I live in a suburban single-family home and face some pretty tough zoning rules that affect fence construction. We've got a restrictive building setback of 50 feet from the rear property line, intended to allow light and air to flow. The catch is that this setback basically places any fence way too close to our back deck, making our yard feel pretty useless, especially since we have a young child and a dog. While I could plant a lot of landscaping to create a natural barrier, I'd really prefer the safety and security of a physical fence. Has anyone else run into something similar and come up with a creative solution?
4 Answers
How about a moat? ? No obstruction of light and air, and it really made me laugh. I know it’s not practical, but chain link fences are allowed, right? Just a bet they might only permit wooden ones, huh?
Have you looked into applying for a variance? It’s often a gamble, but given your situation, the city may be willing to work with you on a solution that makes sense.
I've seen variances get denied a lot. I read minutes from prior meetings, and they turned down a request for a tiny 6” variance for a deck near a 35’ setback. It feels like some elitist BS to me.
One idea is to plant hedges and put a fence behind them where it’s less noticeable. You could use chain link along with a green privacy screen to block the view.
You might consider a stake-in fencing, which isn’t perfect but could be easy to remove or hide if someone complains. Alternatively, landscape rocks or boulders could be an option, though that might be too much fun for your kid and dog!
Haha, chain link is allowed but must be 50’ back. We’d even consider a nice 4’ aluminum ornamental fence, but we definitely don’t want to block the view into our back windows! ?