Section 27

Section 27 GENERAL PROVISIONS

H. Fences, Hedges, and Similar Structures

Visibility at intersections in residential districts: On a corner lot in any residential district, nothing shall be erected, placed, planted, or allowed to grow in such a manner as materially to impede vision, between a height of two and one-half (2.5) feet and ten (10) feet above the center line grades of the intersecting streets in the area, bounded by the street lines of such corner lots, and a line joining points along said street lines fifty (50) feet from the point of intersection.
Fences, walls, and hedges: Except as provided in Section 27.H.4, and notwithstanding any other provisions of this Ordinance, fences, walls, and hedges may be permitted in any required yard, or along the edge of any yard, provided that no fence, wall, or hedge along the sides or front edge of any front yard shall be over four (4) feet in height.
Except for the franchised utilities, public and private sewage system, and special use covered by a specific permit or lease agreement, no permanent structure shall be established by any individual, company, or corporation within a County road right-of-way or within any rights-of-way dedicated or easements granted for public use.
All Commercial or Industrial Zones and uses will comply with the following standards. Standards for "view-obscuring fencing" shall apply whenever such fencing is required.
1. Building (Zoning) Permits must be obtained for all perimeter fencing exceeding a construction cost of Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00).
2. Any fencing within the required front yard may exceed four (4) feet in height, provided that the fence design and placement is approved by the Mohave County Engineer during the permitting process and/or prior to commencement of construction. Fencing exceeding four feet in height, constructed, or construction having commenced, within the required front yard requires a Building (Zoning) Permit. The Board of Supervisors may approve, modify or deny the permit upon receiving a recommendation from the Traffic Safety Committee.
3. The height of the view-obscuring device shall be measured from the highest finished adjacent grade of the element to be obscured.
4. All lots/parcels shall comply with this section in fencing, enclosure, enclosing, or containing of materials stored outside of any structure and for any work conducted outside of a building. Enclosure/containment fencing may be used to separate and view-obscure material storage areas outside of buildings so that fencing the perimeter would not be required.
5. When adjacent to residential uses, the entire perimeter view-obscuring device along interior property lines shall be installed in the first phase of development or construction. Any fencing will comply with the residential standards in paragraph H.5.a.
6. View-obscuring structures will be required where any incompatible uses are abutting or adjacent to each other.
7. The view-obscuring devices shall be constructed of materials normally defined as fencing materials; masonry construction, wood, stone, brick, frame stucco, chain link with slats, earthen berms and shall not be reflective. Materials excluded are plastic sheeting, shade cloth, used garage doors and recycled sheet metal that has not been remanufactured as fencing material. Live vegetation materials are allowed if they are equivalent in effect to that required in the definitions of view-obscuring. Alternative fencing will require prior approval by the Board of Supervisors after receiving a recommendation from the Planning and Zoning Commission.
8. When materials are being stored outside or work is being conducted outside of the building, such portions of the lots/parcels shall be view-obscured from public right-of-ways, ingress and egress easements, or public access.
9. Manmade earthen berms will only be allowed on lots or parcels greater than two and one-half (2½) net acres and shall have a minimum setback of five (5) feet. Natural-occurring berms can be used on lesser acreage and will not require a minimum setback. All manmade earthen berms will require grading permits as required by the adopted building code and will require a five (5) foot setback to the toe of the slope and maximum design slope is 1½ to 1.
10. All view-obscuring devices including earthen berms will be a minimum of six (6) feet, unless otherwise required by the Board of Supervisors. Fencing will extend two (2) feet above the highest item to be stored with the exception of mobile homes, manufactured homes and construction equipment.
11. View-obscuring devices shall be installed and maintained for the duration of the uses requiring the screening to be in place.
12. No advertising will be allowed on any of the screening devices as stated in Section 31, Mohave County Zoning Ordinance.
13. The above enclosure requirement shall not apply to plant nurseries, or to the display for sale of new and used cars, trucks, trailers, mobile homes, or the use and sale of farm and construction equipment in operational condition.
Standards for Residential Uses:
1. For Lots greater than one-half (1/2) acre to 36 acres, the use of more than four hundred (400) square feet of the area of any lot having an established residence or not specifically zoned for such use, for the storage or keeping of unregistered and inoperable autos or portions of autos, scrap metal, scrap wood (excluding wood for heating purposes), or machinery shall have said storage screened. All such outdoor storage shall be located to the rear of the property and screened from the view of neighboring properties and roadways by a view-obscuring device. Said view-obscuring device shall be constructed of materials normally designed for fencing purposes not to include plastic sheeting, shade cloth, used garage doors, or recycled sheet metal that has not been re-manufactured as fencing material. Stored materials shall not be visible above the required screening, excluding large vehicles and stored mobile homes and manufactured homes.
2. All storage on a vacant lot, regardless of square footage, shall be screened in compliance with 5a above.
3. Fencing is required for over 5,000 square feet of storage on lots of thirty-six (36) acres or greater in size. Storage on such a lot shall be concentrated into one area and the storage that is visible from the nearest public right-of-way, easements and private Ingress and Egress easements shall be screened.