National City Municipal Code § 18.43.040 Materials, construction, and maintenance

The purpose of this chapter is to establish regulations for fences and walls. The intent is to enhance the aesthetic appearance of property by providing standards relating to the quality of design materials; to create buffers between different land uses; and to protect the public health, safety, and welfare.

(Ord. No. 2024-2529, 4-2-2024)

A. Between Land Uses.

1. Where the side or rear setback of a commercial or industrial use abuts a residential zone, those side or rear setbacks of the commercial or industrial use shall be screened from the residential zone by an opaque fence or wall with a minimum six feet and a maximum height not to exceed eight feet.

2. Where the side or rear setback of a multi-family residential use abuts a single-family residential zone, those side or rear setbacks of the multi-family residential use shall be screened from the single-family residential zone by and opaque fence or wall with a minimum six feet and a maximum height not to exceed eight feet.

(Ord. No. 2024-2529, 4-2-2024)

A. Screening.

1. Parking lots shall be screened from adjacent residential zones and adjacent streets with a five- to six-foot-high fence or wall within a five-foot-wide landscape buffer.

2. The screening requirements for parking lots may be waived when the parking lot serves the structure or use to which the parking is accessory.

3. Required screening shall be continuous, broken only for access driveways and walkways.

(Ord. No. 2024-2529, 4-2-2024)

A. Fences and Walls.

1. All fences and walls shall be constructed of new or good used material, and all fences and walls shall be kept in good repair and adequately maintained. Any dilapidated, dangerous, or unsightly fences or walls shall be removed, unless otherwise required, or repaired.

2. All masonry walls shall conform to the requirements of the California Building Code. All masonry walls require a building permit.

3. Wood fencing must be constructed using pressure-treated wood posts set in concrete footings.

4. Vinyl fencing is permitted.

5. Chain Link Fences. Chain link fencing of minimum nine-gauge wire and three and one-half inch by five-inch mesh with two and one-half inch by five-sixteenths inch redwood slats may be used in screening residential or industrial areas.

(Ord. No. 2024-2529, 4-2-2024)

A. Fences and Walls.

1. Fences and walls not exceeding eight feet in height and hedges may be located in setback areas; provided, that if located in any front setback or exterior side setback of any corner lot, they shall not exceed four feet in height, except that a residentially developed property in a residential zone may have a fence, wall or hedge not exceeding six feet in height within the exterior side setback of a corner lot.

2. Fences, walls and hedges over four feet in height shall not be permitted in the rear setback area of a reversed corner lot where such reverse corner lot abuts a front setback of the key lot at the rear.

3. The height of retaining walls contributes to the allowable height of fences and walls; provided, that within interior side setbacks and rear setbacks, the required height of screens or protective fences shall not be inhibited by the height of a retaining wall. The height of such protective fences shall be measured from the top of the retaining wall above or upon which the protective fence is placed.

a. When a fence is constructed on top of or within one foot of the face of an above-ground retaining wall, and located in a required yard, the height of the fence shall be measured from the top of the fence to the midpoint height of the retaining wall.

4. Masonry walls shall not exceed a height of eight feet. Masonry walls that include a retaining wall shall not exceed a maximum height of six feet for the masonry wall and two feet eight inches for the retaining wall.

5. Up to thirty percent of the length of a fence may exceed the height limits specified in this section by up to six inches.

(Ord. No. 2024-2529, 4-2-2024)

A. Materials.

1. The use of barbed wire, electrified fence, concertina or razor wire fence in conjunction with any fence, wall, or hedge, or by itself within any zoning district, is prohibited in residential and commercial zones unless required by law or regulation of the city, the state, or the federal government.

2. The use of barbed wire above six feet in height is only allowed in industrial zones.

3. In the Westside Specific Plan area, the use of chain link, barbed wire and razor wire fencing shall be prohibited.

(Ord. No. 2024-2529, 4-2-2024)

A. Requirements. Arbors may be placed freestanding, or at entrances along fences within required front and exterior side setbacks, subject to the following standards:

1. The height of the arbor shall not exceed ten feet.

2. The width of the arbor shall not exceed six feet between centerlines of the supports.

3. A maximum two-foot overhang is permitted on each side of the center of the supports.

4. The depth of the arbor shall be no more than two feet six inches.

5. A minimum six-foot eight-inch vertical clearance above grade is required.

6. Supports shall not exceed six inches by six inches (horizontal dimensions).

7. The arbor shall not be enclosed on any side other than where attached to a building or by an entry gate that is part of an allowed fence.

8. Arbors may encroach into the entire width of the required front or exterior side setback.

(Ord. No. 2024-2529, 4-2-2024)

A. When Allowed.

1. With the approval of a site plan, the planning division may allow view-obscuring fences to have visual openings, for security surveillance. Such openings shall not exceed twenty-four inches in width and the aggregate of openings shall not exceed fifteen percent of the linear length of the fence along any side of an enclosed area.

2. Upon recommendation of the chief of police, the planning division or building division may require that security openings be provided in view-obscuring fences constructed after the effective date of the ordinance codified in this section.

(Ord. No. 2024-2529, 4-2-2024)

A. Conditions and Restrictions. Special fences are subject to review and approval by the planning division. Staff may impose reasonable conditions or restrictions including, but not limited to, neighbor notification, setbacks and landscape screening as staff deems necessary to secure the purpose of this title and to assure compatibility of the special fence with adjoining properties and those in the general vicinity, and may require guarantees and evidence that such conditions are being, or will be, complied with.

B. Types. Special fences include, but are not limited to the following:

1. Recreation Area Fence. Fences not to exceed twelve feet in height may be located near or around tennis courts, badminton courts, batting cages, golf courses/driving ranges, basketball or volleyball courts and similar play areas, providing that all parts of the fence over six feet are made of open-wire construction or other corrosion-resistant material;

2. Security Fences. Fences not to exceed eight feet in height may be located near and around industrial, institutional, or research uses where required for security purposes, screening, or containing and protecting hazardous materials;

3. Swimming Pool Fences. Fences required for swimming pools are governed by Chapter 15.40 of the Municipal Code. Swimming pool fences are subject to building official approval.

4. Wood fence posts greater than eight inches in width or depth;

5. Front yard fence posts with more than two attached lights. In no event shall such posts exceed four feet in height plus a two-foot-high light fixture;

6. Chain link fencing in residential areas is permitted in the side and rear yards with vinyl-coating and landscape screening. Chain link fencing shall not exceed six feet in height in these areas. Chain link fencing in front yards in residential areas is not permitted;

7. Gates exceeding four feet in width for pedestrian use or fourteen feet in width for driveway use;

8. Other structures which in the opinion of the review authority are of a similar nature.

(Ord. No. 2024-2529, 4-2-2024)

A. Sight Requirements.

1. Also known as a "sight visibility triangle," each corner or reversed corner lot in the commercial and industrial zones shall maintain a yard area conforming to the traffic visibility triangle requirements as defined in Table 18.43.100, except that a single supporting column, for a cantilevered roof or second story, having a diameter of eight inches or less may be located in the triangle area.

2. A visibility triangle is the area encompassed by the triangle formed by projecting lines of a specified distance from the point of intersection of the front and side street edges of pavement and a straight line connecting the termini of said projected lines. Within the area comprising the triangle, no tree, fence, wall, shrub, or other physical obstruction higher than three feet above the official grade lot line grade shall be permitted.

3. The following traffic visibility triangles shall be established for the following intersection types as identified in Table 18.43.100 below:

TABLE 18.43.100 Traffic Visibility Triangles

(Ord. No. 2024-2529, 4-2-2024)