The following standards shall apply to all fences and walls located in any residential district:
A. Corner Cutoff Area. There shall be a corner cutoff area at the intersection of any two streets, a street and alley or any two alleys. Such corner cutoff area shall be measured from a point not less than thirty feet from the intersection of the two property lines. Nothing in excess of three feet in height, including landscaping, may be located within the corner cutoff area. Where due to an irregularly shaped lot or a lot on a curved street, the required corner cutoff area cannot be provided as above, an area shall be established which will adequately protect intersection visibility. Such area shall be approved by the director of planning.
B. Permitted Fences, Walls and Hedges. Fences, walls and hedges not greater than six feet in height shall be permitted at all rear and side property lines and within required rear or side yards, and at or to the rear of all front setback lines. No fence, wall or hedge over four feet in height shall be permitted in any required front yard or in the required street side of a corner lot.
C. Architectural Embellishments. Architectural embellishments such as pilasters, archways, sculptures, etc., may be permitted to project above the maximum height on any fence, hedge or wall, subject to approval of the planning director, provided that such embellishment does not significantly increase the overall average height or apparent mass of the wall.
D. Except for retaining walls, the height of the fence, wall or hedge shall be measured from the lowest finished grade on either side of any fence, wall or hedge.
E. Fences, walls and/or hedges shall be measured as a single unit if built or planted within three feet of each other.
F. Retaining WallProtecting Cut Below Natural Grade. Where a retaining wall protects a cut below natural grade and is located within three feet of a property line separating lots, such retaining wall may be topped by a fence, wall or hedge, but the height shall be measured from the highest actual finished grade on either side.
G. Retaining WallContaining Fill. When a retaining wall contains a fill, the height of the retaining wall built to retain the fill shall be considered as contributing to the permissible height of a fence, solid wall or hedge providing that in any event a protective fence or wall not more than forty-two inches in height, as measured from the grade retained, may be erected at the top of such retaining wall and any portion of such fence, wall or hedge above the otherwise permitted height shall comply with Section 20.04.291, Fence.
H. Nothing in this section shall be deemed to set aside or reduce the requirements for fencing by local, state or federal law or regulation.
(Ord. 93-03- 1152 § 4 (part): Ord. 89-09-1040 § 1 (part): Ord. 84-08-929 § 2: prior code § 19.52.200(10) (Ord. 557 § 306(N)(10), 1964))