What materials can I use for a fence in Ferndale?

Wood fences must be cedar, redwood, or another decay-resistant wood, and the finished side must face outward toward your neighbor or the street (Section 3.08.E).

Materials and features that are banned (Section 3.08.C):

• Razor edge or barbed wire.
• Spikes, nails, or sharp points.
• Any electrical current or charge.
• Fabric, plastic slats, or tarps hung from a fence.

That last item rules out the common chain-link privacy upgrades. If you want screening, build an opaque fence instead; side and rear yards in residential districts allow full opacity up to 6 feet (Section 3.08.D).

Two placement rules round it out. The fence must sit at least 1 foot from a public sidewalk or right-of-way, and you cannot build a duplicate fence side by side with a neighbor's without a CED waiver (Section 3.08.B). Every fence or gate needs a Fence Permit (Section 3.08.A).