Fences & Hedges
Fences and Hedges
Questions pertaining to fences and hedges are common. Depending on the location and zone district, fence and hedge requirements differ. Because of this variability, it is recommended that you visit the public planning counter located at the Planning Division (third floor, south end of City Hall), which is open daily between the hours of 9:00 am to 5:00 pm. However, should you be unable to visit the Planning Department, several things to remember prior to erecting a fence are:
Multi-family, Commercial and Industrial zone districts
• A permit is required prior to erecting/installing a fence, wall, hedge, etc.
• Fences and/or walls may not be located within required landscape areas.
Single Family Residential zone districts
• Depending on the area and zone district (i.e. R-1, R-1-B, R-1-C, etc.) setbacks vary.
• A permit is not required, unless it is a required fence/wall by the Planning Division, which are most often along major streets (i.e., Shaw, Blackstone, Nees, Clinton, etc.).
• All Zoning Ordinance requirements must be followed, which includes visibility requirements, height limitations, materials, etc.
• Fences in front yards may not exceed three feet in height, unless wrought iron.
• Wrought iron fences may be up to four feet in height.
• The height of the fence is measured from the nearest sidewalk and/or public right-of-way.
• Fences may only be installed on private property, not the public right-of-way.
The following are three examples of typical fence locations for sites that are zoned R-1, R-1-B and R-1-C. If you are unsure what the property is zoned, please contact the Planning Department prior to installing the fence.
Fence location(s) for R-1 zoned properties
Fence location(s) for R-1-B zoned properties
Fence location(s) for R-1-C zoned properties