Chapter 17.48 — FENCES, WALLS, AND SCREENING

The purpose of this chapter to regulate the height and location of fences to provide light, air, and privacy without obstructing views or connectivity, to establish buffers between different land uses, and to safeguard against visual obstructions at the intersections of streets and/or driveways.

(Ord. No. 1000 § 4, 2022)

Unless otherwise exempt below, site development review [see section 17.16.100 (Site Development Review)] is required for new fences and walls. Fences and walls listed below are exempt from planning entitlements but may still require building permits.

• A. Retaining walls. Retaining walls less than 36 inches in height are exempt from the requirements of this chapter except for terraced walls as required in section 17.122.030 (Hillside Development).

• B. Residential fences and walls. Fences and walls located on residential property constructed in compliance with the requirements of section 17.48.030 (Location and Height Requirements).

• C. Required fences and walls. The requirements of this chapter shall not apply to a fence or wall required by any law or regulation of the city (including temporary construction site fencing), county, state, or federal government, or any agency thereof.

• (Ord. No. 1000 § 4, 2022)

• A. Height measurement. Fence and wall height shall be measured from the finish grade at the base of the fence or wall to the uppermost part of the fence or wall; except when there is a difference in the ground level between two adjoining parcels, the fence or wall shall be measured at the mid-point of the retaining wall height as measured on the side with the lowest finish grade. See Figure 17.48.030-1 (Measurement of Fence and Wall Height on Parcels with Different Elevations).

• B. Garden/terrace walls. Adjacent walls are required to have a minimum separation of three feet.

FIGURE 17.48.030-1 MEASUREMENT OF FENCE AND WALL HEIGHT ON PARCELS WITH DIFFERENT ELEVATIONS

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(Ord. No. 1000 § 4, 2022)

• A. Fencing, wall, and screen materials. Fences, walls, and screens shall be constructed of long-lasting materials and architecturally integrated with the building design and with existing fences/walls on the site. The following limitations apply:

  1. Fences and walls when required for screening or to ensure privacy for outdoor recreation areas shall be designed to ensure pedestrian and vehicle connectivity between buildings, uses, and adjacent properties.

  2. Fences and gates approved for screening purposes or to provide privacy for outdoor areas in residential districts shall be solid wood with steel frames, solid vinyl, tubular steel or wrought iron. Where tubular steel wrought iron is used, it shall be backed by solid or perforated metal sheeting painted to match the fence or gate. In new developments, decorative block walls shall be used.

  3. Fences and gates approved for screening purposes in industrial zone or in form-based zone shall be metal, tubular steel, or wrought iron (open fencing shall be backed by solid or perforated metal sheeting painted to match the fence or gate). Split-face masonry walls, decorative walls, or walls finished with stucco are also appropriate for screening purposes. In the Industrial Zones the requirements for fences, walls, and screening provided in section 17.36.040(D)(9)(a)(v) (Landscaping, Screening, and Street Trees) shall also apply.

  4. Chain-link fences and/or gates are not permitted for screening purposes in any zone (including the Industrial Zones), including chain-link when backed with wood or plastic slats, solid plastic sheet, or knitted fabric privacy/wind screening.

  5. Alternative materials may be approved by the planning director or planning commission as part of a discretionary entitlement approval.

• B. Graffiti-resistance. Graffiti-resistant aesthetic surface treatment shall be required for all fences and walls adjacent to a public right-of-way, in a residential zone, or as determined through the site development review process.

• C. Maintenance. Fences, walls, and screens shall be continuously maintained in an orderly and good condition, at no more than their maximum allowed height.

• (Ord. No. 1000 § 4, 2022)

• A. Applicable to all land use types.

  1. Fencing and walls for pools, spas, and similar features. Swimming pools, spas, and other similar water features shall be enclosed in compliance with building code requirements.

  2. Fences, walls, and screening between different land uses. Commercial, mixed use, and industrial uses shall be screened from adjacent residential zones by plant materials to screen the commercial, mixed use, or industrial use, as approved by the designated approving authority. A solid, decorative masonry wall with a minimum height of six feet is required between industrial uses and residential zones. Openings or pedestrian/bicycle connections are required to ensure safety, crime prevention, and adequate access and connectivity. Fences and walls are not allowed between projects in form-based zones or between a form-based zone and an adjacent residential zone where a new street, future connection, or street stub is proposed to comply with the block and connectivity requirements of article VIII (Form-Based Code). A landscaping strip with a minimum width of five feet shall be installed adjacent to a screening wall facing the public street.

