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January 2025 Millcreek Together Code Update I 18.66 Fences and Retaining Walls Summary Sheet Chapter 18.66 Fences and Retaining Walls Summary A. Purpose. The purpose of this chapter is to promote the use of high-quality materials in fences and retaining walls, while providing privacy, safety and security for individual properties and pedestrians through design, height, materials, and placement. B. What Changed. o Providing certain requirements, any fence and/or walls in existence prior to the adoption date of this ordinance may remain. o Consolidated requirements between uses as it pertains to fence location, height and materials. o Chain link fences are a prohibited material within the front yard areas. o Clear view areas are better defined. o New requirements for recreational fencing (i.e. sports courts), such as materials, height’s location (not allowed within front yard areas and may require a five-foot setback from property line - pending height). o New masonry fence requirements - between new development and existing uses. o New requirements between incompatible uses. o Changed the criteria used to determine if a building permit is required for a retaining wall from measuring from the bottom of the foundation, footing, or wall system to measuring the unbalanced fill height. o Updated submittal and approval requirements to better protect the city from retaining wall failures due to poor design. o Changed the maximum height of a single wall from 8’ to 12’. o Allowed more than two walls in a terraced wall system, eliminated a single wall height requirement of and allowed the terraced wall system to be a max height of 16’. o New graphics have been provided (needs further updates) to show the options and restrictions. C. Rationale for Changes. New building codes and construction practices render the city's existing ordinance outdated or noncompliant with state or national regulations. An update ensures that the city's laws align with best practices in construction. The changes ensure that fences and retaining walls are more aesthetically pleasing and in harmony with modern architectural styles and community standards, promoting overall cohesion and property values.