§ 93.02

This section is intended to provide for the regulation of location and height for walls, fences and landscaping so as to permit the maximum of enjoyment of the use of property and for the maximum of safety for persons using sidewalks and streets related thereto.

• A. Hazardous Areas.

A fence or wall may be required along the perimeter of any area which, by reason of the conditions on the property or physical hazards, such as frequent inundation, noise, erosion, excavation or grade differential, are considered by the director of planning and building to be dangerous. Such fence or wall may exceed six feet in height.

• B. Security Fencing.

Security fencing, including swimming pool safety enclosure fencing, as required by any governmental agency of jurisdiction shall be permitted, notwithstanding any other provision of this Zoning Code.

• C. Prohibited Materials.

No barbed wire, razor wire or similar material shall be permitted, except for use by governmental or quasigovernmental agencies, or unless otherwise approved by the planning commission. Except as elsewhere permitted or for use by governmental or quasi-governmental agencies, chain-link fences may not be used in front or side front yards.

• D. Protection of Intersection Visibility.

The following regulations shall apply to the intersection of streets:

1. There shall be no visual obstructions as defined in this Zoning Code within the corner cutback area. The corner cutback area is defined as the triangular area created by a 45 degree angle line on a horizontal plane connecting two points on intersecting property lines, as further defined below in subsections (D)(4) and (D)(5) of this section and as shown on Exhibit "A" located at the end of this section.

2. In the corner cutback area, visual obstructions are defined as any object that may block the view of motorists including utility vents, hills, walls, signs, street furniture or landscaping which exceeds a height of three and one-half (3½) feet above the nearest street pavement surface.

3. Exceptions: visual obstructions shall not include existing or future permanent buildings, which are otherwise constructed or maintained in accordance with applicable zoning and building regulations; public utility poles, trees trimmed at the trunk at least eight feet above

the level of the reference point as defined in this Zoning Code; provided, trees are spaced so that trunks do no create a visual barrier to official traffic or other governmental signs.

4. In residential zones, the corner cutback area shall consist of a triangular area created by the diagonal connection of two points measured 30 feet back from the intersection of the prolongation of the front and side front property lines.

5. In commercial and industrial zones, the corner cutback area shall consist of a triangular area created by the diagonal connection of two points measured 10 feet back from the intersection of the prolongation of the front and side front property lines.

6. In unusual conditions, the traffic engineer or the planning commission may establish additional or altered corner cutback areas.

• E. Height Standards.

  1. Walls and fences not exceeding six feet in height shall be permitted in all side and rear yards and alongside and rear lot lines, except as otherwise permitted by the "C-M," "M-1P," "M-1" and "M-2" zones, Sections 92.15.03(E), 92.16.03(E), 92.17.03(E) and 92.17.1.03(E). Where two such walls or fences, or one such wall and one such fence are provided along each property line separating two lots, there shall be no gap between said walls and/or fences.

  2. Except as otherwise provided in this section, all walls and fences in any front yard and side front yard may not exceed four and one-half feet in height (Exhibit D), except as otherwise permitted by the "C-M," "M-1-P," "M-1" and "M-2" zones, Sections 92.15.03(E), 92.16.03(E), 92.17.03(E), and 92.17.1.03(E). In the corner cutback area, the height of walls, fences and landscaping may not exceed three and one-half feet above the nearest street pavement surface (Exhibit A).

     • a. In residential zones, except for the R-1 zones, and except for properties which front on a secondary or major thoroughfare as indicated by the general plan, walls and fences not exceeding six feet in height may be permitted in front yard and side front yards pursuant to Section 94.04.00 (Architectural review); provided, such wall or fence is constructed of decorative masonry or metal, is no closer than five feet to the property line; and provided that, the area between the wall and the property line is landscaped and maintained by the property owner. Such walls and fences may be permitted on the property line where the subject property is located within a block wherein lots comprising 50% or more of the block frontage are developed with property line walls in excess of four and one-half (4 ½) feet in height, or if, in the opinion of the director of planning and building, a hardship exists in setting back the wall or fence from the property line.

