17.08.180 Fence, walls and hedges—Regulations.
A. In the R-1, R-2, R-3 and R-4 zones, no fence, wall or hedge located in the rear or side yards shall exceed a height of six feet unless a greater height is required by city or state regulations for noise attenuation or sight screening. On all through lots located in these zones in which the rear lot line abuts a state highway, major highway or secondary highway and is below the grade of the roadway, at the roadway grade, or less than ten feet above the roadway grade, a masonry wall as defined by Section 17.04.462 shall be provided.
B. In the R-1, R-2, R-3 and R-4 zones, no fence, wall or hedge located in the required front yard shall exceed a height of four feet, except in the following situations, in which such fence or wall may be higher but shall not exceed a height of six feet:
1. Where, as determined by the planning commission, a side yard is adjacent to an arterial or collector street and a higher wall is necessary to finish the required subdivision wall.
2. Where, as determined by the city council, planning commission, or planning director, a higher fence or wall is necessary for purpose of noise attenuation.
C. Reserved.
D. In the R-1, R-2, R-3 and R-4 zones no barbed or electrified wire shall be used or maintained in or about the construction of a fence, wall or hedge along the front, side or rear lines of any lot, or within three feet of said lines, and no sharp wire or points shall project at the top of any fence or wall less than six feet in height.
E. In the C-O, C-C, C-1, C-2, M-1 and M-2 zones no barbed or electrified wire shall be erected, installed, used or maintained or caused to be erected, installed, used or maintained on, in or about any fence, wall or hedge along the front, side or rear lines of any lot, nor shall any barbed wire be erected, installed, used or maintained or caused to be erected, installed, used or maintained, for fencing purposes, or as a barrier across or around any lot, or portion thereof, or around any building or structure upon or along any street, alley or public way, unless the lowest strand of barbed wire is installed not less than six feet three inches above the highest adjoining grade on either side of such fence; where barbed or electrified wire is erected, installed, used or maintained in accordance with this subsection, it shall not extend over or into any abutting property or public right-of-way and shall, in all cases, either extend in toward the owner’s side of such fence or directly vertical, subject to approval by the building director.
F. In the A zone barbed or electrified wire for agricultural fencing purposes shall be permitted to be erected, installed, used or maintained at locations at least one thousand three hundred feet from any residential area as defined in Section 17.32.020, and not otherwise, subject to approval by the building director.
G. Fences constructed prior to September 1, 1983, intended to act as protective enclosures and to make canals inaccessible to small children, are exempted from the restrictions of subsections D, E and F of this section. (Ord. 5020 § 18, 2020; Ord. 4781 § 1, 2014; Ord. 3824 § 3, 1998; Ord. 3610 § 2, 1994; Ord. 3021 § 3, 1986; Ord. 2696 § 7, 1982; prior code § 17.52.170)