§ 22.20.050. Fencing and Screening Standards.

The following standards shall apply to the installation of all fences and screening walls.

A.

Height limitations. Fences, walls, and trellises are subject to the following height limitations:

1.

General height limit. The general height limit for fences and screening walls is the same for other detached accessory structures, provided they meet the required setback. The required setback shall be either that setback established by the governing conventional district, an established building envelope, or the setbacks set forth in the R1:B3 zoning district if no other setbacks apply. All other solid fences and screening walls shall not exceed a height of six feet above grade, except as provided for below:

a.

A fence or screening wall having a maximum height of four feet or less above grade may be located within a required setback for a front yard or side yard that abuts a street.

b.

A fence or screening wall having a maximum height exceeding four feet but no more than six feet above grade may be located within a required setback for a front yard or side yard that abuts a street if the entire section or portion of the fence or wall above four feet in height above grade has a surface area that is at least 50% open and unobstructed by structural elements. (See Figure 3-1.)

c.

A trellis above a gate or opening along the line of a fence, not exceeding a maximum height of eight feet above grade and a width of six feet, is permitted within a required setback for a front, side, or rear yard that abuts a street.

FIGURE 3-1
EXAMPLES OF FENCES WITH THE AREA
ABOVE FOUR FEET AT LEAST 50% OPEN

2.

Corner lots. Fences within the front and/or street side setbacks of a corner lot shall not exceed a height of two feet, six inches above the street level of an adjacent intersection, within the area between the property lines and a diagonal line joining points on the property lines which are 35 feet from their intersection. See Chapter 13.18 (Visibility Obstructions) of the County Code. See Figure 3-2.

FIGURE 3-2
HEIGHT LIMITATIONS FOR FENCES ON CORNER LOTS

3.

Lots with grade differential. Where there is a difference in the ground level between two adjoining lots, the height of the fence or wall shall not exceed six feet as measured from grade on either side of the structure. See Figure 3-3 (Fence Height Limits).

4.

Parallel fences and walls. Two approximately parallel fences and/or screening walls shall maintain a separation of at least two feet to encourage landscaping between the separation, or the height of both structures shall be computed as one structure, subject to the six foot height limitation. See Figure 3-3 (Fence Height Limits).

B.

Setback requirements. Fences or screening walls up to four feet in height or six feet in height above grade may be located within a required setback or on property lines in compliance with the height limits of Subsection A., above.

FIGURE 3-3
FENCE HEIGHT LIMITS

(Ord. No. 3577, 2012; Ord. No. 3666 , § II(exh. A), 2017)