Hawthorne City Zoning Code
CHAPTER 17
48 FENCES, WALLS, RETAINING WALLS AND HEDGES
§ 17.48.010 General requirements.
A wall, fence or hedge is permitted pursuant to the following conditions:
A.
No fence or wall shall be constructed in any zone classification without first obtaining a building permit therefor.
B.
Where a wall, fence or hedge is located directly on the ground, the height of the fence shall be the vertical distance from the top board, rail, brick, block or wire board, rail, brick, block or wire to the base of the fence at the ground.
C.
No fence, wall or hedge shall be permitted to exceed the maximum height of three and one-half feet in a triangular area as set forth in Section 17.42.090.
D.
No barbed wire is permitted except as specifically provided for by this chapter.
E.
No fence shall be constructed which is charged or chargeable with electricity.
(Ord. 1252 § 28, 1981)
§ 17.48.020 Location and height.
The location and height of fences, walls and hedges in all classifications shall be in conformance with the following:
A.
Residential Classification. A wall, fence, or hedge not more than six feet in height may be located and maintained on any part of the lot, except that a wall, fence, or hedge on any portion of the lot other than the front yard or along a street frontage may exceed six feet in height, up to a maximum of ten feet, in order to prevent criminal activity, based on the recommendation of the city of Hawthorne police department and subject to approval of a fence conditional use permit by the planning commission; however, in the front yard the following requirements shall apply:
1.
The material used for construction of fences or walls shall be wrought iron, wood, decorative block (such as slump stone or split face), brick, stone or stone veneer, or a stucco finish to match the finish of the building. Materials such as chain link fences, wire mesh, or precision block (so as to create an "industrial look") shall not be permitted.
2.
Architectural elements or other articulation, such as pilasters or columns, may be provided; however, the intervals shall not be greater than eight feet.
3.
Decorative block, brick, stone or stone veneer, or stucco finished walls shall be capped.
4.
The first eighteen inches above the finished elevation of the sidewalk may be constructed solid and view obscuring.
5.
Any wall, fence, or hedge above eighteen inches in height shall be more than ninety-five percent open to view. Vertical elements shall not be over three-quarters of an inch in width or depth. Furthermore, no interval greater than eighteen inches, measured horizontally, may be solid or view obscuring.
6.
All fences and walls shall be required to be reviewed and approved by the planning department prior to construction.
B.
Commercial and Industrial Classifications.
1.
The material used for construction of fences or walls shall be wrought iron, wood, decorative block, brick, stone veneer, or a stucco finish to match the finish of the building. Additional material such as chain link fence and precision block shall be permitted. On any boundary line which is a common property line with R classified property, a solid wall or view-obscuring fence of solid brick or decorative block, not less than six feet or more than ten feet in height, shall be installed and maintained for screening purposes and controlling trespass, except where the wall of a building is on such common property line, no separate wall need be installed along the portion of the property line occupied by the wall of a building;
2.
No barbed wire fence shall be erected, constructed or maintained; provided, however, barbed wire may be placed above a fence which is at least six feet in height and not more than three strands, parallel to the supporting fence at a forty-five degree angle, measuring from the top of the block wall toward the inside side of the property line or storage area being enclosed, and which shall not exceed the maximum height for fences and walls of ten feet.
(Ord. 1252 § 28, 1981; Ord. 1625 § 2, 1996; Ord. 1784 § 1, 2004; Ord. 1821 § 47, 2005; Ord. 1867 § 2, 2006)
§ 17.48.030 Retaining walls.
A.
Where a retaining wall protecting a cut below the natural grade is located on the line separating lots or parcels, such retaining wall may be topped by a fence, wall or hedge of the same height that would otherwise be permitted at the location if no retaining wall existed.
B.
Where a retaining wall contains a fill, the height of the retaining wall built to retain the fill shall not be considered as contributing to the permissible height of a wall, fence or hedge. However, such fence above the retaining wall shall not exceed six feet in height.
(Ord. 1252 § 28, 1981)
§ 17.48.040 Fences and walls required.
Any swimming pool, pond, spa or hot tub having a depth greater than three feet shall be enclosed by a structure and/or fence or wall six feet in height. Where the wall of a building is a component part of the enclosure, no separate wall need be installed along that portion occupied by the wall of a building. Any gate or door to the outside shall be equipped with a self-closing device and a self-latching device located not less than four feet above the ground.
(Ord. 1252 § 28, 1981)
§ 17.48.050 Applicability of provisions.
The provisions and conditions of this chapter shall not apply to fences required by the state to surround and enclose public utility installations, except as set forth in the R classifications, or to chain link fences enclosing schoolgrounds and public playgrounds.
(Ord. 1252 § 28, 1981)