonably necessary to protect persons or property and will not constitute a safety hazard to members of the public conducting themselves in a lawful manner.
3. These fencing materials shall not protrude into or over the public right-of-way. (Ord. 2019-0006 § 14; Ord. 2013-0020 § 1; Ord. 2013-0007 § 1)