  3. Temporary fences. Nothing in this chapter shall be deemed to prohibit the erection of a temporary fence around construction projects in compliance with the building code and other applicable requirements of this code.

  4. Screening standards for fire district connections and double check devices. All ground-mounted equipment is required to be screened according to the following standards. Option A is preferred. Option C should only be used if the other two options are considered infeasible by the planning director. Additional provisions apply to fire check valves (as noted).

     • a. Option A; block wall screen.

       • i. Required materials are decorative block, finished stucco, or a wall designed to match building architecture.

       • ii. Minimum height is three feet with a maximum height of four feet.

       • iii. Minimum three feet clearance between the equipment and the wall.

     • b. Option B; metal screen with vines and equipment painted green.

       • i. Provide metal screen fence painted dark green.

       • ii. Plant climbing vines along the base of the screen.

       • iii. Minimum three feet clearance between the equipment and the screen.

       • iv. If concrete pad is provided around the base of the equipment, the pad must be a minimum of three feet from the property line to allow installation of landscaping.

       • v. Minimum two feet from the face of the screen and the property line.

       • vi. Paint the equipment dark green or equivalent.

     • c. Option C; landscape screen and equipment painted green.

       • i. This option can only be considered if the equipment can be adequately screened by two rows of fivegallon shrubs. Otherwise only Option A or B may be used.

       • ii. Provide two rows of five-gallon shrubs.

       • iii. Spaced 18 inches on center.

• iv. Minimum three feet clearance between the equipment and the shrubs is required.

     - v. If a concrete pad is provided around the base of the equipment, the pad must be a minimum of two feet from the property line to allow installation of landscaping. 
  
     - vi. No minimum clearance between the property line and the landscaping is required. 
  
  - d. Additional requirements for fire district check valves. 
  
     - i. Maximum five feet overall from the equipment and the property line. 
  
     - ii. Signage shall be provided according to fire district standards. 
  
     - iii. The fire district connection must extend beyond the wall or landscaping and must not obstruct the fire district connection. 
  

• B. Fencing and walls for agricultural land uses. All fences or walls which enclose livestock shall be constructed of an adequate height and shall be designed so as to control and contain such livestock at all times.

• C. Residential zones.

  1. Trail fences and gates shall be kept in good repair at all times, including replacing damaged members and maintaining plumb. This shall not preclude the property owner from replacing the existing trail fence with another fence or wall material.

  2. Height. The height of fences in residential district is limited according to the following table.

Table Notes:

• (1) As part of site development review, design review (minor or major), or other discretionary entitlement, the designated approving authority may grant additional height or location requirements to enclose or screen specific areas or uses or for fences and walls designed for noise attenuation.

• (2) Setback area for street side yard is measured property line to the fence or wall.

• (3) Height of front yard fence or wall may be increased to a maximum of six feet if the top three feet of fencing is constructed of material that is 90 percent visually open and transparent (e.g., picket fence, open wood slats, open wrought iron) including any architectural features designed as part of the fence (e.g., pilasters and lights).

• (4) See definition of clear vision triangle in section 17.140 (Universal Definitions).

3. Outdoor recreation courts. Fencing for outdoor recreation courts (e.g., tennis courts, basketball courts) shall not exceed 12 feet in height and shall be located five feet from any rear or side property lines, except when adjacent to outdoor recreation courts on adjacent properties.

   4. Development interconnectivity. Perimeter walls shall only be permitted to address noise impacts generated by, for example, vehicle traffic on freeways or streets. Complete connectivity and access between: (a) residential uses; and (b) residential and commercial or mixed-uses is required.

• D. Form-based zones.

  1. Outdoor storage (including all dumpsters, commercial items, commercial construction, or industrial-related materials and equipment, including trucks and trailers, within form-based zones) shall be fenced or screened from view. Such screening shall utilize enclosures including, but not limited to, fences, walls, landscaping, or earthen berms, so that no outdoor storage is visible from any public rights-of-way, parks, public trails, and adjacent properties. Screening shall be visually compatible with the primary buildings and landscape on the property.

