Sec. 7.2.8. Walls and Fences

  1. Applicability
    The following requirements apply to walls and fences located outside of a protective yard or required screening area.
  2. General Standards
    1. Fences and walls must be constructed of high quality materials including 1 or a combination of the following: decorative blocks; brick; stone; cast-stone; architectural block; split-faced block; stucco over standard concrete masonry blocks; glass block; wood; wrought iron; composite fencing; wire; PVC vinyl; aluminum; or metal.
    2. No wall or fence can be located within any tree conservation area.
    3. No wall or fence can be located within any City of Raleigh utility easement without prior written approval of the Public Utilities Director.
    4. No wall or fence can be located within any required drainage easement without prior written approval of the Engineering Services Director.
    5. Barbed wire or concertina wire may be allowed in accordance with Sec. 13-3011.
    6. Except in an IH district, chain-link fences are not allowed in any front or side street setback.
    7. The maximum length of a continuous, unbroken and uninterrupted fence or wall plane shall be 100 feet. Breaks shall be provided through the use of columns, landscaped areas, transparent sections or a change in material.
    8. Except in an IH district, a wall or fence not more than 6 and one half feet in height may be located in a front or side street setback, provided the opacity of the wall or fence above 4 feet in height does not exceed 50%.
    9. A wall or fence may not exceed 8 feet in height in a side or rear setback unless it is located adjacent to a street, in which case it may be no more than 6 and one half feet in height, provided the opacity of the wall or fence above 4 feet in height does not exceed 50%.

      Cross reference: The Public Utilities Director may approve structures within City of Raleigh utility easements, Sec. 8-2012(d).
  3. Fences and Walls Adjacent to Thoroughfares
    1. A fence or wall located within 20 feet of a Thoroughfare right-of-way shall either be less than 42 inches in height; or situated at least 15 feet from the edge of the right-of-way and be screened with evergreen planting materials, so that no more than one-fourth of the fence or wall surface area will be visible from the Thoroughfare within 3 years of erection of the fence or wall.
    2. All fences and walls that are more than 42 inches in height and are located between 20 and 40 feet from any Thoroughfare right-of-way shall be installed with planting materials, so that no more than one-third of the fence or wall surface area will be visible from the Thoroughfare within three years of erection of the fence or wall. 40% of this plant material may be deciduous. Decorative fences that are more then 50% open shall be exempt from these provisions.
  4. Retaining Walls
    Retaining walls that are generally parallel to, facing towards, and located within 30 feet of any public right of way shall be required to adhere to the following.
    1. A freestanding retaining wall may not exceed a continuous, uninterrupted height of 10 feet above grade or adjacent curb level (or if no curb exists, from the center crown of the street), whichever is higher. Average grade shall not be applied in determining the maximum height in this instance. Additional height above 10 feet may be permitted, provided the wall contains a minimum 2-foot step back for each additional 10 feet of wall height. A type C2 Street Protective Yard shall be required for any freestanding retaining wall of at least 10 feet in height. Where the retaining wall gains additional height with a step back, the step back area shall provide the quantity of shrubs equal to a type C3 Street Protective Yard.
    2. This regulation shall not apply to walls associated with culverts or stream crossings or to transportation improvements, such as bridge overpass structures for streets or railroads.
  5. Building Foundation Walls
    A building foundation wall that is integrated into an apartment, general, civic, or mixed use building type and facing any public right of way must meet the following standards:
    1. The blank wall standards enumerated for the building type shall include the building foundation wall.
    2. When the building foundation wall is located within 30 feet of any public right of way, it shall have a maximum height of 5 feet above grade. Average grade shall not be applied in determining the maximum height in this instance.
    3. The building foundation wall shall be constructed or finished with the same primary materials as the building.
    4. Building foundation walls within 30 feet of a right of way may exceed 5 feet in height if any of the following treatments are applied. Treatments must cover 75% of the building foundation wall area, either singularly or collectively. Maximum height, including treatments, may not exceed 8’. All treatments must be located within 4 feet of the foundation wall unless integrated or connected thereto:
      1. Foundation planting—Except for DX-, -TOD overlay areas, Shopfront, Urban General, and Urban Limited frontages, a 3-foot-tall evergreen shrub planted at a rate of 3 shrubs per 10 feet. Species must meet the requirements of Section 7.2.7.
      2. Planter – A permanent planter of not more than 4 feet in height. Maximum spacing between planters shall be no more than 5 feet and planted and maintained with species that meet the requirements of Section 7.2.7.
      3. Access — Any portion of a stairway or ramp that is less than 4 feet in height providing access to a street-facing entrance. Stairs and ramps may exceed 4 feet in height, however, any portion above 4 feet in heightbshall not qualify as a treatment described herein.
      4. Seating – A permanent structure intended for seating between 18 inches and 3 feet in height and a minimum of 18 inches deep. Seating shall be a minimum of 5 feet and a maximum of 30 feet in length. In no instance shall seating exceed 50% of the linear length of the foundation wall. Seating must be accessible to the pedestrian.
      5. Transit Improvements – Transit improvements accepted by the City of Raleigh.