Fence Regulations

Regulations are in place to regulate minimum standards for the construction, erection and placement of fencing to ensure orderly and attractive development in the City of Winsted. The word fence shall be construed to mean a partition made from rails, timbers, chain link, boards, stone walls, hedges, vinyl or any other materials.

Permit Required
No person or other entity shall construct or erect any fence without first obtaining a building permit from the City Administrator or designee of the City of Winsted. Fence permit fees shall be established annually by the City Council.

Location
All fences must be located entirely upon the private property of the person or entity constructing or causing the fence to be constructed or erected. Fences shall not encroach on any public right-of-way or public property. The City Administrator or designee may require an applicant for fence permit to establish a true boundary line as required below.

Property Line Fences
Fences constructed at the limits of a property shall comply with the following provisions:

Fences, including footings, shall be located entirely upon the private property for which the permit has been issued; and
The owner of the property on which a fence exists or is proposed to be constructed is responsible for verifying their property lines by locating their property irons; or
If the property lines cannot be located, the City Administrator or designee may require the owner of property upon which a fence now exists, or may require any property owner proposing to construct a fence, to establish the boundary lines of the property by requiring a certificate of survey prepared by a registered land surveyor. The City does not provide or pay for surveying services.

Fences in easements shall not impede the flow of water. If the City needs to utilize the easement, the fence will be removed and relocated at the expense of the property owner.

Yards Abutting Public Rights of Way
Fences located within front yards, within side yards of a corner lot, or within rear yards of a double frontage lot abutting a public right of way or an alley.

A fence constructed within the front yard, within a required side yard of a corner lot abutting a public right of way or alley, or within the required rear yard of a double frontage lot abutting a public right of way or alley shall be set back ten feet (10') from the property line abutting a public right of way or alley, except where additional setback is required for the traffic sight visibility triangle.

Residential and Commercial Fencing
All fencing located within any Residential or Commercial district, as defined in this Section, shall be subject to the following conditions:

All fencing located within the front yard, shall not exceed four feet (4') in height. Fences located within the front yard setback may not be chain link. Fences located on the side or back yards may not exceed six feet (6') in height and shall be no closer to the front lot line than a point intersecting the front line of the principal building;
Fences shall not exceed thirty inches (30") inches in height within a corner traffic sight visibility triangle. A traffic sight visibility triangle is defined by the traffic sight visibility triangle drawing appearing at the end of this Section;
The finished side of the fence shall face neighboring properties or the street. The finished side is described as the side of the fence without exposed supports or posts;
Approved residential fences include: stone, brick, finished wood, vinyl and chain link; and
For interior lots, a gate constructed of the same material as the fence shall be provided in the fence to allow for maintenance of the street side boulevard.

Industrial Fencing
All fencing located within any Industrial district, as defined in this Section, shall be subject to all of the conditions mentioned in Section 1501.021.E. regulating residential and commercial fencing. In addition thereto, industrial fencing is subject to the following:

All fencing located within the front yard or side yard abutting a street, shall not exceed six (6') in height. Fences located on the side or back yards may not exceed eight feet (8') in height and shall be no closer to the front lot line than a point intersecting the front line of the principal building; and
An industrial chain link fence may be constructed with three (3) strands of barbed wire when used above a height of eight feet (8') and provided the barbed wire projects over the property on the exterior side (i.e. applicant's side) of the fence. A conditional use permit must be obtained from the City prior to making application to installing barbed wire fencing. Barbed wire may not be used when the industrial use immediately borders an adjacent residential or commercial use. Conditional Use Permits will be reviewed under the guidelines set forth in Section 1501.006.

Agricultural Fencing
All fencing located within any Agricultural District, as defined in this Section, shall be subject to all of the conditions mentioned in Section 1501.021.E. regulating residential and commercial fencing. In addition thereto, agricultural fencing is subject to the following:

Agricultural fences using electric current or barbed wire fence are allowed within the Agricultural district unless the fence immediately borders an adjacent residential or commercial use.

Prohibited Fences
The following fences are prohibited in all zoning districts: fences utilizing electric current; fences utilizing razor wire; fences utilizing barbed wire, except as allowed in an Agricultural or Industrial district, as specified in Sections 1501.021.G. and 1501.021.F.