4-16 Maximum Height of Fences, Walls, and Hedges Purpose

To regulate the construction and maintenance of fences on public and private property. The regulations outlined in this section aim to promote safety, privacy, and aesthetic appeal while addressing potential issues such as obstructed views, property line disputes, and neighborhood cohesion. This section regulates the minimum and maximum fencing standards for residential, commercial, and manufacturing areas in Kanab City. These standards are applicable to all public and private development, unless otherwise specifically stated. A building permit is required for the construction of all fences and walls over 7 feet in height in order to ensure that the construction meets the current building codes for safety and suitability. A. All fences, walls or hedges that will be constructed along street frontage shall not be required to have a setback. B. Front Yards. Fences, walls, or hedges are allowed in the front yard provided they do not exceed a maximum height of four (4) feet. “Front yard” is defined in Chapter 1; however, for parcels or lots with homes or buildings considered nonconforming in their orientation (i.e., the home or building does not face the most proximate/adjacent street frontage), any fence, wall, or hedge must not exceed a maximum height of four (4) feet along the street frontage for an interior lot. Legal non-conforming structures, that are non-conforming as to their orientation to the closest adjacent road subsequently installed, improved and dedicated to the city may have a 6-foot fence with a zero foot setback on the street side. C. Side and Rear Yards. Fences, walls, or hedges are allowed in the side and rear yard provided they do not exceed a maximum height of eight (8) feet, shall be located outside the required front yard setback outlined in the Residential Zones and the Manufactured Home - KCR zone. D. Corner Lots. Any fence, wall or hedge within the front yard shall not exceed four (4) feet in height provided they meet the sight vision requirement outlined in F below. Any fence or wall within the side yard fronting a street is permitted provided the fence, wall or hedge does not exceed a maximum height of eight (8) feet, shall be located outside the clear sight triangle (see Figure 1 in section 4-15) and located outside the required front yard setback outlined in the Residential Zones and the Manufactured Home - KCR zone. E. Clear View at Driveways. The clear view area shall be defined by drawing a line between two (2) points that are a minimum of ten (10) feet from the driveway and street lines. Shall meet the sight vision requirements in letter F. F. Sight Vision. Fences within the clear sight triangle or clear view areas shall have a 70% visibility factor. G. Commercial and manufacturing fence regulations. 1. In C-2, C-3, and M-1 zones, a fence up to eight (8) feet in height shall be permitted on the rear, side and front property lines. When property fronts on Highway 89 and/or Highway 89A, a fence that exceeds four (4) feet in height shall be approved by conditional use permit. A fence up to ninety-six (96) Inches in height in the side and rear property lines shall be by conditional use permit. Razor or barbed wire is not allowed as fence material in the above zones. 2. Fences in M-2 and M-3 zones shall not exceed eight (8) feet in height and shall be allowed in the rear, side and front property lines. Razor or barbed wire is permitted and shall be included in the maximum fence height. When a side yard fence in a commercial or manufacturing zone is adjacent to a private or commercial driveway, the fence shall meet clear view requirements above three (3) feet height and ten (10) feet from the front property line. 3. When a fence on commercial and/or manufacturing property abuts a residential lot, the fence is required and shall be at least eight (8) feet in height in the side and rear yard and be constructed of privacy materials. H. Permitted fencing materials include: 1. Post and rail 2. Chain link 3. Wood plank, diminished lumber 4. Block or masonry wall on foundation 5. Vinyl fencing 6. Picket fencing 7. Wrought iron 8. Corrugated Metal with trim or framing around perimeter edges 9. Welded wire and smooth wire with trim or framing around perimeter edges 10.Cedar or other poles with bark 11.Rough-sawn half rounds Fence materials not permitted on residential lots include: 1. Barbed wire 2. Wire, Mesh, or Nylon Net fencing 3. Chicken wire 4. Pallets 5. Any other materials not listed as permitted. Materials listed in numbers one through three (1-3) are permitted in Rural Residential (RR-1) and Residential Agricultural (RA) zones. I. Any fencing constructed must allow free and easy access to all utility meters located within the fenced area. J. For the purpose of this Section, single shrub planting shall not constitute a hedge if the closest distance between the foliage of any two (2) plants is and remains at least five (5) feet. K. Where a fence, wall, or hedge is located along a property line separating two lots and there is a difference in the grade of the properties on the two sides of the property line, the fence, wall, or hedge may be erected or allowed to the maximum height permitted on either side of the property line. L. Fencing and walls six (6) feet in height, including protective gates, must be installed around the following: 1. in-ground swimming pools. 2. Above-ground swimming pools, jacuzzies, and similar structures that have a deck at the same grade or less than thirty-six (36”) inches from the rim of the structure. Above fence requirements may be waived if the structure has a safety cover that meets ASTM F standards per building code regulations to prevent people and animals from accidental drownings. Above-ground swimming pools, jacuzzies, and other similar structures that have a minimum of thirty-six (36”) from grade level to the rim of the structures are not required to be fenced. M. To determine the "visibility factor" of fence material as that term is used in this Ordinance, one square foot of the fence material is viewed perpendicular to its installed surface. The square inches of solid fence material contained in the square foot of fence material is subtracted from 144 to determine the square inches of open area within that square foot of fence material. The "visibility factor" is the percentage obtained by dividing the square inches of open area by 144. N. Tennis courts, sport courts, batting cages, etc.: Fence type enclosures for uses such as tennis courts, sport courts, swimming pools, ball diamond backstops, batting cages, etc., may be erected to a height greater than eight feet (8') but not more than eighteen feet (18'), including any retaining walls, provided: 1. Such enclosure does not constitute a part of a fence enclosing a property. 2. All portions of the enclosure shall be located within the rear/side enclosure area of the lot. 3. All portions of the enclosure above a height of eight feet (8') shall be non-sight obscuring. 4. The enclosure shall be set back from the property line of adjoining properties and also the main building upon the lot to which it is appurtenant for a distance of not less than twenty feet (20'). 5. On corner lots, the enclosure shall be set back not less than ten feet (10') from the street.