North Richland Hills
City Zoning Code
City Zoning Code
ARTICLE VIII
SCREENING AND FENCING STANDARDS
§ 118-870 Purpose and applicability.
(a)
Purpose.
It is the purpose of this article to provide standards for screening in order to mitigate the effects of potential nuisances such as dirt, litter, noise, heat, and glare of lights, and to protect public and private investment. It is also the intent of this section to provide for the safe construction and maintenance of walls and fences constructed in the city.
(b)
Applicability.
This article shall be applicable to all new construction or where 50 percent or more of an existing screen, fence or wall requires replacement.
(c)
Enforcement.
The chief building official, or his/her designee, shall administer and enforce the provisions of this article relating to screening and fencing.
(Ordinance 3244, § 3, adopted 4/22/2013)
§ 118-871 Masonry screening walls.
(a)
Applicability.
In addition to the applicability standards herein provided in section 118-870, this Section shall be applicable to any proposed building remodeling, alteration, addition, or expansion in which either the value of the proposed improvements exceed 50 percent of the current appraised value of the existing structure, excluding the value of the land, or increases the square footage of the building by 30 percent or more.
(b)
Masonry screening wall required.
A masonry screening wall, not less than six feet nor more than eight feet in panel height, shall be required on all property in accordance with section 118-872, except as otherwise provided herein.
(c)
Location of screening wall.
The masonry screening wall shall be constructed along the entire length of the common property line between such properties and within the property required to erect the screening wall. The masonry-screening wall shall be constructed prior to the issuance of any certificate of occupancy.
(d)
Abutting Iron Horse Golf Course.
Residential lots that abut Iron Horse Golf Course shall be exempt from the masonry screening wall requirement.
(e)
Little Bear Creek Corridor.
Only those portions of lots or tracts lying within the Little Bear Creek Corridor shall be exempt from the masonry screening wall requirements.
(f)
R-7-MF multifamily residential district and MH-1 HUD Code manufactured district.
Perimeter screening abutting public street right-of-way, parks, or other dedicated open space shall be provided as follows:
(1)
Where a proposed development is adjacent to a C-4-U thoroughfare, or larger, as shown on the master thoroughfare plan, said screening shall consist of a permanent decorative masonry screening wall, not less than six feet in height, constructed along and adjacent to said thoroughfare.
(2)
Where a proposed development is adjacent to a C-2-U or R-2-U thoroughfare, park, or other dedicated open space, said screening wall shall consist of a permanent decorative screening wall of masonry, stone, or wrought iron type construction, or a combination thereof, not less than six feet in height. Wrought iron material shall not exceed 40 percent of the total wall face, including columns.
(g)
Hotel/motel developments.
A masonry screening wall shall be eight feet in height where a motel or hotel use abuts property zoned for residential use, designated on the comprehensive land use plan for residential use, or used or subdivided for residential use.
(h)
Masonry screening walls required along C-4-U or larger.
The rear or side lot lines of any new residential subdivision adjacent to any thoroughfare designated as C-4-U or larger on the Master Thoroughfare Plan shall provide a masonry screening wall. No screening wall shall be constructed within the street right-of-way.
(i)
Masonry screening walls.
Masonry screening walls shall be constructed in accordance with the Public Works Design Manual and, where possible, shall be in a manner consistent with the exterior finish of the main building in material and color. Where applicable, screening walls shall be extensions of the development's architectural design.
(j)
Outdoor storage of material or commodities.
Outdoor storage of material and commodities shall be screened with a minimum six-foot masonry wall. Materials or commodities shall not be stacked at a height greater than the height of the screening wall/fence. See section 118-716, outside storage regulations.
(k)
Screening not required for outdoor display, temporary uses, or incidental outdoor display.
Outdoor display, temporary uses and incidental outdoor display, as defined within section 118-715, are exempt from the screening requirements of this section.
(l)
Loading docks and delivery entrances facing public street.
Loading docks and delivery entrances facing a public street shall require approval of a special use permit in accordance with division 6, article II of this chapter. Loading docks and delivery entrances not facing a public street shall be screened from any public roadway. Service/loading areas shall be screened from view from property zoned for residential use or O-1 office district, designated on the comprehensive land use plan for residential or office use, or used or subdivided for residential use by a minimum six-foot tall masonry wall, a solid living screen or a combination thereof.
(m)
Screening of vehicles waiting repair.
A masonry screening wall not less than six feet nor more than eight feet in panel height, shall be required to screen any vehicle parked or stored for the purpose of pending repairs.
