Chapter 18.34 — FENCES, WALLS, AND HEDGES

• A. Purpose. The purpose of this chapter is to establish requirements for fences, walls, and hedges to ensure that these elements do not unnecessarily block views and sunlight; provide adequate buffering between different land uses; provide screening of outdoor uses and equipment; and provide for the mitigation of noise. These requirements are designed to provide aesthetic enhancement of the County.

• B. Applicability. The regulations in this chapter shall apply to all fences, walls, and hedges, unless otherwise stated. These regulations do not apply to fences, walls, or hedges required by State or Federal agencies, or by the County for reasons of public safety.

• (Ord. 1976 § 2, 2019)

• A. Height Measurement. Fence, wall, and hedge height shall be measured as the vertical distance between the highest finished grade of the ground abutting the fence and the top edge of the fence, wall, or hedge. Adjacent grades shall not be artificially elevated to allow for a fence, wall, or hedge that is higher than the allowable maximum height.

• B. Height Measurement, Corner Lots. On a corner lot, fences, walls, hedges, or visual obstructions in the side yard adjacent to the street that exceed two feet, six inches above finished grade shall be set back a minimum of 16 feet from the face of curb. In the case where a corner lot abuts the driveway side of a key lot or an alley, a fence, wall, hedge, or visual obstruction over three feet above the sidewalk shall be measured from the edge of the right-of-way.

• C. Maximum Allowed Height. Fences, walls, and hedges are subject to the maximum height requirements in Section 18.34.030 (Fence, Wall, and Hedge Standards).

• D. Sight Distance Triangle. No fence, wall, or hedge higher than two feet, six inches above the nearest roadway surface shall be installed or maintained within the sight distance triangles at public roadway intersections and private driveways. The dimensions of these sight distance triangles, and any exceptions, shall be determined by the County Department of Public Works (County Code Chapter 13.24 (Sight Distance at Public Intersections and Private Driveways)).

• E. Allowed Fence and Wall Materials.

  1. Fences. Fence materials may include wood, chain link, PVC (formed to resemble fence pickets or panels), wire mesh, steel mesh, stake, louvered glass, and other similar materials. Landscaped areas with plantings shall be regulated to maintain the required open areas in the fence structure.

  2. Walls. Wall materials shall include concrete, concrete block, wood, or any other similar materials that are solid and are assembled as to form a solid barrier.

  3. Security Fencing. Barbed wire, electric fence, razor wire, and other similar materials are only allowed in agricultural and industrial zones.

• F. Prohibited Fence and Wall Materials.

  1. Residential Zones. The use of barbed wire is not permitted in residential zones. There shall be no sharp wire or projections along the top of any fence or wall less than six feet in height. The use of electrified fencing or razor wire in conjunction with any fence, wall, roof, hedge, or by itself within any urban land use zone is prohibited unless required by any law or regulation of the County, State, Federal, or agency; with exceptions as approved by the Director.

  2. Commercial and Mixed-Use Zones. Barbed wire, electric fencing, razor wire, and other similar materials are not permitted in commercial zones.

• (Ord. 1976 § 2, 2019)

• A. Purpose. All fences, walls, and hedges in all zones shall comply with the standards specified in this section.

• B. Residential Zones. Standards for fences, walls, and hedges are required as indicated in Table 3-1 (Residential Zone Fence, Wall, and Hedge Standards), by location, height, and type.

• C. Agricultural, Commercial, Mixed-Use, and Industrial Zones. Standards for fences, walls, and hedges are required as indicated in Table 3-2 (Agricultural, Commercial, Mixed-Use, and Industrial Zone Fence, Wall, and Hedge Standards), by location, height, and type.

• D. Corner Lots. For setbacks for fences, walls, and hedges on corner lots see Figure 3-3 (Fence, Wall, and Hedge Heights on Corner Lots).

Figure 3-3 Fence, Wall, and Hedge Heights on Corner Lots

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• E. Additional Fence, Wall, and Hedge Regulations.

