Belleville City Zoning Code
§ 23-18.6.1
Fences.
[Ord. No. 3134; Ord. No. 3182; amended 7-9-2019 by Ord. No. 3537; 10-13-2020 by Ord. No. 3598; 4-12-2022 by Ord. No. 3644]
a.
In any zone the finished side of any fence shall face the adjacent properties and/or the street line.
b.
In any zone fences are required to be located on the property line.
c.
Hedges and shrubs used as screening along property lines instead of fencing shall be permitted in accordance with height regulations herein specified for open fences in the respective zones in which they are situated, unless otherwise regulated herein.
d.
Fences shall be erected in a manner so as to permit the flow of natural drainage and shall not cause surface water to be blocked or dammed to create ponding.
e.
No fence shall be erected without a building permit.
f.
Fences in the R-A1, R-A2, R-B, R-C and SLR Zones:
1.
In any residential zone, no fence shall be erected of barbed wire, topped with metal spikes, or constructed of any material or in manner which may be dangerous to persons or animals.
2.
The height of a fence shall be measured from the ground immediately adjacent to it and shall include all attachments thereto, and be constructed following the contour of the land.
3.
No stockade or other such opaque fence shall be permitted in the front yard.
4.
The following fences are permitted:
(a)
A fence erected in the side yard area or on the side lot line shall be not exceed six feet in height from the front of the building line to the rear yard, and shall not exceed four feet in height from the front of the building into the front yard.
(b)
A fence erected along the rear property line shall not exceed six feet in height.
(c)
Only open type fencing such as chain link or other non-opaque fencing shall be permitted within the front yard, including the area along the side property line and extending from the front of the building line into the front yard. In the case of corner lots, where the rear lot line abutting the side lot line of adjacent lots, the same standard shall apply for the area extending from the front of the building into the front yard.
(d)
Any style fencing shall be permitted along the side and rear property lines of standard lots. On Corner lots any style fencing shall be permitted on the side lot lines from the building face back.
5.
Fences enclosing a private swimming pool shall comply with the applicable provisions of the Township Code and shall be capable of being securely fastened and locked by the owner.
6.
On a lot where a dwelling is situated with a side or rear property line that is adjacent to a non-residential use or zone, a decorative screen fence may be erected along the adjacent non-residential property. It shall not exceed eight feet in height provided it does not extend beyond the front of the principal building or into the front yard.
g.
Fences in All Non-R Zones: Fences in the front yard along a public right-of-way shall not exceed six feet in height and shall be of an open design and decorative type, such as tubular metal with masonry piers or tubular metal with a three to five foot high hedge.
h.
Fence Repair and Maintenance.
1.
Typical repair and maintenance of fencing to keep it from deteriorating is permitted and required in order to maintain erect and unbroken fencing.
2.
Existing fences with replacement or repair of more than 25% of the portion of the structure needing repair shall be required to comply with the current fence standards of the district in terms of location, type and height.