9-400.040 - FENCING AND SCREENING

(a)

General Standards. All fencing and screening shall comply with the provisions of this Section, unless otherwise specified.

(1)

Placement. Fences and screens may be constructed anywhere on a lot.

(2)

Height Limits in Required Yards. Fencing and screening shall not exceed the height limits specified in subsection (b).

(3)

Height Limits Outside Required Yards. The height of fencing and screening outside required yards shall not exceed the height limits for accessory buildings.

(4)

Gates. Any gate shall meet the applicable fence height and setback requirements. Any gate, other than gates for pedestrian use only, shall be set back or recessed a minimum of 10 feet unless there are at least 16 feet between the property line and the edge of the travelled roadway, in which case the setback requirement is waived. For distances less than 16 feet, a proportionate reduction may be granted upon review and approval by the Zoning Administrator.

(5)

Fences Adjacent to "Restricted" or "Nonaccess" Property. A fence up to eight feet in height may be constructed on the lot line when that line is shown as "restricted" or "nonaccess" on a recorded map. If adjacent to a roadway, intersection and driveway visibility standards may limit the fence height; see Section 9-400.120.

(b)

Fencing Standards. Unless otherwise specified, fencing shall be permitted, but not required, and shall comply with the provisions of this Section.

(1)

Height Limits and Required Setbacks. Table 9-400.040-B establishes height limits for closed fences, which create a solid barrier, and open fences, which have separations allowing views into the interior of the lot at a ratio of 2:1, open to closed.

(2)

Fencing Materials. Fence materials may include wood, chain link, fence pickets or panels, wire mesh, and other similar materials. The use of barbed wire, razor wire, and electrified fencing, except where allowed by Section 9-400.040(c), is prohibited in and adjacent to Residential zones. Alternative fencing materials may be approved by the Zoning Administrator. If bushes, trees, or other plantings are used as alternative fencing material, they must meet the fencing height and setback requirements.

(A)

Prohibited Materials. Corrugated plastic or iron, steel, aluminum, and asbestos are specifically prohibited. Chain link fencing with slats may be approved at the discretion of the Zoning Administrator in combination with another material.

(B)

Required Materials Backing Up To or Abutting a Public Roadway. In new residential subdivisions, the required material for perimeter fencing abutting or backing up to a public roadway is masonry.

(3)

Special Fencing Requirements.

(A)

Playing Courts. The fence height limit may be waived for playing courts if the playing court is in a side or rear yard and open type fencing material is used.

(B)

Swimming Pools. All pools shall be enclosed per the requirements of the California Building Code and this Title and any additional requirements of the Building Code.

(C)

Levees.

(i)

Any fence next to a levee shall conform to the requirements for Levees in Chapter 9-703, Flood Hazards.

(ii)

The height of any fence or wall located at the toe of a levee may be increased to eight feet where otherwise restricted to a lower height subject to the review and approval of the Zoning Administrator.

(4)

Special Fencing Requirements for Agricultural Zones.

(A)

Security Fencing. Security fencing, not to exceed two feet in height, may be erected on top of required or permitted fencing.

(5)

Special Fencing Requirements for Commercial, Industrial, and Other Non-Residential Zones.

(A)

Fencing of Required Yards. An open fence up to eight feet in height is permitted in any required yard, provided it is constructed of open material and does not obstruct vehicular site distance.

(B)

Security Fencing. Security fencing, not to exceed two feet in height, may be erected on top of required or permitted fencing except for fencing abutting a permitted residential use, a Residential zone, or an area shown on the General Plan for residential use.

(c)

Electrified Security Fencing. The Zoning Administrator may permit electrified security fences in Industrial, Commercial, and Agricultural zones subject to the following development standards.

(1)

Uses and Locations.

(A)

The Zoning Administrator may authorize electrified security fences for any uses in the I-W (Warehouse), I-P (Industrial Park), I-L (Limited Industrial), I-G (General Industrial), AG (General Agricultural), AL (Limited Industrial), AI (Agricultural Industry) and AU (Agriculture Urban Reserve) zones.

(B)

The Zoning Administrator may authorize electrified security fences in the C-C (Community Commercial), C- G (General Commercial), C-RS (Rural Service Commercial), and C-X (Crossroad Commercial) zones only for the following land uses:

(i)

Auction sales—Indoor, outdoor;

(ii)

Automotive sales and services—Automotive rentals, automotive repairs (light), automotive repairs (heavy), automotive sales, operable vehicle storage, parking;

(iii)

Communication services—Towers

(iv)

Construction service;

(v)

Equipment sales and repair—Farm machinery sales and leisure;

(vi)

Marinas;

(vii)

Nursery sales and landscaping services;

(viii)

Truck Services;

(ix)

Utilities; and

(x)

Warehousing, storage, and distribution.

