Boston Township

In the Residential District and Village Residential District, fences, walls, and hedges may be permitted in any required yard, or along the edge of any yard, provided that: a. Location. The property owner and applicant shall be responsible for locating any fence as required by this ordinance in relation to the locations of property lines and right-of-way lines. b. Front yard. No fence, wall, or hedge in any front yard shall be over three (3) feet in height except as provided in subsection 513.h below. c. Side or rear yard. A fence, wall, or hedge may be permitted in side or rear yard to a height of not more than six (6) feet provided it is not located in the front yard or closer to the front yard than the front building line of the principal structure except as provided in subsection 513.h below. d. Measuring Fence Height. Fence height shall be measured from the average natural ground level of the fence location. The fence location shall not be filled to increase permitted fence height. Where fence location is sloped, fence height shall follow the slope. e. Maximum Height. Fences, walls, and hedges shall not exceed six (6) feet in height. f. Sight triangle required. In any zoning district on any corner lot, no fence, structure, or planting shall be erected or maintained within a triangle abutting the right-of way lines and extending at least twenty (20) feet along each line from the intersection of the right-of-way lines so that the structure or planting does not interfere with traffic visibility across the corner. g. Finished side out. Any fence erected on any property conforming to the requirements of this Zoning Resolution shall be constructed so that the finished side of the fence (as determined by the Zoning Inspector) is facing all adjoining properties and/or rights-of-way. Generally, that side on which the exposed posts or supporting cross members are most visible shall be faced into the lot on which the fence Is located. h. Permitted Fence Styles and Materials. In the Residential District and Village Residential District, fences shall be constructed with a design and materials which are typical for residential locations. Fences shall be constructed in a professional manner and shall be maintained in good condition. PERMITTED FENCE TYPES IN THE RESIDENTIAL DISTRICT AND THE VILLAGE RESIDENTIAL DISTRICT Front Yard Side Yard Rear Yard *See notes at bottom of this table Wrought Iron Style Yes Yes Yes (in iron, steel, aluminum or vinyl) Picket Yes Yes Yes Split Rail Yes Yes Yes Stockade No* Yes Yes Board on Board No* Yes Yes Louvered No* Yes Yes Chain Link No* Yes Yes Hedge. No permit required. Yes Yes Yes “Deer Fence” Light wire or net fencing material may be installed up to height of eight (8) feet to prevent incursion by deer. No permit required. “Chicken Wire” Chicken wire or other light wire or fencing material may be installed to surround the sides of a garden or chicken enclosure area in the side or rear yard. No permit required. Tree Guards Material such as wire, mesh, or plastic tubes may be installed to surround and protect a tree or shrub from deer damage. No permit required. Brick or Stone Wall Yes Yes Yes Prohibited Fence Types Sheet metal, razor wire, barbed wire, pallets, electrified, and similar fence materials are not permitted. * Notes re Front Yard Fences. 1. The surface of front yard fences shall be no more than 50% opaque with all elements evenly spaced except as provided in Item 3 below. 2. Maximum height of fences in the front yard shall be thirty-six (36) inches, except as provided In Item 3 below. 3. A fence in a front yard may be constructed of any material listed in this table above (including stockade, board on board, louvered, or chain link) to a height of up to six (6) feet provided that it is set back at least thirty (30) feet from any abutting right-of-way line, at least fifteen (15) feet from any other side line, and that the setback area is landscaped and maintained with at least one (1) shrub or tree per ten (10) feet of fence length. i. Permit Required. A permit must be obtained before construction of a new fence and before replacement of a fence. A permit Is not required to repair up to 25% of the area of an existing fence. j. Gates. 1. A gate constructed separately or as part of a fence shall be considered a fence for the purpose of these regulations. 2. A gate in a front yard may be constructed up to six (6) feet in height and shall not exceed twelve (12) feet in width. 3. Gated entries to fenced areas shall be set back a sufficient distance to permit vehicles stopping at the gate to adequately clear the nearest travel lane of the public street so as not to obstruct the flow of vehicular traffic. k. Snow fences. Temporary snow fences may be erected in front yards provided that: 1. Snow fences are located a minimum of ten (10) feet from any property line; 2. Snow Fences are erected after November 15th and are removed prior to April 1st; 3. A temporary zoning permit is required for any lot on which more than fifty (50) linear feet of snow fence will be erected. No fee is required. The property owner or occupant must obtain the permit from the Zoning Inspector prior to erecting the fence; and 4. Temporary snow fence shall mean wood roll fencing consisting of one and one half (1.5) inch wood slats with two and one quarter (2.25) inch spacing or plastic equivalent and forty- eight (48) inches in height