ZoningVerdict

Fences in Ferndale, MI

What the Ferndale zoning ordinance says about fences, district by district. Section numbers link to the official ordinance.

All districts

A fence permit is required for any fence or gate (Section 3.08.A). A fence must sit at least 1 foot from a public sidewalk or right-of-way, and a gate may not swing over public property. Side-by-side duplicate fences need a CED waiver (Section 3.08.B).

  • Side and rear yards: residential and mixed-use maximum 6 feet (residential side and rear fences also carry a 3-foot minimum), CBD 4 feet, industrial 8 feet. Full opacity is allowed in side and rear yards (Section 3.08.D).
  • Front yards: not permitted in the residential, mixed-use, and CBD districts. The exception is decorative fencing up to 36 inches, allowed in any yard without a permit. Industrial front yards allow up to 6 feet. Where a front-yard fence is allowed, opacity is capped at 50 percent (Section 3.08.D).
  • Prohibited everywhere: razor edge or barbed wire, spikes, nails or sharp points, any electrical current or charge, and fabric, plastic slats, or tarps hung from fences (Section 3.08.C). Wood fences must be cedar, redwood, or another decay-resistant species, with the finished side facing outward (Section 3.08.E).
  • Clear vision: nothing between 30 inches and 8 feet tall may sit in the triangle measured 15 feet along each lot line at a street intersection, or 7.5 feet where a driveway meets a street. The CED Director may accept an AASHTO alternative (Section 3.06).

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