(Ordinance 1874, art. X, § 1020(A)—(C), adopted 3/22/1993; Ordinance 2069, § 1, adopted 12/11/1995; Ordinance 2186, § 3, adopted 4/14/1997; Ordinance 2429, § 1, adopted 11/22/1999; Ordinance 3244, § 4, adopted 4/22/2013)
§ 118-872 Table of district screening requirements.
The following is the table of district masonry screening requirements. Where a residential zoning district is not listed, no district screening requirements exist. Refer to separate screening requirements in the town center zoning district and transit-oriented development zoning district.
Table 10-F Masonry Screening Requirements for Districts Shown in Column 1 When Abutting Certain Districts | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Column 1 | Abutting District | |||||||||||
Wall Required This District | AG | RE-1 & RE-2 | R-1 | R-2 | R-3 | R-4-D | R-6-T | R-8 | MH-1 | R-7-MF | U | PD |
R-7-MF | R 2 | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R 1 | ||
MH-1 | R 2 | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R 1 | |
O-1 | R 2 | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R 1 |
LR | R 2 | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R 1 |
C-1 | R 2 | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R 1 |
C-2 | R 2 | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R 1 |
OC | R 2 | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R 1 |
I-1 | R 2 | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R 1 |
I-2 | R 2 | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R 1 |
U | R 2 | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R 1 | |||
PD | As required by the approved site plan | |||||||||||
Notes: |
|---|
"R" denotes masonry screening wall requirement. |
1 Wall required when the planned development is for residential use. |
2 Wall required when the AG-zoned district is planned for low density residential or medium density residential use on the Comprehensive Land Use Plan. |
(Ordinance 1874, art. X, § 1020(D), adopted 3/22/1993; Ordinance 2086, § 3, adopted 11/13/1995; Ordinance 2184, § 2, adopted 3/24/1997; Ordinance 2209, § 1, adopted 7/14/1997; Ordinance 2274, § 8, adopted 3/23/1998; Ordinance 2444, § 1, adopted 1/10/2000; Ordinance 2599, Ex. B, adopted 2/11/2002; Ordinance 3244, § 5, adopted 4/22/2013; Ordinance 3247, § 14, adopted 6/10/2013; Ordinance 3837, § 21, adopted 1/22/2024)
§ 118-873 Screening wall and fence criteria generally.
(a)
Height.
Walls and fences shall be no greater than eight feet in height. The height of a wall or fence shall be the vertical distance between the ground and the top of the wall or fence. In terrain where the ground slopes at a grade of ten percent or more, the wall or fence may be built in eight-foot horizontal stair step sections. The average height of each fence section shall be no greater than eight feet in height. Masonry columns may exceed the maximum height by no more than eight inches and shall not exceed the average height of the adjacent fence sections by more than eight inches.
(b)
Maintenance.
(1)
All screening and fences shall be adequately maintained, kept in good repair and in sound structural condition by the property owner and shall not create urban blight. Dilapidated fences shall be repaired or replaced in accordance with provisions of this article.
(2)
The property owner shall maintain fences, including those existing prior to the adoption of this section, at all times in a state of good repair, safe and secure condition, with all braces, bolts, nails, supporting frames and fastenings free from deterioration, termite infestation, rot, rust or loosening, and able to withstand at all times the wind pressure for which they were designed.
(3)
Property owners shall paint, stain and/or seal fence supports, gates, structural members and exterior surfaces as necessary to prevent rusting, peeling or blistering surfaces. Board-on-board and similar wood privacy fences may be painted or stained with natural wood colors. The use of high intensity, primary, metallic, or fluorescent colors shall be prohibited on any fence surface.
(c)
Front yards.
Fences may only be allowed in front yards of property zoned for single-family residential and agricultural uses which have at least 100 feet of frontage on a street. Such fences shall be open air or nonsight-barring fences and shall meet the following standards:
(1)
Fences shall be wrought iron or ornamental metal, may have brick or stone columns spaced 20 to 50 feet on center, and shall be no greater than four feet in height.
(2)
Front yard fences greater than four feet and no higher than six feet in height may be permitted on residential lots greater than one acre in size with 200 feet or more of street frontage. Said fence shall be wrought iron or ornamental metal and shall have brick or stone columns spaced 20 to 50 feet on center. Such properties, if zoned AG, RE-1, or RE-2 may also be permitted a rural fence type as provided herein.