(2)

Warning Signs. The electrified security fence shall be clearly identified by installing prominently placed warning signs that are legible from both sides of the fence. At minimum, the warning signs shall meet the following criteria:

(A)

The warning signs are placed at each gate and access points, and at intervals along the fence not exceeding 30 feet.

(B)

The warning signs are adjacent to any other signs relating to chemical, radiological, or biological hazards.

(C)

The warning signs are marked with a written warning or a commonly recognized symbol for shock.

(D)

The minimum dimensions for each sign are nine inches by 12 inches.

(3)

Power. The primary power voltage for an electrified security fence shall not exceed 12 DC volts maximum. The electrified security fence shall only be electrified when the business it is protecting is closed to the public.

(4)

Height. The height of an electrified security fence may exceed the height of the protective barrier, which is subject to the limits of Table 9-400.040-B, by two feet, provided the overall fence height is not more than 10 feet.

(5)

Setbacks. Setbacks between the protective barrier and an electrified security fence are required as follows:

(A)

Any opening in the perimeter protective barrier that is less than or equal to three inches shall require a minimum 12-inch setback for the electrified security fence.

(B)

Any opening in the perimeter protective barrier that is greater than three inches but no more than six inches shall require a minimum three-foot setback for the electrified security fence, or an approved mesh or equivalent material, with openings not to exceed three inches, shall be installed on the protective barrier.

(C)

When abutting a Residential zone, a protective barrier consisting of a minimum six-foot high solid wooden fence or block wall shall require a minimum 12-inch setback for the electrified security fence. Any other protective barrier proposed adjacent to a Residential zone is required to have mesh installed, as approved by the Zoning Administrator, as a secondary protective barrier, that is a minimum of six feet in height and is setback 12 inches from the electrified security fence.

(6)

Knox Box. Before the electrified security fence is electrified, a Fire Marshall approved Knox Box providing for emergency access to enable the electrification to be turned off shall be installed and the security fence shall be inspected by the Fire Department. The Knox Box shall be fully operational at all times when the electrified security fence is operational. If at any time the Knox Box is not operational, the electrified security fence cannot be activated.

(7)

Required Permits. A building permit is required for electrified security fences in any commercial zone and for any electrified security fence exceeding seven feet in height.

(d)

Screening Standards.

(1)

Materials. Screening shall include the installation and maintenance of one, or a combination, of the following elements:

(A)

Plant materials;

(B)

Fencing;

(C)

Walls; or

(D)

Berms.

(2)

Prohibited Materials. Corrugated plastic or iron, steel, aluminum, and asbestos are specifically prohibited. Chain link fencing with slats may be approved at the discretion of the Zoning Administrator in combination with another material.

(3)

Special Screening Requirements.

(A)

Screening Adjoining Residential Areas.

(i)

If a commercial or industrial development project will abut a Residential zone or a conforming residential use, screening six to eight feet in height shall be erected along the abutting lot line.

(ii)

If an agricultural development project will abut a Residential zone or a conforming residential use and development is proposed within 50 feet of the abutting property line, screening six feet to eight feet in height shall be erected. Driveways are exempt from this requirement.

(B)

Screening of Commercial Storage Area. All storage materials and related activities, including storage areas for trash, shall be screened so as not to be visible from adjacent properties and public rights-of-way. Screening shall be between six and eight feet in height. Outside storage is not permitted in front yards, street side yards, or in front of main buildings. Exceptions can be approved by the Zoning Administrator.

(C)

Screening of Industrial Storage Areas.

(i)

All storage materials and related activities, including storage areas for trash, shall be screened so as not to be visible from adjacent properties and public rights-of-way. This screening shall be between six and eight feet in height. Items stored within 100 feet of a public street or a Residential zone shall not be stacked higher than two feet above the adjacent screen. Exceptions can be approved by the Zoning Administrator.

(ii)

All exterior electrical cage enclosures and storage tanks shall be screened from view from adjacent public streets and Residential zones.

(4)

Maintenance. All required screening materials shall be maintained in good condition by the property owner and, whenever necessary, repaired or replaced.

(e)

Noise Attenuation Walls. As a Condition of Approval for a discretionary permit, the Review Authority may require walls, fences, berms, and/or landscaping for the purpose of noise attenuation in any zone to meet the standards in Chapter 9-404 when adjacent to a high noise generator, such as a major roadway or railroad. Where noise attenuation walls are required, height and yard restrictions for walls that would otherwise apply may be waived by the Review Authority upon review of a noise study, if necessary, for effective noise reduction.

(Ord. No. 4623, §§ 17, 18, 5-2-2023; Ord. No. 4632, § 11, 9-26-2023; Ord. No. 4671, §§ 24, 25, 5-13-2025)