HomeMy WebLinkAboutHam Lake Fence Requirements City of Ham Lake
15544 Central Avenue NE • Ham Lake, MN 55304
Building Dept. 763-235-1691
Fax 763-235-1697
FENCES AND HEDGES REQUIREMENTS
11-200 Fences and Hedges
11-210 Definitions
For the purposes of this Code, the following terms shall have the meanings herein stated:
A. Fence. Any structure which is 36 inches or more in height, and a length of 6 feet or more,
which is composed on non-living materials which cover the entire area bounded by said
height and length criteria;
B. Hedge. Any grouping of vegetation which creates a visual barrier of a substantially opaque
nature for a length of 6 feet or more and for a height of from ground level to 36 inches above
ground level;
C. Front Yard. The area between the public street right-of-way line and the minimum required
building setback line, as measured along any side of a lot. Lakeshore properties shall be
considered on both lakeside and roadside to be front yards.
D. Side Yard. The area between the front yard and back yard of any lot;
E. Back Yard. The area lying to the rear of the rear building line of the principal structure on
any lot;
F. Principal Structure. In the case of property used wholly or partially for residential
purposes, the principal structure shall be the structure housing any dwelling unit. In all other
cases, the principal structure shall be the structure located closest to any adjacent street, or,
in the case of more than one building equidistant from such street, the building containing
the greater square footage shall be deemed the principal structure.
11-220 Height
Fences and hedges shall not exceed the following heights unless a variance from this
ordinance is granted by the City Council.
11-220.1 Varied Height Requirements
The above fence height requirements may be varied by resolution of the City Council, where
the following conditions are met:
a) The fence will not present any public safety problems;
b) The height requested will not deprive adjoining properties of air, light, or ventilation,
sight lines or create aesthetic problems.
Zoning Front Yard Side yard Back Yard
Classification
R-1, R-2, RS-1, RS- 4 feet 6 feet 6 feet
2, ML-PUD, PUD
R-A, C-A 4 feet 6 feet 6 feet
CD-1-2-3 & 4, B-1, • 6-12 feet • 6-12 feet • 6-12 feet
B-2
1-1, I-2 • 6-12 feet • 6-12 feet • 6- 12 feet
• Height marked with an asterisk may be increased by two feet to accommodate a barbed
wire security arm top.
11-230 Permit Required. No person, firm, or corporation, except on a farm and related to farming
activities, shall hereafter construct or erect or cause to be constructed or erected within the City of
Ham Lake any fence which is intended to be a permanent structure on the premises, without first
securing a building permit.
11-240 Construction and Maintenance of Fences Generally. Every fence shall be constructed
in a substantial, workmanlike manner and of substantial material reasonably suited for the purpose
for which the fence is proposed to be used. Fences shall be constructed so that their more
attractive side faces neighboring property. Every fence shall be maintained in a condition of
reasonable repair and shall not be allowed to become and remain in a condition of disrepair or
danger, or constitute a nuisance, public or private. Any such fence which is, or has become
dangerous to the public safety, health or welfare, is a public nuisance and the Ham Lake Building
Inspector shall commence proper proceedings for the abatement thereof. Link fences, wherever
permitted, shall be constructed in such a manner that no barbed ends shall be at the top except in
Industrial and Commercial Districts. Electric and barbed wire fences shall be permitted only on
agriculturally zoned property (R-A), and shall be permitted only when necessary to further so bona
fide agricultural purpose.
11-250 Residential District Fences. The following conditions shall apply in the R-1 , RS-1 and
PUD zoning districts:
(1) No fence shall be erected in any front yard to a height in excess of four (4) feet, nor in
any other location to a height in excess of six (6) feet.
(2) On corner lots in all districts, no fence or planting in excess of thirty (30) inches above
the street center line grade shall be permitted within a triangular area defined as follows:
Beginning at the intersection of the projected curbing lines of two intersecting streets,
thence twenty (20) feet along one property line, thence diagonally to a point twenty (20)
feet from the point of beginning on the other property line, thence to the point of
beginning.
(3) In those instances where a fence exists as an enclosure which restricts access from the
front to the rear yard, a gate, identifiable collapsible section, or other such means of
recognizable ingress/egress shall be unobstructed and a minimum of three (3) feet in
width. The location of such ingress/egress points shall be positioned at any point
paralleling the front lot line, between the side lot property line and the principle structure.
(4) Fences on the corner lots must receive special consideration from the Ham Lake
Building Official to assure site safety before a Building Permit is issued. This review
may require the applicant to pay an additional fee if extraordinary means need to be
taken to ascertain impacts (i.e. consultation by a Traffic Engineer).
(5) Lakeshore properties shall be considered on both lakeside and roadside to be
frontyards. In lakeside frontyard of lakeshore properties a maximum of twenty (20) feet
of privacy fence can be erected from the rear of the home. Beyond twenty (20) feet a
four (4) foot fence, not of opaque material may be erected to extend no further than the
high water mark. In roadside frontyard of Iakeshore properties shall meet the residential
frontyard requirements.
(6) No fence shall be constructed of plastic mesh, snow-fence lath, chicken-wire, or any
other metal except for wrought iron or chain-link.
11-260 Commercial and Industrial Fences.
Fences in all Commercial and Industrial Zoning shall not be less than 6 (six) feet and not
exceed twelve (12) feet in height and may be increased to accommodate a barbed wire security
arm top except that:
(1) Special Purpose Fences. Fences for special purposes and fences differing in
construction, height or length may be permitted in any district in the City of Ham Lake
with approval by the Planning and Zoning Commission and City Council. Findings shall
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be made that the fence is necessary to protect, buffer or improve the premises for which
the fence is intended.
(2) Metal panel and chain link fencing are not appropriate in Commercial Development Tier
1 (CD-1) zoning. Fencing is not appropriate in front yard area facing Highway 65.
11-270 Inground Swimming Pools — Every "in-ground" swimming pool shall be enclosed by a
fence or wall not less than four feet high. In-ground shall be defined to mean a pool requiring
excavation of more than 12 inches of existing grade.
11-280 Electrified Security Fences
Notwithstanding the provisions of Article 11-240, electrified security fencing may be installed in
areas zoned CD-1 , CD-2, CD-3, CD-4, I-P, 1-1, or G-F, under the following circumstances:
(a) The electrification is necessary to prevent or deter intrusion into an outdoor storage area
during non-business hours. In order to document need, the applicant shall furnish a
written communication from a representative of the Anoka County Sheriff's Office
confirming that an electrified fence would constitute a crime deterrent for the particular
parcel to be served;
(b) The electrification is charged only during non-business hours of the establishment;
(c) The electrification is at a voltage level that is non-lethal to humans, and otherwise not a
threat to cause serious injury;
(d) The installation meets all applicable electrical codes;
(e) The design of the system is approved by the City's building official after review by the Fire
Department and the Anoka County Sheriff's Office. The City may establish as a design
limitation a condition that only limited strands of wires at predetermined heights may be
electrified;
(f) Adequate warning signs are posted, to the specifications of the City's building official;
(g) The system has a shutoff that is easily accessible by emergency responders;
(h) A permit has been obtained from the City's building official, after payment of a permit fee
to be established from time to time by the City Council. The City may revoke a permit if
the fence is not properly constructed, used or maintained.
8/2009
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