(3)
A Rural Fence may be permitted in the front yard of any property zoned AG or RE-1, with a minimum of one acre, and with at least 150 feet of frontage on a street. Said rural fence may not exceed five feet in height and may be one of the following fence types: mortised split rail, wrought iron or ornamental metal, tubular steel pipe, post-and-rail, or post-and-board. The use of cable may be permitted in conjunction with tubular steel pipe fencing. The use of continuous square mesh fencing, or "non-climb" fencing, and/or masonry columns spaced 20 to 50 feet on center may be used in conjunction with any of the aforementioned rural fence types. The use of barbed wire or electric fencing for the purpose of livestock containment shall only be permitted in conjunction with any of the aforementioned rural fence types.
(4)
Private entry driveway gates may be permitted for any property that is permitted a front yard fence. Said gates shall be set back from the planned ultimate right-of-way line as shown by the master thoroughfare plan a minimum of 20 feet to accommodate the on-site queuing of one vehicle.
(d)
Visibility triangle.
All walls and fences located on a corner lot shall comply with any applicable visibility sight triangles as provided for in this chapter.
(e)
Transverse frontage lots.
When the rear yard of a first lot abuts the side yard of a second lot, no fence on the first lot shall encroach into the side yard adjacent to the street unless the fence complies with subsection (c) of this section.
(f)
Reverse frontage lots.
When the rear yards of two corner lots abut, fences complying with this section may be constructed within the side yard adjacent to the street. (g)
(g)
Prohibited fencing material.
No fence shall be constructed of sheet/corrugated metal, plywood, concrete masonry unit block, or other materials not manufactured or designed for the primary purpose of fence construction. The use of "V" or "diamond" mesh, or chain link fencing is not permitted forward of the principal building on the lot, nor along any street frontage.
(h)
Finished side facing thoroughfare.
Wood fences adjacent to a collector or arterial street as identified on the master thoroughfare plan shall have the finished or smooth side of the fence facing the thoroughfare and fence posts shall face interior to the lot.
(i)
[Fence adjacent to screening wall.]
Where a residential subdivision masonry screening wall is provided adjacent to a C-4-U collector street or larger as identified on the master thoroughfare plan, the height of a fence adjacent or perpendicular to the screening wall shall not exceed the height of the subdivision's screening wall.
(Ordinance 1874, art. X, § 1025, adopted 3/22/1993; Ordinance 2209, § 1, adopted 7/14/1997; Ordinance 2356, § 1, adopted 1/11/1999; Ordinance 2444, § 1, adopted 1/10/2000; Ordinance 2577, adopted 10/22/2001; Ordinance 3052, § 2, adopted 5/18/2009; Ordinance 3244, § 6, adopted 4/22/2013; Ordinance 3837, § 22, adopted 1/22/2024)
§ 118-874 Screening of outdoor refuse containers.
The following section shall apply to all refuse containers, trash dumpsters/containers, trash compactors, box compactors, and other similar containers which are used for the disposal of waste. For the purposes of this section, all such facilities shall be termed "container."
(1)
Container enclosure material and dimension standards.
a.
Containers shall be screened on three sides using any combination of brick, stone, split-face concrete masonry unit with integral color, or other masonry materials installed in a craftsman-like manner that are a minimum of one inch thick and imbedded in a cementitious reinforced substrate. Container enclosures shall be consistent with the exterior finish of the main building in material and color.
b.
Container enclosures shall have a minimum internal dimension of 12 feet wide by 12 feet deep and shall meet the guidelines provided in Figure I-13, article IX. For every dumpster added, an additional ten feet in width is required. One pedestrian access door or gate with spring-loaded or self-closing hinges shall be provided and shall meet the location and orientation standards provided herein.
c.
Said enclosure shall be constructed to be the greater between a minimum of six feet or one foot in height above the container. In no case shall materials be stored higher than the screening provided.
d.
Where possible, screening walls around service areas and/or dumpster enclosures shall be similar to or extensions of the development's architectural design.
e.
Container enclosures shall be equipped with opaque metal gates fabricated from a minimum 20 gauge metal deck supported by a frame on spring-loaded or self-closing hinges. Gates shall be capable of fully screening the area from public view when closed.
(2)
Location and orientation.
Containers and their enclosures shall only be allowed as an incidental use on a property, and only when located behind the building line established by the structure and not within any side or rear yard setback or any required landscaped buffer yard. Container enclosures shall be located and oriented such to minimize visual impact from adjacent properties and rights-of-way.
(3)
Residential setback.
Containers and their enclosures shall be set back a minimum of 25 feet from all property zoned for residential use, designated on the comprehensive land use plan for residential use, or used or subdivided for residential use.
(4)
Landscape screening.
