Forest Lake City Zoning Code
EXTERIOR STORAGE
IN RESIDENTIAL DISTRICTS; SCREENING AND FENCE REGULATIONS
§ 153.127 EXTERIOR STORAGE IN RESIDENTIAL DISTRICTS.
(A) All material and equipment related to and located on agricultural and residential property shall be stored within a building or fully screened, as required herein, so as not to be visible from streets, highways, or neighboring property except for the following:
(1) Construction and landscaping materials and equipment currently being used on the premises;
(2) Recreational, play, and laundry equipment, if these are used on the premises;
(3) Off-street parking of licensed and operable passenger automobiles and pickup trucks. See § 153.190 for further requirements;
(4) Motorized or non-motorized recreational vehicles. See § 153.190 for further requirements;
(5) Agricultural equipment and materials in agricultural zoning districts;
(6) Firewood piles that are neatly stacked and free from vermin shall be stored in the rear and side yards only. In the case of corner lots, both yards abutting a public right-of-way are considered a front yard.
(B) All parking and driveways to parking areas of multiple-family dwellings shall be screened, as required herein, from adjacent property. See §§ 153.116 et seq. for further requirements.
(C) All parking and driveways to parking areas for non-residential uses in residential districts shall be screened, as required herein, from adjacent property. See §§ 153.116 et seq. for further requirements.
(D) All multi-family structures shall be subject to the building design requirements in § 153.073.
(Ord. 537, passed 11-8-2004; Am. Ord. 596, passed 2-8-2010; Am. Ord. 736, passed 4-22-2024)
§ 153.128 SCREENING.
(A) Types of screening materials. Screening required in this chapter shall consist of: earth mounds, berms, or ground forms; fences and walls; or landscaping (plant materials) or landscaped fixtures (such as timbers), used in combination or singularly, so as to block direct visual access to an object from adjoining properties and public streets throughout the year.
(B) Placement, height, and traffic visibility. The screening required in this chapter shall not be less than 6 feet in height. All screening shall be approved by the city. On a corner lot, no screening or landscaping shall be placed in such a manner so as to pose a danger to traffic by obscuring the view of approaching vehicular traffic or pedestrians from any driveway or street right-of-way. Visibility shall be unobstructed between a height of 3 feet and 10 feet above the center line grades of the intersecting driveways and/or streets, within a triangular area described as follows: beginning at the intersection of the edge of an intersecting driveway and/or curb line of an intersecting street right-of-way, thence to a point 30 feet along the edge of the intersecting driveway or curb line, thence diagonally to a point 30 feet from the point of beginning on the curb line of the intersecting street right-of-way.
(C) Responsibility for screening. The owner or occupant of the premises containing the use or features to be screened shall provide the required screening.
(D) Approval for screening. Plans for screening shall be approved in the site plan review process.
(Ord. 537, passed 11-8-2004; Am. Ord. 596, passed 2-8-2010; Am. Ord. 736, passed 4-22-2024)
§ 153.129 FENCE REGULATIONS.
(A) General. All fences in any district shall conform to the following regulations. In the case where a fence is located in the Shoreland Overlay District, refer to § 153.089 for further regulations.
(1) Fences within all districts shall require a certificate of compliance.
(2) Barbed wire or electrical fences shall be prohibited, except when located in an agriculture zone to confine livestock or protect crops.
(3) Alternative forms of fencing in commercial areas may be allowed upon approval by the city when safety or security is an issue.
(B) Residential fence material requirements.
(1) Fences shall only be constructed of the following materials:
(a) Treated wood, cedar, or redwood;
(b) Simulated wood;
(c) Decorative brick or stone;
(d) Wrought iron or aluminum designed to simulate wrought-iron;
(e) Coated or non-coated chain link;
(f) Split rail;
(g) Other materials or fence types as approved by the city.
(C) Height.
(1) Fence height measurement. Fence height is measured from the fence owner’s yard grade to the top of the fence.
(2) Fences greater than 6 feet in height. Fences greater than 6 feet in height require a building permit and must conform to all the setback and yard regulations in the same manner as building walls, unless located in a commercial or industrial district and approved by a conditional use permit.
(3) Fences 5 to 6 feet in height. Fences 5 to 6 feet in height may be placed anywhere on a lot but not in a required front yard.
(4) Fences 4 feet in height and less. Fences 4 feet in height and less may be placed anywhere on a lot, provided they comply with traffic visibility requirements set forth herein.
(D) Fences around swimming pools. All swimming pools 24 inches or greater in depth shall be fenced with a chain link or other type of impenetrable barrier fence at least 4 feet in height and if equipped with a self-locking gate, it must be self-closing and self-locking unless otherwise stated in the Building Code.
(E) Placement of fences along property lines.
(1) Where a property line is not clearly defined, a certificate of survey shall be required to establish the location of the property line.
(2) Fences may be placed along a property line, provided no physical damage of any kind results to abutting property.
(3) Fences on or within 3 feet of the property line shall give consideration as to the maintenance of the fence and yard.
(4) Fences shall not restrict drainage. Solid wall style fences shall be placed a minimum of 4 inches above finish grade to not impede site drainage. A solid wall style fence may exceed its allowable height by 4 inches to facilitate drainage.
(5) The finished side of fences shall face abutting property.
(6) No fence shall be constructed on public rights-of-way.
(F) Fence maintenance. Every fence shall be constructed in a high quality manner and of substantial material reasonably suited for the purpose for which the fence is proposed to be used. Every fence shall be maintained in a condition of reasonable repair and shall not by reason of age, decay, accident, or otherwise be allowed to become and remain in a state of disrepair so as to be or tend to be a nuisance to the injury of the public or any abutting property. Any fence that is dangerous by reason of its construction or state of disrepair or is otherwise injurious to the public safety, health, or welfare is a nuisance; any such fence that has become or tends to be a nuisance shall be repaired or removed as necessary to abate the nuisance caused.
(G) Traffic visibility. On a corner lot, no fence or landscaping shall be placed in such a manner so as to pose a danger to traffic by obscuring the view of approaching vehicular traffic or pedestrians from any driveway or street right-of-way. Visibility shall be unobstructed between a height of 3 and 10 feet above the center line grades of the intersecting driveways and/or streets within a triangular area described as follows: beginning at the intersection of the edge, an intersecting driveway, and/or curb line of an intersecting street right-of-way, thence to a point 30 feet along the edge of the intersecting driveway or curb line, thence diagonally to a point 30 feet from the point of beginning on the curb line of the intersecting street right-of-way.
(H) Hedges or plantings. In all residential districts, hedges or plantings used as fences for screening or privacy shall be allowed without height restrictions if the hedges or plantings comply with traffic visibility requirements.
(Ord. 537, passed 11-8-2004; Am. Ord. 549, passed 5-22-2006; Am. Ord. 596, passed 2-8-2010; Am. Ord. 736, passed 4-22-2024)