§ 30.86.090. Fences/Retaining Walls.

The construction or installation of fences, retaining walls and entryway structures shall be subject to the following limitations and regulations:

A.

Fences in Residential Zones.

1.

Fences and gates located within the required front yard or side yard abutting a street shall not exceed the height of three and one-half feet, except that for every two feet that a fence or wall is set back from the property line, its height may be increased by six inches, not to exceed a height of six feet, zero inches.

2.

Fences within the rear yard or interior side yard shall not exceed a total height of six feet, zero inches.

3.

Fences constructed within the building area may be as high as the building within said area.

4.

Notwithstanding other provisions of this Code, an entryway structure consisting of open work, such as a trellis, may be located within a required front or street side yard setback, provided such structure does not exceed the following maximum dimensions:

a.

Maximum Height. Ten feet (as measured pursuant to the provisions for measurement of fence height specified in this Chapter);

b.

Maximum Width. Eight feet measured from outside dimensions parallel to the property line.

c.

Maximum Depth. Five feet (measured from outside dimensions perpendicular to the property line).

d.

Maximum Enclosure. 50 percent of each vertical plane or overhead covering surrounding the structure. This means that a minimum of 50 percent of each vertical plane or overhead covering shall be open to light and air. The enclosure for each vertical plane or overhead covering shall be measured as a percentage of the total area of that vertical plane or overhead coverage of the trellis structure. This requirement for openness of construction shall not apply to the installation of an entryway structure consisting of a single set of two opposing vertical posts connected by a single horizontal cross-piece which meets the other provisions of this Section and which is constructed with post and cross-piece materials no greater than six inches in diameter or width.

No more than one entryway structure permitted pursuant to this Section may be constructed for each property line fronting a street.

Entryway structures which conform to the provisions of this Section shall be considered to be the same as a fence for purposes of determining the appropriate review process.

In addition to the other review requirements provided in this Chapter, an entryway structure proposed within a front or street side yard setback pursuant to this Section shall receive approval of the Director of Planning and Community Development. Such approval shall be given only if the Director finds that construction of the trellis within a front or street side yard setback will not threaten the public safety.

B.

Fences in Nonresidential Zones. Notwithstanding other provisions of this Chapter, fences constructed in all zones other than residential shall not exceed a total height of six feet, zero inches, except that walls or fences constructed within the building area and set back ten feet or more from the front property line and five feet or more from the side property line abutting a street may be as high as the building within said property line.

C.

Fences Serving as Retaining Walls. The construction of any fence retaining more than three feet of earth or similar materials shall be designed or approved by a registered, professional civil or structural engineer or a registered architect, and/or otherwise conform to County specifications. A fence serving as a retaining wall shall not extend more than one foot above the material retained.

D.

Calculation of Fence Height. Fences constructed in all zones shall not exceed a maximum height as set forth herein. For purposes of this Section, fence height herein shall be calculated as the vertical distance between the elevation at the top of the fence and the elevation of the lower of the natural or finished adjacent grade when measured from the exterior facade(s) of such fence at any point. The exterior facade shall be considered to be that side of a fence which faces and is closest to adjacent properties and public rights-of-way.

(Ord. No. 640)