§ 7.14. FENCE AND WALL STANDARDS.

(A) General standards. These standards are applicable to all zoning districts.

(1) General requirements. Fences and walls shall be permitted in all zoning districts upon obtaining a fence permit as per § 9.7. Fences and walls shall be subject to conformance with the following requirements:

(a) Structural face. All fences and walls shall present the non-structural face outward.

(b) Drainage. No fence or wall shall disrupt the flow of water in any drainage easement, or otherwise result in impediments for stormwater runoff. Any fence or wall located in an easement may be removed by the easement holder when accessing the easement.

(c) Setbacks. No fence or wall may be permitted closer than three feet from a property line, except as may be otherwise provided in this ordinance.

(1) No fence or wall may be placed in any right-of-way or required sight visibility triangle. See § 7.2.

(2) Fences and walls within the easement of a drain, pond and/or lake shall require the approval of Lebanon Utilities and/or the County Surveyor.

(3) Fences shall be setback a minimum of 15 feet from the top of bank of a pond in order to provide of emergency access and maintenance.

(4) Fences shall only be placed in common areas as part of an approved development plan.

(d) Buffer yards. No fence or wall may be placed in any required buffer yard that does not specifically provide for the inclusion of fences.

(e) Materials. Fences and walls shall be constructed of wood, decorative metal, textured masonry, stone or synthetic materials styled to simulate natural materials.

(2) Height exceptions. Fences specifically required by this ordinance for screening, telecommunications facilities, or other purposes may exceed the maximum heights established by this chapter consistent with the appropriate specific requirements of this ordinance.

(3) Height measurement. The height of a fence shall be determined by measuring from the adjacent grade to the highest point of the fence, excluding fence posts. Fence posts may exceed the maximum height of the fence by up to one foot.

(B) Residential fence and wall standards. These standards are applicable to the SF, SF1, SF2, SF3, TR, MF, MH, CB and NB Zoning Districts.

(1) Height requirements. Fences and walls shall not exceed six feet in height in any side or rear yard or three and one-half feet (42 inches) in height in any front yard.

(2) Front yard fences. Front yard fences shall be at least 50% open. For the purposes of this requirement, the FRONT YARD shall be defined as the area located between an adjacent street and the wall of the principal structure that faces it.

(3) Fences used in combination. Where fences are used in combination with required landscaping on the perimeter of residential subdivisions in designated common area or easement, the landscaping shall be placed on the street side of the fence.

(4) Prohibited fences. All electrified, barbed wire, razor wire and stockade fences are prohibited on all non-farm property. Chainlink fences are prohibited in the frontyard in residential districts. In no instance shall this be interpreted as prohibiting the use of invisible fences.

(C) Nonresidential fence and wall standards. These standards are applicable to the CB, NB, PBC, IN, PBO, PBI and ID Zoning Districts.

(1) Height requirements. Fences and walls shall not exceed eight feet in height in rear and side yards.

(2) Decorative fences. Decorative fences constructed of high quality materials such as brick, stone, decorative block, metal or wood not exceeding 48 inches in height and may be located in any frontyard, provided that they are a minimum of 50% open.

(3) Landscaping. Landscaping shall be used to complement the fence.

(4) Breaks. Breaks should be provided by variation in height, columns, recesses and projections. Maximum uninterrupted length of fence plane should be 100 feet.

(5) Fences and athletic facilities. Fences for athletic facilities such as ball diamonds, tennis courts and driving ranges shall be exempt from the height requirements. Chainlink fences in rear and sideyards shall be vinyl-coated.

(6) Chainlink fences. Where chainlink fencing is used to meet screening requirements, it shall be reinforced with a landscape screen a minimum of six feet high.

(7) Prohibited fences. All electrified, barbed wire, razor wire and stockade fences are prohibited on all non-farm property. Uses in the General Industrial District and penal and correctional facilities shall be exempt from this standard.

(Ord. 07-16, passed 12-10-2007; Ord. 2008-07, passed 7-28-2008)