  1. Building Permit Required. Fences and walls higher than seven feet require a Building Permit.

  2. Maximum Height. The limitations shall not apply in the following instances: (a) where a greater height is required by any other provision of this Code; (b) where a greater height or type of fence, wall, or hedge is required by a condition of approval.

  3. Residential Zones. Masonry walls and fences in any residential zone that are seven feet in height may include one foot of the seven feet as lattice or similar material that allows filtration of natural light.

  4. Right-of-Way. See Article 8 (Definitions).

  5. Sight Triangles. All requirements shall comply with the site distance area found in County Code Chapter 13.24 (Sight Distance at Public Intersections and Private Driveways).

• (Ord. 1976 § 2, 2019)

• A. Emergency Access. Where view slots are desired in perimeter walls/fences for major subdivisions, posts, bollards, or other types of open barriers may be installed between the side yard fences, at the ends of cul-de-sacs. This may be appropriate when walls/fences parallel rights-of-way to prevent unauthorized vehicle access but still provide emergency access. When a cul-de-sac provides a secondary access point for emergency services, a minimum of 20-foot-wide opening shall be provided that may be obstructed by a chain that can be opened by police or fire emergency personnel, See Figure 3-4 (Fences, Walls, and Hedges at Ends of Cul-de-Sacs).

• B. Permitted Design. Walls and fences shall be designed to blend with the site's architecture and landscape plan.

Figure 3-4 Fences, Walls, and Hedges at Ends of Cul-de-Sacs

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(Ord. 1976 § 2, 2019)

Where screening is required in this Code or as a condition of approval, a combination of materials shall be used, including solid masonry walls, wood or chain link fences, berms, and landscaping (See also Section 18.36.050(F) General Landscape Standards: Screening). (Ord. 1976 § 2, 2019)

• A. Acoustical Analysis Required. The General Plan Health and Safety Element requires development project applicants to prepare an acoustical analysis as part of the environmental review process, when noise-sensitive land uses are proposed in areas exposed to existing or projected exterior noise levels exceeding the levels shown in Table HS-1 and/or Table HS-2 of the Health and Safety Element of the General Plan. Additionally, an analysis of groundborne vibration is required for proposed residential and other sensitive land uses (e.g., hospitals and schools) located within 1,000 feet of a rail line (with at least 30 operations per day), or an existing industrial groundborne vibration source.

• B. Reduce Noise Impacts. Projects located near noise impacted areas are required to incorporate measures into the project, such as building orientation, setbacks, and natural barriers (e.g., earthen berms and vegetation) that reduce the noise impacts to an acceptable level. When required by an acoustical analysis or an analysis of groundborne vibration, a noise barrier shall meet the following minimal structural requirements described in the acoustical analysis and may include:

  1. Walls and Fences. Walls and fences shall not exceed the allowable fence height of seven feet. A wall or fence shall also include landscaping to prevent graffiti and enhance aesthetics.

  2. Trees and Shade Trees.

     • a. Trees shall be provided at 30-foot intervals if adjacent to a wall or fence; or

     • b. Shade trees shall be provided at 30-foot intervals if the wall or fence is adjacent to a sidewalk or bike path.

  3. Screening. A wall or fence shall be screened 50 percent, at maturity, with bushes or vines, and trees, when visible from the public rights-of-way. The landscaping may be used in combination with anti-graffiti paint until the landscaping has grown in to cover the wall.

  4. Required Fencing Materials. Fence materials shall include one of the following types of materials:

     • a. Masonry or stucco on both sides of a wooden frame;

     • b. Masonry walls; or

     • c. Board and batten wood fences.

• C. Landscaped Berm. A berm may be used in combination with a wall and fence. The total berm/wall and fence height shall not exceed the allowable fence height of seven feet. The berm shall be landscaped to prevent erosion and add visual interest. See Figure 3-5 (Noise Barrier Wall/Berm with Landscaping).

Figure 3-5 Noise Barrier Wall/Berm with Landscaping

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(Ord. 1976 § 2, 2019)