Title 17C Land Use Standards

Chapter 17C.120 Commercial Zones

1. Purpose.
   The fence standards promote the positive benefits of fences without negatively impacting the community or endangering public or vehicle safety. Fences near streets are kept low in order to allow visibility into and out of the site and to ensure visibility for motorists. Fences in any required side or rear setback are limited in height so as to not conflict with the purpose for the setback.
    
2. Types of Fences.
   The standards apply to walls, fences, and screens of all types whether open, solid, wood, metal, wire, masonry or other material.
    

3. Location, Height, and Design.

   1. Street Setbacks.
      No fence or other structure is allowed within twelve feet from the back of the curb, consistent with the required sidewalk width of SMC 17C.120.230.

      1. Measured from Front Lot Line.
         Fences up to three and one-half feet high are allowed in a required street setback that is measured from a front lot line.

      2. Measured from a Side Lot Line.
         Fences up to six feet high are allowed in a required setback that is measured from a side lot line.

   2. Side and Rear Structure Setbacks.
      Fences up to six feet high are allowed in required side or rear setbacks except when the side or rear setback abuts a pedestrian connection. When the side or rear setback abuts a pedestrian connection, fences are limited to three and one-half feet in height.

   3. Not in Setbacks.
      The height for fences that are not in required setbacks is the same as the regular height limits of the zone.

   4. Sight-obscuring Fences and Walls.
      Sight-obscuring fences, walls and other structures over three and one-half feet high, and within fifteen feet of a street lot line are subject to SMC 17C.120.570, Treating Blank Walls – Building Design.
       

4. Prohibited Fences.

   1. No person may erect or maintain a fence or barrier consisting of or containing barbed, razor, concertina or similar wire except that in a CB or GC zone up to three strands of barbed wire may be placed atop a lawful fence exceeding six feet in height above grade.

   2. No person may maintain a fence or barrier charged with electricity.

   3. A fence, wall or other structure shall not be placed within a public right-of-way without an approved covenant as provided in SMC 17G.010.160 and any such structure is subject to the height requirement for the adjoining setback.

   4. No fence may be closer than twelve feet to the curb.
       

5. Visibility at Intersections.

   1. A fence, wall, hedge or other improvement may not be erected or maintained at the corner of a lot so as to obstruct the view of travelers upon the streets.

   2. Subject to the authority of the traffic engineer to make adjustments and special requirements in particular cases, no fence exceeding a height of thirty inches above the curb may be inside the:

      1. right isosceles triangle having sides of fifty feet measured along the curb line of each intersecting residential street; or

      2. right triangle having a fifteen-foot side measured along the curb line of the residential street and a seventy-five foot side along the curb line of the intersecting arterial street, except that when the arterial street has a speed limit of thirty-five miles per hour, the triangle has a side along such arterial of one hundred twenty-two feet; or

      3. right isosceles triangle having sides of seven feet measured along the right-of-way line of an alley and:

         1. the inside line of the sidewalk, or

         2. if there is no sidewalk, a line seven feet inside the curb line.

Date Passed: Tuesday, May 31, 2005

Effective Date: Wednesday, July 6, 2005

ORD C33636 Section 1