Freehold Township City Zoning Code

Fences in residential zones may be erected, altered or reconstructed to a height not exceeding six feet above ground level when located to the rear of the front building line and not exceeding three feet in height when located in front of the building line or in a front yard. For the purpose of erecting a fence on a corner lot, the facade where the main (front) door is located shall be considered the front of the house. A fence up to six feet in height may be erected to the rear and side of the house adjacent to the side street as follows: The fence may begin at the rear corner of the house nearest the intersection to a distance calculated at half the required front setback for the zone, and then run parallel with the side street and extend to the property line. (Also see § 190-108 for lots having frontage on two parallel streets.) Fences on residential lots abutting designated scenic roadway corridors must also satisfy the requirements of the SC Scenic Roadway Corridor Overlay Zone.

Fences in business and/or industrial zones may be erected to a height not to exceed six feet above ground level in any yard, except that open wire fences may be erected to a height not to exceed eight feet above ground level for security purposes. Fences in business and/or industrial zones that are located on property abutting a designated scenic roadway corridor, must also satisfy the requirements of the SC Scenic Roadway Corridor Overlay Zone.

All fences must be erected entirely within the property line. No fence shall be erected within any public right-of-way.

On farms only, open wire fences may be erected to a height not to exceed six feet in height within any part of the farm premises. Any other type fence may be erected to a height not to exceed four feet when located within 25 feet of any street line, and six feet when located more than 25 feet from a street line. Fences on farms abutting designated scenic roadway corridors must also satisfy the requirements of the SC Scenic Roadway Corridor Overlay Zone.

Barbed wire fences shall not be permitted except on farms and in the industrial zone. When used in the business and/or industrial zones, barbed wire may only be used when needed for security purposes and must be mounted on top of a fence having a minimum height of six feet above ground level. Barbed wire fences shall not be permitted within a Scenic Corridor Overlay Zone District.

Electrically charged fences may be used only on farms. All electrically charged fences shall be posted with signs designed to warn persons of their presence and nature.

All fences shall be maintained in a safe, sound and upright condition and shall be erected with the framework or supporting structure facing the inside of the lot.

No fence shall be erected which is embedded with or made of pieces of glass, sharpened metal, or sharp or otherwise hazardous material, nor shall any fence be erected which is intended to injure persons or animals. (This prohibition shall not apply to barbed wire fences.)

Where any commercial property abuts a residential zone, a landscape buffer strip in accordance with schedule of area, yard and building requirements under the heading width and buffer zone shall be permanently maintained along the property line abutting the residential zone.

Buffer areas shall consist of lawn areas and massed evergreen and deciduous trees and shrubs planted in a manner that will provide a continuous visual screen throughout the entire year. The Planning Board shall determine the interval of spacing between plants based upon the species of tree or shrub. In no event shall the species chosen take longer than five years to provide a continuous visual screen.

Evergreen and deciduous shrubs shall have a minimum height of three feet when planted.

Required buffers may be used for no other purpose than as a buffer. The only structures which may be erected within a buffer area are fences as elsewhere regulated in this chapter.

The height of shrubs planted in a buffer area shall be measured from the ground level around the base of the shrub to the topmost part of the shrub, once the shrub has been properly planted in the ground.

All nonpaved areas on properties used for any purpose other than farming shall be suitably landscaped with trees, shrubs, grass, and other suitable landscaping materials.

Where an area required for a buffer is already wooded, it shall be suitably supplemented with trees, shrubs, grass and other landscaping materials to meet the intent of this section.

Where any property abuts a designated scenic roadway corridor, a buffer shall be maintained in accordance with the requirements set forth in the SC Scenic Corridor Overlay Zone District.