18.80.090 Fences and freestanding walls

18.80.090 Fences and freestanding walls.

Fences, freestanding walls, dense hedges, and similar structures shall comply with the standards of this section.

1. Front Yards and Street Side Yards. No fence or freestanding wall within or along the exterior boundary of the required front or street side yard shall exceed a height of three and one-half feet. Visually transparent and nonopaque fences over three and one-half feet high may be allowed in front and street side yards, through modification by the hearing officer.

a. Residential Districts. No fence or freestanding wall within or along the exterior boundary of the required side or rear yards shall exceed a height of six feet.

b. Commercial, Mixed Use, and Industrial Districts. No fence or freestanding wall within or along the exterior boundary of the required side or rear yards shall exceed a height of eight feet.

c. Rural Districts. A fence or freestanding wall up to eight feet in height may be allowed on interior lot lines for screening purposes and livestock fencing.

3. Decorative Features. One entry gateway, trellis, or other entry structure is permitted in the required front or street-facing side yard of each lot; provided, that the maximum height or width of the structure does not exceed 10 feet. Such decorative feature shall not have any solid obstruction that exceeds two feet in diameter between the height of three and 10 feet.

B. Materials. The following fencing materials are prohibited and/or restricted:

1. Residential and open space districts: barbed wire, razor wire, embedded glass shards, ultra barrier, electrified and other hazardous fencing are prohibited;

2. Chain link fencing: chain link fencing may only be used:

a. Residential districts: when not visible from off site;

b. All other districts: when not visible from off site, as temporary fencing for a construction project, or as approved by the zoning administrator.

C. Visibility at Intersections. Notwithstanding any other provisions of this section, fences and walls shall comply with the standards of MCC 18.80.150, Visibility at intersections and driveways.

D. Corner Lots. Fences shall be a maximum of three feet in height within the sight distance triangle, unless a waiver is obtained from the hearing officer. Trees or any portion thereof that are located within the street triangle shall have clearance from two to seven feet as measured from the top of the curb or sidewalk. In the event that the rear property line of a corner lot abuts a side property line of an adjoining key lot, a 10-foot-deep by 20-foot-wide visibility triangle shall be maintained over the corner lot, starting at the intersection of the rear and street side property lines of the corner lot.

Figure 18.80.090.D. Corner Lot Abutting a Key Lot

E. Access for Public Utilities. Where fencing blocks public utility easements, it shall be constructed so those portions required for access to the utilities can be removed or access otherwise ensured.

F. Rural Districts. Corral fences for the keeping of livestock may be placed within the required front yard in rural districts. Corral fences shall be constructed of masonry, wrought iron, pipe-rail, split rail, or similar material, and shall maintain a minimum openness of 67 percent of the exterior surface of the fence. Corral fences shall not be constructed of metal wire, such as chain link or barbed wire. Corral fences shall not exceed six feet in height.

1. Exceptions to Height Limits. A waiver of fence height may be granted by the hearing officer. The maximum height that is allowed with a fence height waiver is six feet in front or street side yards, and 10 feet in interior side or rear yards.

2. Prohibited Materials. Chain link fencing is not permitted in any street-facing yard in any commercial or mixed use district or in a location visible from off site. In all commercial and mixed use districts and on the perimeter of industrial districts or street-facing frontages, the use of barbed wire, razor wire, embedded glass shards, ultra barrier, electrified, and other hazardous fencing is prohibited.

H. Retaining Walls. The height of a retaining wall shall not exceed that of freestanding wall height limits in subsection (A) of this section. Refer to MCC 18.15.030(E) for measuring wall heights for retaining and freestanding wall combinations. [Res. 21-09; Ord. 21-05 § 2; Res. 14-36 § 401.09; Ord. 14-12 § 1.]