(a)

Screening elements and fences. In order to provide maximum safety to pedestrians and motorists at intersections and at ingress and egress points from public streets, highways, and alleys to private property, to conserve and protect the value of adjacent land and buildings; to protect aesthetic views and vistas, to secure hazardous areas from unauthorized entry, to contain livestock and other agricultural activities, and to screen and protect permitted outside materials storage areas, the following regulations are prescribed for the location, type, and height of regulated required and nonrequired screening elements and fences. The term "screening element" as used herein is defined in section 71-4.

(1)

Traffic visibility at intersections. On a corner lot in any district, nothing shall be erected, placed, planted, or allowed to grow in such a manner as to materially impede vision between a height of two feet and ten feet above the centerline grades of the intersecting streets in the area bounded by the street lines of such corner lots and a line joining points along said street lines 25 feet from the point of the intersection.

(2)

Traffic visibility at interior lots. On an interior lot in any district, nothing shall be erected placed, planted, or allowed to grow in such a manner as to materially impede the vision or in any way create a traffic hazard to motorists entering or exiting any public highway, street, alley, or private street or driveway from or to adjacent private property.

(3)

Residential districts—General.

a.

Screening elements and fences shall be restricted to a maximum height of seven feet, measured from the adjacent grade line, except as otherwise allowed.

b.

Nonresidential uses in a residential district shall be suitably screened from view, to a height not less than six feet or more than twelve feet of any adjacent residential lot or dwelling use along the side and rear property lines of such nonresidential use. Said screening requirements shall not be mandatory for public schools, parks or churches, except where a parking lot or active outdoor intensive use area (such as a playground) is adjacent to a residential lot or dwelling. Parking lot screening need not be more than three and one-half feet in height. Off-street loading areas of any nonresidential use shall be adequately screened from view of any residential dwelling or lot or of any other adjacent public or semi-public land use.

c.

Screening fences or blind fences shall be prohibited in front yards.

(4)

Nonresidential districts—General.

a.

Where a nonresidential use abuts a residential lot, use or district, the side and rear property lines abutting said residential lot, use, or district shall be suitably screened by the nonresidential use so as to obscure the view from the residential lot, use or district to the nonresidential use to a height not less than six feet nor more than eight feet.

b.

Where a district boundary separating a residential district from a nonresidential district is along a street or alley, and an automobile parking lot or parking area is located in the front yard of the nonresidential use, then said parking lot or parking area facing the residential lot, use, or district shall be suitably screened to a height of not less than 3½ feet.

c.

Where garbage, refuse, and trash collection/storage is permitted and the screening thereof is required, then such screening shall be provided around the entire perimeter thereof of not less than six feet nor more than eight feet in height.

d.

In all districts where open storage is permitted and the screening thereof is required, then such screening shall be provided around the exposed perimeter thereof of not less than six feet nor more than eight feet in height.

e.

Off-street loading areas shall be adequately screened from view of any residential dwelling or of any other adjacent residential land use.

f.

No screening element comprised of brick, masonry, concrete, or solid metal shall be erected or placed which would interfere with the installation or maintenance of any public utility line, service, or drainage way, within the easements reserved therefor.

g.

All required screening elements shall be permanently and adequately maintained by the nonresidential property owner.

(5)

Barbed wire fences.

a.

Barbed wire fences used in conjunction with permitted agricultural and related activities and in industrial districts is permitted without restrictions, but is expressly prohibited in all other districts except as provided below.

b.

Barbed wire strands may be placed on top of permitted fences and screening elements in an industrial or general commercial district for the purpose of security from theft, entry, and hazard around public utility substations and uses of a similar nature, provided the top strand is not higher than eight feet nor the bottom strand lower than six feet from the adjacent grade line.

(b)

Accessory buildings. The following regulations shall govern the location, size, and use of any accessory buildings:

(1)

No accessory building shall be erected in any required yard area as stipulated in this chapter, except as allowed in the following paragraphs.

(2)

No accessory building shall be erected within ten feet of any other building, except detached residential garages may be located within five feet of the main dwelling, and except as the provisions of paragraph (5) below are met.

(3)

No detached residential garage or carport shall be erected or placed closer to any street or alley right-of-way line than the minimum yard requirements (building set-back line) governing the district in which such garage or carport is located.

(4)

No detached residential garage or carport shall be erected or placed within eight feet from any side lot line.

(5)

Residential accessory buildings and sheds housing domestic lawn and garden equipment and all other household effects may be detached or attached to the main building, but shall not encroach in any required front yard, and may not occupy more than 30 percent of the rear yard.

(6)

No accessory building shall be used for dwelling purposes other than by domestic servants employed on the premises, as provided in the applicable zoning district.

(7)

No accessory building shall be higher than the main building and in no case be in excess of 18 feet in height.

(8)

No accessory building shall be erected or placed within three feet of any side or rear lot line and shall not encroach upon any easement.

(c)

Projections of buildings, structures, and appurtenances into required yards.

(1)

Open or lattice enclosed fire escapes may project into a required yard not to exceed five feet. The ordinary projections of chimney's pilasters shall be permitted by the city's building inspector when placed so as not to obstruct light and ventilation.

(2)

Terraces, balconies, decks, uncovered porches and ornamental features, which do not extend more than four feet from the side wall line and being at least seven feet above the floor level of the ground (first) story, may project into a required side yard, provided these projections be a distance at least four feet from any adjacent side lot line. Such features may not project onto a required front or rear yard more than eight feet from the front or rear wall line.

(3)

An unenclosed porch containing not more than 40 square feet may project into a required front yard for a distance not to exceed five feet.

(4)

A carport or canopy may project into a required side yard, provided every part of such carport or canopy is unenclosed, except for necessary structural supports, and not less than five feet from any side lot line.

(5)

Every part of a required yard shall be open to the sky, unobstructed by a building, except for the ordinary projections of sills, belt courses, cornices, and ornamental features not exceeding 12 inches, or as otherwise excepted in paragraphs (1) through (4) above.

(d)

Parking, storage or use of major recreational equipment and vehicles. No major recreational equipment shall be parked or stored on any lot in a residential district, except in a carport or enclosed building, on a driveway, or in a required side or rear yard, except that such equipment may be parked anywhere on a residential premises not to exceed 24 hours during loading or unloading. No such equipment shall be used for living, sleeping, or housekeeping purposes when parked or stored on a residential lot, except for the temporary housing of guests not to exceed two consecutive weeks. For purposes of these regulations, major recreational equipment is defined as including boats and boat trailers, travel trailers, pickup campers, or coaches (designed to be mounted on automotive vehicles), motorized dwellings, tent trailers, and the like, and cases or boxes used for transporting recreational equipment, whether occupied by such equipment or not.

(Ord. No. 953, 12-12-2005; Ord. No. O-2014-008, 3-24-2014)