  2. Screening of loading docks and refuse areas. Loading docks and refuse storage areas shall be screened from public view, adjoining public streets and rights-of-way and residentially zoned areas. The method of screening shall be architecturally compatible with other on-site development in terms of colors and materials. Trash enclosures shall be consistent with city standard drawings. Exceptions may be permitted through the administrative design review process for sites with unique characteristics (e.g., shallow lot depth, adjacency to single-family residential).

  3. Development interconnectivity. Excluding required screening, projects with perimeter fencing or walls and gated communities are prohibited in form-based zones.

• E. Industrial zones.

  1. Storage area/screening. The purpose of storage area/screening regulations is to allow for on-site storage, which is screened from view from the public right-of-way or from adjacent properties accessible to the public and is architecturally compatible with the surrounding environment. The following standards shall apply according to land use category:

     • a. Standards for storage area/screen wall height in all industrial zones. The height of all storage area/screening walls shall not exceed eight feet, measured from the finished grade immediately adjacent to the wall and the top of the wall.

     • b. Neo-Industrial (NI) Zone. All materials, supplies, equipment, loading docks, and trucks and trailers shall be stored within an enclosed building or an area screened from public view.

     • c. Industrial Employment (IE) Zone. All materials, supplies, equipment, and operating trucks shall be stored within an enclosed building or storage area. Such storage areas within 120 feet of a street frontage shall be screened.

• d. Within 600 feet of the I-15 right-of-way, all outdoor storage shall be screened from public view from the freeway. Screening may include the use or combination of block or masonry walls, 36-inch box trees planted a maximum of 30 feet apart, or the building mass.

  - e. Within all industrial land use categories, all storage area screening shall be architecturally integrated with surrounding buildings utilizing concrete, masonry, or other similar materials. For walls comprised of the combination of a screen wall on top of a retaining wall, the over-all height of the combined wall may exceed eight feet provided that the part of the wall that faces the public right-of-way (street, sidewalk, etc.), does not exceed the maximum height established in subsection (E)(1)(a) above. 
  
  - f. Within the Industrial Employment (IE) Zone, storage area screening may include masonry or concrete walls and, metal, or wood fences. The front and exterior side area shall be screened with non-opaque fencing, when loading areas or storage areas are not present. 
  
  - g. Storage of materials or equipment shall not exceed screen height within 100 feet of street-fronting screens. 
  
  - h. The planning director may waive screening requirements where future building expansion would screen an abutting storage area. 
  
  - i. The planning director may waive screening requirements along the front and exterior side of the building if there are no loading docks or storage areas present. 
  

  2. Security fences and walls. The purpose of security fencing and wall standards is to provide for a safe environment for businesses within the industrial area.

     • a. Site planning, including building configuration and placement, is encouraged to create defined areas that may be adequately secured.

     • b. Any wall or fence along a street frontage over three feet in height is subject to the streetscape setback requirements.

     • c. Within all industrial land use categories except the Industrial Employment (IE) Zone, all fencing or walls shall be wrought iron, concrete, masonry, or other similar materials, not to exceed the maximum height established in section 17.48.050(E)(1)(a). The use of barbed wire or similar materials is prohibited from these land use categories. Chain-link fencing is not permitted in the area(s) of a property that is/are located between the public right-of-way (street, sidewalk, etc.), and the building wall plane(s) of the building(s) on the property, that face(s) the public right-of-way. Chain-link fencing may only be used along the side and rear property lines, and within the interior of the property, if the fencing will not be visible from any portion of the public right-ofway that is adjacent to the property.

     • d. Within the Industrial Employment (IE) Zone, security fencing may include wrought iron, masonry or concrete walls, and wood or metal fences. Barbed wire may be permitted atop fencing.

     • e. Security gates are subject to site plan review according to section 17.16.100 (Site development review).

3. Trash enclosures. City standard drawings shall be used for all trash enclosures. (Ord. No. 1000 § 4, 2022; Ord. No. 1015 § 3, 2023; Ord. No. 1017 § 7, 2023)