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Safety Harbor Changes Fence Regulation
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Published: January 19, 2008
SAFETY HARBOR, Fla. - SAFETY HARBOR, Fla. - Soon, it might be possible for people who have what the city considers two front yards to erect a 6-foot-tall fences along one of those yards.
Under a change in city fence regulations the City Commission tentatively approved on a 5-0 vote last week, to allow owners of homes on corner lots to seek a permit to install a fence up to 6 feet in height.
The commission will consider the proposed change on second and final reading on Tuesday, Jan. 22.
Under the current regulations, corner lots, which have frontage on two streets, are deemed to have two front yards. The regulations say front yard fences can be no higher than 4 feet. A back yard fence can be 6 feet tall.
As things now stand, people who want a 6-foot fence along one of the two road-facing property lines have to seek a fence-code variance from the city.
Last week, Ron Rinzivillo, city senior planner, told commissioners during the last five years there have been 19 requests for variances to erect a taller than permitted 4-foot fence on homes on corner lots.
That many variance requests make planning officials think there is a need to revise land-use regulations, Rinzivillo said.
In cases in which one of the street-facing yards functions as a backyard, where children or pets play, according to Rinzivillo. In such cases, the city should allow 6-foot-tall fences, he suggested.
For one thing, many dogs would be able to jump over a 4-foot-tall fence, Rinzivillo said.
If the proposed change to the city fence regulations were approved, people would only have to apply for a permit for a 6-foot fence, rather than have to go through the more involved variance process.
A permit will only be approved if a 6-foot fence would not block the street view from the driveway of an adjacent property, Rinzivillo said.
Commissioner Kathleen Earle said the relief has been a long time in coming and allows a homeowner who lives on corners to have fully functional backyards with the same privacy.
Commissioner Nadine Nickeson said she had to apply for such a variance and is thankful that residents will finally get relief when faced with such a problem.
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