When a container enclosure is located adjacent to landscape area, it shall be additionally screened by evergreen shrubs reaching a mature height between five and fifteen feet. The quantity and spread of shrubs required shall be determined by the anticipated spread of the selected evergreen shrub at full growth.
(5)
Gates.
Gates to any such area shall remain closed except when filling or emptying the container.
(6)
Recycling containers.
Recycling containers shall not be required to be screened but be set back behind all the building setback lines of the primary structure.
(Ordinance 2444, § 1, adopted 1/10/2000; Ordinance 3244, § 7, adopted 4/22/2013)
§ 118-875 Safety.
No screening wall or fence shall be constructed or maintained in a manner that endangers the health or safety of the general public. The following regulations are adopted for public safety:
(1)
Barbed wire.
Fences constructed of barbed wire, except for livestock fences, and walls topped with broken glass or surfaced with similar materials shall be prohibited.
(2)
Security fences.
A security fence of not less than six feet in height may be topped by barbed wire only in the HC commercial, I-1 light industrial, and I-2 medium industrial zoning districts.
(3)
Electric fences.
Electric fences are prohibited in the city with the exception of the use of a maximum of four (4) strands of wires no taller than four (4) feet in height for the purpose of controlling livestock within the Agricultural and R1S zoning districts.
(Ordinance 1874, art. X, § 1027, adopted 3/22/1993; Ordinance 2209, § 1, adopted 7/14/1997; Ordinance 2444, § 1, adopted 1/10/2000; Ordinance 2599, Ex. B, adopted 2/11/2002; Ordinance 3274, § 1, adopted 10/14/2013)
§ 118-876 Vehicle storage facility screening.
Vehicle storage facility parking shall be landscaped in accordance with the separate landscaping regulations. The vehicle storage facility shall be screened around its entire perimeter with a maximum 30-inch high earth berm with one to three (1:3) (one vertical to three horizontal) slopes set within a minimum 20-foot wide parking lot edge. Such parking lot edge shall be provided between the property line and the edge of the parking lot. The entire length of the berm shall be vegetated with live plant material as listed in the adopted plant material list of the landscaping regulations found in article III, chapter 114 of this Code. The vehicle storage area shall be landscaped according to the requirements for landscaping of parking lots.
(Ordinance 1874, art. X, § 1028, adopted 3/22/1993; Ordinance 1938, § 1, adopted 10/11/1993; Ordinance 2209, § 1, adopted 7/14/1997; Ordinance 2444, § 1, adopted 1/10/2000)
§ 118-877 Mechanical equipment screening for nonresidential uses and nonresidential zoning.
(a)
Roof-mounted mechanical equipment.
Such equipment shall be screened from public view with a parapet wall, mansard-style roof or other architectural extension equal in height to the unit, except when the unit height exceeds five feet. The maximum screening wall height shall not exceed five feet. When the height of the units does exceed five feet, an additional roof setback for the unit shall be required at a ratio of two horizontal feet for each additional foot of vertical height above five feet. Public view shall be determined from any and all points on subject property where views from public street rights-of-way exist or occur.
(b)
Ground-mounted mechanical equipment.
Such equipment, with the exception of TXU's distribution voltage of 25 kv (kilovolts) or smaller, shall be screened from public view with a screening wall or living screen equal in height to the unit. The screening may be constructed of masonry, wood, or evergreen plant materials. Public view shall be determined from any and all points along the adjacent right-of-way.
(Ordinance 2109, § 2, adopted 3/28/1996; Ordinance 2444, § 1, adopted 1/10/2000; Ordinance 3052, § 3, adopted 5/18/2009; Ordinance 3244, § 8, adopted 4/22/2013)
§ 118-878 Metal posts required on wood privacy fences.
(a)
All new wood fences and wood fences being completely replaced must use metal or concrete posts set in concrete as approved by the building official. Alternative fence post materials for decorative fences such as vinyl or split rail fences may be approved by the building official.
(Ordinance 2933, § 3, adopted 5/14/2007)
§ 118-879 Chain link fences.
(a)
Chain link fences existing prior to the adoption of this section may be replaced with a permit.
(b)
New chain link fences. New chain link fences shall not be permitted along any thoroughfare, shall not be visible from the street, and shall be vinyl-clad or powder-coated in black or dark green. New chain link fences visible from a public street shall require a special use permit in accordance with division 6, article II of this chapter.
(c)
Exceptions. Chain link fences may be permitted for fencing of dog runs, sports courts, parks, playgrounds, municipal and school property, temporary/special events, and construction sites.
(Ordinance 3244, § 9, adopted 4/22/2013)