10-12-3 Fence And Wall Regulations Within Setbacks

A. Residential Maximum Height (from sidewalk or road grade) 1. Front Yard: 4 feet 2. Side Yard, Interior Lot: 6 feet 3. Rear Yard: 6 feet 4. Side Yard and Rear Yard on a Street a. If a fence is installed on the property line, a four (4) foot solid fence is permitted. If a greater than four (4) foot fence is desired, the entire fence must be 70% transparent and may not be taller than six (6) feet. b. In areas where the conditions listed below are present, an up to six (6) foot solid fence is allowed. Measure the actual condition(s) present and use the following formulas to determine the fence set back from the edge of the asphalt road pavement if pavement exists, and if pavement does not exist, c. Then from the edge of the unpaved roadway. Use a value of zero (0.0) if a condition does exist. Required Fence Setback (RSB) Sidewalk (S) Curb (C) Rolled Curb (RC) Curb/Gutter (CG) Park Strip (P) Present Required Set Back (SB) Standard River Heights Widths Sidewalk Curb Rolled Curb/gutter Standard Curb/Gutter Park Strip Present Required Set Back Property line from sidewalk Feet 4.0 0.5 2.0 2.5 4.0 14.5 1.0 If there is a curb/gutter present: RSB = SB – S – CG - P If there is curb only use: RSB = SB – S – RC- P Examples: 1. If only sidewalk is present: RSB = 14.5 – 0.0 – 2.5 – 4.0 = 8.0 ft from edge of paved asphalt (using standard widths). 2. If only curb/gutter and sidewalk: RSB = 14.5 - 0.0 – 0.0 – 4.0 = 10.5 ft from edge of paved asphalt (using standard widths). d. Minimum distance allowed: A six foot (6) solid fence is allowed if it is eight feet (8) from the edge of the paved asphalt road or four feet (4) from the existing sidewalk or property line, whichever is greater. (4-2019, 8-13-19) B. Nonresidential Maximum Height (from sidewalk or road grade) 1. Front yard: 8 feet 2. Side yard: 8 feet 3. Rear yard: 8 feet C. No Permit Required: The City does not issue permits for fences, HOWEVER, fences built outside city code regulations will be brought into compliance at the owners’ expense. Property lines need to be verified by the owner of record. (3-2023, 5-2-23) D. Fire hydrants and water meters shall not have access blocked by fences or walls for a radius of four (4) feet. Access shall be totally open and unrestricted. (7-2024, 11-19-24) On a drainage or irrigation easement, an owner may fence their property, but the water flow cannot be interrupted and must allow full access to the holder of the easement for the purpose of the easement. This may require gates to access the property with both foot traffic and equipment required to maintain the ditch or pipe. It is the responsibility of the property owner to contact those who own the easements to get approval of the fence, gate, etc. E. Replacement of a Fence or Wall: When replacing an existing fence/wall, the new fence/wall must be brought into compliance with the current city code. F. No Chain Link: Chain link is not allowed in the front yard, side yards on a street, and rear yards on a street. G. Corner Lots: When the rear yard of a corner lot is adjacent to the front yard of a neighboring lot, a six foot (6’), 70% transparent fence is allowed in the part of the corner lot’s rear and side yard that is adjacent to the neighboring lot’s front-yard setback area (see Figure 10-12-3). All fences on corner lots shall comply with 10-13-15: Clear View of Intersecting Streets, shown in the following figure. Figure 10-12-3 Corner Lot Fencing Requirements (1-2019, 4-11-2019) (4-2019, 8-13-19) (1-2023, 3-21-23)