Artesia City Zoning Code
ARTICLE 14
Fences, Walls, and Hedges
§ 9-2.1401 Fences and Walls.
(a)
Side and Rear Yards. The height of fences and walls in required side and rear yards shall be as follows:
(1)
Single-Family Homes.
(i)
Fences and walls erected on a lot developed or proposed to be developed with a single-family dwelling, which fence or wall is to be erected within a required side or rear yard of an interior lot or parcel of land or within the side yard along the interior side lot line of a corner or reversed corner lot or parcel of land, shall not exceed a height limit of six feet, except where required by the provisions of this chapter or any statute or law.
(ii)
Fences and walls erected on a lot developed or proposed to be developed with a single-family dwelling, which fence or wall is to be erected within a required rear or side yard on the street side of a corner or reversed corner lot or parcel of land, shall not exceed a height of 42 inches where located within five feet of the side lot from the side lot line.
(2)
Developments Other Than Single-Family Dwellings. Notwithstanding Subsection (a)(1), new concrete block masonry walls shall be erected along the side and rear perimeters of a lot or parcel of land developed with a new residential, commercial or industrial use in any zone, excluding any new one-family dwelling in the Single-Family Residential (R-1), Agriculture-Single-Family Residential (A-1) or Medium Density Residential (M-D-R) Zones. The concrete block walls shall be a minimum of six inches thick and six feet in height from the highest finished grade on the lot or parcel of land being developed. The Planning Director may grant a modification to the restrictions in this Subsection (a)(2) pursuant to review and approval of an administrative variance request in accordance with Section 9-2.1705(d). Fences and walls erected within a required side or rear yard of lot or parcel of land located within the Single-Family Residential (R-1), Agriculture-Single-Family Residential (A-1) or Medium Density Residential (M-D-R) Zones, and developed with a new one-family dwelling, shall comply with the requirements of Subsection (a)(1).
(3)
Properties Adjacent to the Los Angeles Metro Right-of-Way
(i)
Where a property has rear or side yard immediately adjacent to the Los Angeles Metro rail right-of-way, a block wall constructed after September 9, 2021, shall have a height of nine feet from the grade of the subject property as found at the property line.
(ii)
Other fence types and materials are not permitted.
(iii)
A block wall must be of a style and color similar to, or complementary with, all adjacent properties' block walls to the satisfaction of the Planning Manager. If there is no adjacent block wall, the block wall must be constructed of concrete blocks with a light, earth-tone color.
(b)
Front Yards.
(1)
Single-Family Dwellings. Except as otherwise permitted in this chapter, fences and walls erected on a lot developed or proposed to be developed with a single-family dwelling shall not exceed a height of 42 inches within the required front yard in any zone.
(2)
Developments Other Than Single-Family Dwellings. Notwithstanding Subsection (b)(1), a new concrete block wall masonry shall be erected along the front perimeter of a lot or parcel of land developed with a new residential, commercial or industrial use in any zone, excluding any new one-family dwelling in the Single-Family Residential (R-1), Agriculture-Single-Family Residential (A-1) or Medium Density Residential (M-D-R) Zones. The concrete block wall shall be a minimum of six inches thick and 42 inches in height from the highest finished grade on the lot or parcel of land being developed. The Planning Director may grant a modification to the restrictions in this Subsection (b)(2) pursuant to review and approval of an administrative variance request in accordance with Section 9-2.1705(d). Fences and walls erected within a required front yard of lot or parcel of land located within the Single-Family Residential (R-1), Agriculture-Single-Family Residential (A-1) or Medium Density Residential (M-D-R) Zones, and developed with a new one-family dwelling, shall comply with the requirements of Subsection (b)(1).
(c)
Requirements. Before any person constructs a fence or wall in any front, side or rear yard, a permit therefor must be obtained for the City Planning Department. In order to obtain a permit for the fence or wall:
(1)
The applicant shall submit to the Planning Department a survey obtained from a licensed survey- or which demonstrates the accurate location of the property line adjacent to or upon which the fence or wall is to be located. Alternatively, if the wall or fence is to be located along a property line adjacent to another parcel of property and the applicant and the adjacent property owner agree as to the location of the property line upon which the fence or wall is to be located, the applicant may submit to the Planning Department a notarized written consent to the location of the proposed wall or fence by the applicant and the owner of the adjacent property.
(2)
All concrete block walls which are erected within any front, side or rear yard shall be subject to the applicable structural specifications of the Building Department.
(d)
Material Type.
(1)
Allowed Fence and Wall Materials. Except as provided in Sections 9-2.1401(a)(2) and (b)(2) and this Subsection (d)(2), all materials for fencing erected within the front, side or rear yard of real properties in the Single-Family Residential (R-1), Agricultural Single-Family Residential (A-1), Medium Density Residential (MDR), Multiple-Family Residential (M-R), and Mixed Commercial/Single-Family Residential (M-C-R) Zones shall be limited to masonry, wrought iron, heavy duty decorative vinyl, cedarwood, and redwood. The Planning Director may approve other types of fence materials if he or she finds the material is of a durability that is comparable to the list of approved fence materials listed in this paragraph.
(2)
Chain Link Fence Material—Where Allowed. Chain link fence material shall not be erected within the front yard area of real properties in the Single-Family Residential (R-1), Agricultural Single-Family Residential (A-1), Medium Density Residential (MDR), Multiple-Family Residential (M-R), and Mixed Commercial/Single-Family Residential (M-C-R) Zones. Heavy duty chain link fence material may be erected within the side and rear yards, excluding the front yard area, of real properties in the above zones if the following requirements are satisfied:
(A)
The side and rear yards of the lot or parcel of land do not abut a street, highway, or alley.
