Last updated Sept 7, 2005
Director of Building Inspection, Larry Maloney, briefly outlines the regulations covering the installation and maintenance of fences or walls on private property using a question answer format.
Q. Is a building permit required to install a fence?
A. Yes.
Q. What are the height limitations of a fence or wall in a Residential Zone?
A. In any required side or rear yards a fence or wall may be six (6’) feet high maximum. In the required front yard setback area a maximum of four (4’) feet is allowed. A vision clearance triangle of fifteen (15’) feet is required where driveways meet public sidewalks on each side of a driveway. In the case of a corner lot, a fence in the side street yard may extend to six (6’) feet in height from the side street corner of the structure perpendicular to the side street property line and along the side street property line to the rear property line.
Q. How close to the lot line can a property owner erect a fence?
A. There is no setback requirement, except for fences that are adjacent to driveways (see below). The fence must be constructed solely on the property owner’s private property.
Q. Are there specific requirements at driveways or street corners?
A. Yes, no fence, shrub, hedge, decoration or wall shall be over three (3’) feet above grade at the property line if within fifteen (15’) feet along property lines at any intersection involving public sidewalks at street intersections, alleys, public or private driveways. This is to maintain a visual open area in a triangle formed by two fifteen (15’) foot sides, which run along the lot line next to public sidewalks and edges of alleys or driveways.
Also, no fence or wall shall be erected within two (2’) feet of any property line adjacent to an adjoining property which has a permanent driveway, if the fence would impede a neighboring property owner’s ability to access a driveway, alleyway, vehicular roadway, or vehicle.
Q. Which side of a fence should face the adjacent or abutting property?
A. If supporting framework or posts can be constructed to represent a backside, the fence shall be installed so that the front side faces the adjacent or abutting property.
Q. Are fences required around swimming pools?
A. Yes, all private swimming pools except “kiddie pools” shall be completely enclosed by a fence of not less than four (4’) feet in height or the height of the walls of the pool must be a minimum of four (4) feet above grade adjacent to the pool. Said fence shall have intermediate rails or an ornamental pattern such that a sphere larger than four (4”) inches in diameter cannot pass through. A “ kiddie pool” is defined as a portable pool with a maximum surface area of forty (40) square feet & twenty-four (24”) inches high.
Q. Is snow fencing allowable?
A. Snow fences may be used temporarily but in no case shall snow fences be left standing longer than six (6) months.
Q. Are any types of fences unlawful in residential areas?
A. It is unlawful to construct any barbed wire, razor wire or any electrical fences.
NOTE: Corner lots may cause some confusion as to front and side street yard, and which areas may be considered as a rear yard. Further information regarding fencing for agricultural, industrial or commercial security reasons may be obtained by contacting the Building Inspection Department at City Hall, 900 Quay Street, or by calling 686-6940.
Larry D. Maloney
DIRECTOR OF BUILDING INSPECTION
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