(a) The purposes of fence and/or retaining wall regulations for yards abutting on streets are:
1. To ensure adequate visibility of vehicles entering the street from driveways, adequate sight distance from such vehicles, and adequate sight distance at street corners.
2. To ensure adequate light and air for the street area, and to discourage structures near the street that may conceal persons with illegal intent.
3. To preserve a harmonious and compatible street front appearance.
(b) The purposes of fence and/or retaining wall regulations for side and rear yards which do not abut on streets are:
1. To provide for privacy screening of these yard areas.
2. To ensure that light and air of abutting properties are protected from excessively high man-made structures.
(c) The height regulations for fences and/or retaining walls are:
1. The height of fences and/or retaining walls is determined by measuring the exposed face of the fence and/or wall at its tallest point, from finished grade at the base, to the top of the fence and/or wall, including all ornamental and architectural projections.
2. Except as specified in Sections 13.10.525(c) 3, and 16.50.095, no fence and/or retaining wall shall exceed six feet in height if located within a required side or rear yard not abutting on a street, and no fence, hedge, and/or retaining wall shall exceed three feet in height if located in a front yard or other yard abutting a street, except that heights up to six feet may be allowed by a Level III Development Permit Approval, and heights greater than six feet may be allowed by a Level V Development Permit Approval. (See Section 12.10.070(b) for building permit requirements.)
3. In agricultural zone districts, fencing for agricultural purposes may have heights up to 6 feet in all yards without the need for Development Permit approval provided that such fencing, including gates, is:
(i) Six feet or less in height;
(ii) Made of wire which is spaced a minimum of 6 inches apart (i.e., typical field fencing); or
(iii) Made of horizontally oriented wooden members which are spaced a minimum of one foot apart (i.e., typical wooden corral fencing); provided, however, that a Development Permit approval shall be required for this type of fencing on all properties adjacent to State Route (High-way One).
iv. If a Coastal Development Permit is required, i. - iii. do not apply and a Coastal Development Permit is required to exceed the height limit.
4. An exemption from a Development Permit requirement for agricultural fencing does not exempt new such fencing; including gates, from Coastal Zone Permit requirements as specified in Sections 13.20.050 and 13.20.073. (Ord. 1682, 2/15/72; 2202, 11/12/75; 2452, 6/21/77; 3186, 1/12/82; 3344, 11/23/82; 3432, 8/23/83; 3632, 3/26/85; 4098, 12/11/90; 4496-C, 8/4/98; Ord. 4761 § 33, 5/18/04)