(B)
The heavy duty chain link side and rear yard fence shall not be visible from any street, highway, or alley.
(C)
The mesh for the heavy duty chain link fabric shall have a minimum thickness of nine-gauge and a maximum mesh size of two and one-eighth (2 1/8) inches.
(D)
The top rail for the heavy duty chain link framework shall have a minimum one and five-eighths (1-5/8) inch diameter schedule 40 galvanized material, and bottom horizontal rail shall have a minimum thickness of seven-gauge or better.
(E)
The fence posts for the heavy duty chain link framework shall have a minimum two and seven-eighths (2-7/8) inch diameter schedule 40 galvanized material.
(F)
The gate posts for the heavy duty chain link framework shall have a minimum two and seven-eighths (2-7/8) inch diameter schedule 40 galvanized material up to eight feet zero inch gate(s) opening for each section of gate(s), any gate(s) opening up to 16 feet zero inches shall have a minimum four inch diameter schedule 40 galvanized material, and any gate(s) opening beyond 16 feet zero inches shall have a minimum six and five-eighths (6-5/8) inch diameter schedule 40 galvanized material.
(G)
The trust rod (diagonal rod) shall be three-eighths (3/8) inch diameter and installed at all corners and at the end of gate(s)/opening(s).
(H)
All chain link fences shall have finish cap(s) on top of all posts and shall be a minimum schedule 40 galvanized material.
(I)
The heavy duty chain link side and/or rear yard fence shall be located at least five feet behind any structure within the street frontage area.
(3)
For Temporary Fencing for All Zoning Designations.
(A)
Temporary Fence for Construction Period. A fence permit shall be obtained for the erection of a heavy duty chain link fence meeting the specifications of this section in connection with a construction site. The permit shall have a duration up to six months with a one time extension of an additional six months, subject to paying an additional fence permit fee. Thereafter, any temporary fencing thereafter must be removed and replaced with permanent fencing as per City Code. In addition, the temporary fencing for the construction period shall be set back 10 feet by 10 feet diagonally from the property line when the perimeter fencing is adjacent a neighboring property driveway.
(B)
Temporary Fence for Undeveloped Properties. A fence permit shall be obtained for the erection of a heavy duty chain link fence meeting the specification of this section for temporary fences around undeveloped properties. The permit shall have a duration of one year which may be extended for additional years by the applicant by paying an additional annual permit fee for each year of the extension. In addition to the specifications contained in this section, the fence shall be installed with solid dark green slats to screen the undeveloped property from public view. The fence shall be set back not less than 10 feet zero inches from the property line(s) for that area directly adjacent to a street and/or alley in order to mitigate line-of-sight issues. The required 10 feet zero inch setback area shall be landscaped and maintained per City Code.
(C)
Amortization of Existing Temporary Fences. Temporary construction fences and temporary fences around undeveloped properties which were lawfully erected and lawfully maintained and became nonconforming as a result of this subsection (d)(3) shall be removed and made to conform to the provisions of this section within one year after the effective date of this subsection. This subsection became effective on June 11, 2012.
(4)
Not Allowed Fence and Wall Materials. Front, side and rear yard fences in the Single-Family Residential (R-1), Agricultural Single-Family Residential (A-1), Medium Density Residential (M-D-R), Multiple-Family Residential (M-R), and Mixed Commercial/Single-Family Residential (M-C-R) Zones shall not be constructed of chicken-wire, tin, lattice, sheet metal, plastic that is not heavy duty decorative vinyl, or chain link that does not meet the requirements of Subsection (d)(2). The Planning Director may disapprove other types of fence materials if he or she finds that the material is of a durability or aesthetic quality that is not comparable to the list of approved fence material listed in this subsection.
(Ord. 159, § 77.03; Ord. 434, § 1; Ord. 11-769, § 12; Ord. 14-809, § 6; Ord. 21-912, § 4)
§ 9-2.1402 Hedges.
(a)
Hedges on Properties with Single-Family Dwellings. All height restrictions applying to fences and walls shall also apply to hedges forming a barrier serving the same purpose as a fence or wall and planted within required yards of lots or parcel of lands improved with one-family dwellings and located in the Single-Family Residential (R-1), Agriculture-Single-Family Residential (A-1) or Medium Density Residential (M-D-R) Zones.
(b)
Exceptions.
(1)
A hedge on a lot or parcel of land developed with a single-family home may exceed the height limitation specified in Subsection (a) if located in the rear yard and if used to screen a development project on an abutting property that is two stories or greater in height.
(c)
Vines. The maximum height of a grape vine or other vine on a grape arbor or other arbor shall be nine feet in a required side or rear yard.
(Ord. 159, § 77.03; Ord. 07-724, § 10; Ord. 14-809, § 6)
§ 9-2.1403 Modifications.
Except as provided in Sections 9-2.1401(a)(2) and (b)(2), the Commission, without notice or hearing, may grant a modification of the fence, wall, and hedge provisions for:
(a)
Sites occupied by an agency of the Federal, State, County, or City government;
(b)
Where required by any other statute or law; and
(c)
Where topographic features, subdivision plans, or other conditions create an unnecessary hardship or unreasonable situation making it impractical to require compliance with the fence, wall, and hedge provisions.
Such modifications shall be subject to design review and approval as set forth in Article 20 of this chapter. |
(Ord. 159, § 77.03; Ord. 14-809, § 6)