     • b. On properties in residential zones, except for the R-1 zones, which front on a secondary or major thoroughfare as indicated by the general plan, walls and fences not exceeding six feet in height may be permitted in front yard, and side front yards pursuant to Section 94.04.00 (Architectural review); provided, such wall or fence is constructed of decorative masonry or metal; provided that, the total length of all portions of the wall parallel with the front and/or side front property line is no longer than 60% of that property line; provided, such wall is no closer than 15 feet to the property line; and provided that, the area between the wall and the property line is landscaped and maintained by the property owner.

     • c. In the R-1 zones, walls and fences not exceeding five feet in height may be permitted in front yard and side front yards; provided, such wall or fence is constructed of decorative masonry or metal; provided, such wall is no closer than five feet to the property line; and provide that, the area between the wall and the property line is landscaped and maintained by the property owner. Such walls and fences may be permitted on the property line where the subject property is located within a block

and side front yards; provided, such wall or fence is constructed of decorative masonry or metal; provided, such wall is no closer than five feet to the property line; and provide that, the area between the wall and the property line is landscaped and maintained by the property owner. Such walls and fences may be permitted on the property line where the subject property is located within a block

wherein lots comprising 50% or more of the block frontage are developed with property line walls in excess of four and one-half (4 ½) feet in height, or if, in the opinion of the director of planning and building, a hardship exists in setting back the wall or fence from the property line.

• d. In the R-1 zones, walls and fences not exceeding six feet in height may be permitted in front yard and side front yards provided such wall or fence is constructed of decorative masonry or metal, provided that the total length of all portions of the wall parallel with the front and/or side front property line is no longer than 60% of that property line, provided such wall is no closer than 15 feet to the property line, and provided that the area between the wall and the property line is landscaped and maintained by the property owner.

3. Where homes on corner lots back up to each other, as shown on Exhibit "B" (found at the end of this section), a six foot high fence or wall may be constructed within five feet of the side street property line. The five foot area between the wall and the property line is to be landscaped and maintained.

4. Where double frontage lots (lots having street frontages along both the front and rear property lines) exist, as shown on Exhibit "C" (found at the end of this section), and all houses face a common street, a six foot high wall may be constructed within five feet of the street property line in the common rear yard. The five foot area between the wall and the property line is to be landscaped and maintained pursuant to Section 94.04.00.

5. Where lots back up to or side on a fairway, walls, fences or hedges not to exceed a height of five feet may be installed on the rear or side property line. When a lot sides on an entrance to a fairway in such a manner that the normal private yards are exposed to the street, a six-foot-high wall, fence or hedge may be constructed; provided, it is reduced to a maximum of five feet in height within 20 feet of the rear property line.

6. In order to protect private property, the director may approve a fence over six feet in height along a golf course fairway at the setback line, provided the fence complies with the following regulations:

   • a. In no case shall the fence be higher than 15 feet, or the height of the main building on the subject property. Whichever is less shall apply;

   • b. The fence shall be composed of chain-link or other appropriate material completely open for light and air;

   • c. The fence shall be set back from all buildings on adjoining property a distance equal to its height;

• d. The fence shall be painted a color that will cause it to become a part of the background. To further soften its appearance, the base of such fence shall be landscaped with screen-type shrubs for a height of at least three feet.

7. Method of Height Measurement.

The height of walls, fences and landscaping, as permitted, shall be measured from the top of the existing curb grade or crown of abutting road, or natural grade or finished grade established by the planning commission or director of planning and building. In the event of adjacent properties having an elevation differential at the property line, the height shall be measured from the average grade at the property line. In the event that practical difficulties and problems of abutting street, slope of property, or other site conditions, the applicant requesting a building permit may apply for a minor modification as provided in Section 94.06.01 .

Exhibit A

==> picture [421 x 533] intentionally omitted <==

Exhibit B

==> picture [421 x 540] intentionally omitted <==

Exhibit C. Double-frontage Lots

==> picture [421 x 197] intentionally omitted <==

Exhibit D

==> picture [421 x 520] intentionally omitted <==

(Ord. 1294, 1988; Ord. 1347, 1990; Ord. 1418, 1992; Ord. 1502, 1995; Ord. 1551, 1998; Ord. 1930 § 2, 2017; Ord. 2041 § 28, 2021; Ord. 2063 § 20, 2022; Ord. 2088, 11/9/2023)