Sean C. Morgan
The default limit for fences in Sweet Home may change to 7 feet, up from 6 feet, if the City Council adopts ordinance revisions in the city’s fence code.
The Sweet Home Planning Commission will likely decide at its May 4 meeting whether to recommend to the City Council approval of revisions. The commission reviewed the ordinance during its regular meeting on April 6.
The most substantive change is fence height restriction, said Planning Services Manager Laura LaRoque. “It expands it. It clarifies things that were unclear before.”
State building codes regarding fence height have changed, LaRoque said. This revision follows the state code, allowing most fences to reach 7 feet instead of 6 feet.
In front yards, within 20 feet of the property lines, fences remain limited to 3 1/2 feet for solid fences and 4 feet for open fences, such as chain link, LaRoque said. Corner properties are still limited to 3 1/2 and 4 feet along the street side yard within three feet of the property line.
Past those limitations, fence heights may be 6 feet, and pending passage of the ordinance revisions, 7 feet.
The proposed ordinance will address flag lots, which are lots that do not directly abut a street. They are located behind another lot, with an easement or small strip of property for a driveway.
Under the existing ordinance, they are limited to the same restrictions on fence height in the front yard as a lot abutting a street, LaRoque said. The revisions eliminate the restriction and allow full-sized 7-foot fences.
“Blanket policies don’t help in certain situations,” LaRoque said.
Other changes are provided to add clarity, like the issue with flag lots, LaRoque said.
The ordinance will continue the same permitting process for fences, she said.
Property owners building a fence must obtain a fence permit from the city by submitting a site plan drawing and $20. They are inspected by the building official.
Minor repairs do not require a fence permit, but if an entire section, for example, were replaced it does require a permit, LaRoque said.
The Planning Commission will review once more the ordinance revisions at its regular meeting at 6:30 p.m. on May 4 in the City Council Chamber, 1140 12th Ave.
If the Planning Commission approves, the City Council will hold its first reading of the ordinance at its regular meeting at 7:30 p.m. on May 14 at the same location.
For more information, contact the planning office at (541) 367-8113.