§ 20.16.110. Fences, hedges and walls.

This section regulates the height and location of fences, hedges, and walls for the purpose of providing for light, air, and privacy, and safeguarding the public welfare by preventing view obstruction as well as visual obstructions at street and highway intersections.

A. Required Fences and Walls. Swimming pools shall be entirely enclosed by buildings, fences, or walls not less than five feet nor more than six feet in height. Any such fence or wall shall be equipped with a self-latching gate or door, the latching device to be located not less than four feet above the ground. The fence, building, or wall shall be in place and approved by the city before water is placed in the pool.

B. Corner Cutoff Areas. The following regulations shall apply to all intersections of streets and alleys in order to provide adequate visibility for vehicular traffic. There shall be no visual obstructions within the cutoff areas established in this subsection.

1. There shall be a corner cutoff area at all intersecting and intercepting streets or highways. The cutoff line shall be in a horizontal plane, making an angle of forty-five degrees with the side, front, or rear property line, as the case may be. It shall pass through the points located on both sides and front, or rear, property lines at a distance of thirty feet from the intersection of such lines at the corner of a street or highway.

2. There shall be a corner cutoff area on each side of an alley intersecting a street or alley. The cutoff lines shall be in a horizontal plane, making an angle of forty-five degrees with the side, front, or rear property line, as the case may be. They shall pass through a point not less than ten feet from the edges of the alley where it intersects the street or alley right-of-way.

3. Where, due to an irregular lot shape, a line at a forty-five degree angle does not provide for intersection visibility, the corner cutoff shall be defined by a line drawn from a point on the front or rear property line that is not less than thirty feet from the intersection of the side and front, or rear, property lines and through a point on the side property line that is not less than thirty feet from the intersection of the side and front, or rear, property lines.

C. Permitted Fences, Hedges and Walls. Fences, hedges, and walls not greater than six feet in height shall be permitted only where they do not:

1. Impair the view opportunities of the district,

2. Disrespect the district's topography, or

3. Disrupt open-space or greenbelt areas in such a manner as to make them less usable or visually appealing.

(Ord. 87-02-987 § 5 (part); Ord. 86-03- 969 § 5 (part), 1986)