On August 19, 2020, the City Council adopted Ordinance No. 2020-2202 establishing a 180 day moratorium on the issuance of building permits for front yard fences in residentially zoned districts. The purpose of the moratorium was for City staff to research and develop new standards related to fencing in the city. City staff has completed the research and prepared new fencing standards as presented in the attached proposed ordinance.
The City’s fence regulations provide minimal standards that do not encourage compatibility with neighborhood character. The regulations are located in two sections; Chapter 6 of the City Code and Chapter 12 of the Land Development Code with conflicting requirements. (Maximum height of four feet in one section and three feet in the other section). Additionally, requirements for residential and commercial fences are combined in one section making it difficult to enforce.
In reviewing the existing fence regulations, staff found that standards for residential rear and side yards as well as the front yards was lacking. The fence standards for commercial districts was also very minimal. Staff surveyed many cities and counties in Florida on their fence codes in preparing the draft ordinance.
The proposed ordinance eliminates fencing from Chapter 6 of the City Code and amends Chapter 12 of the Land Development Code to improve standards for residential and commercial districts. The purpose of reorganizing the fence regulations is to create ease in locating the fence code and to specify the different standards for each district. Many existing standards are maintained. However, there is more specificity related to fences in the front yard and also to general fence standards.
The Land Development Review Board reviewed the proposed ordinance at their meeting on January 21, 2021 and recommended the following:
- Define the fence height measurement as the height of the fence from the lowest grade adjacent to the fence on either side of the fence.
- Allow masonry walls in residential front yards with a height not to exceed 3 feet.
- Allow the placement of fences that do not exceed 3 feet in height in the front yard of commercial/office/zoning properties.
- Clarify that PVC fencing is only for panels or pickets.
The LDRB's recommendations have been incorporated into the proposed ordinance which is attached to this agenda item for Council's review.