(A) Applicability. The standards of this section shall apply to:
(1) New fences, walls, or hedges;
(2) New development;
(3) A request for a conditional use permit;
(4) Building additions to existing buildings that expand the existing floor area by at least 20% or 2,500 square feet, whichever is less, not including single-unit dwelling units or duplexes. The addition and/or expansion shall be cumulative from the date of adoption of this code; and
(5) The demolition and reconstruction of a site.
(B) Fences, walls, hedges, and similar obstructions shall not exceed three feet in height in front yards nor six feet in height in any required rear and side yard.
(C) Notwithstanding any provision in division (A) above, in the case of corner lots, fences, shrubs, hedges, screen plantings and similar obstructions shall not exceed three feet in height within the sight distance area of a street intersection. The site distance area shall be defined as the street side of a diagonal line connecting points located 25 feet from the intersection of the property lines at the street corner.
(D) Fences shall be placed within the interior and rear property lines and set back at least 12 inches from the back of adjacent sidewalks, or from the curb or shoulder if there is no sidewalk.
(E) Fences within the city shall not be constructed of barbed wire or similar material unless a use permit is first obtained. A use permit may be granted only upon a finding by the City Manager or designee that extraordinary circumstances requiring the use of barbed wire or similar material apply to the property in question which do not generally apply to property within the city. In no event may a use permit be granted for the use of barbed wire or similar material within three feet of any public right-of-way. The City Manager or designee may require as a condition of such use permit appropriate warning signs upon the barbed wire or similarly constructed fence.
(F) In the commercial and manufacturing zoning districts, fences may be permitted in excess of seven feet in height, subject to the approval of the City Manager or designee. Said fence shall not exceed eight feet.
(G) Construction of fences in excess of the standards established in this section may be granted by a conditional use permit. The City Manager or designee may grant such a permit upon finding that extraordinary circumstances require variation from these standards. In no case may a solid fence exceed eight feet in height. The decision of the City Manager or designee may be appealed to the reviewing authority.
(Ord. 2021-03, passed 12-7-2021)