Council clears first reading of fence-code amendment banning electric and hazardous wire except narrow exceptions

The Eden Prairie City Council approved the first reading of a code amendment to consolidate fence rules, require permanent and decay-resistant materials, and prohibit hazardous fencing such as barbed wire, razor wire and electric wire with limited exceptions.

Community Development Director Julie Klima told the council staff researched a resident complaint about electric wiring attached to a fence and proposed relocating fence rules from Chapter 11 to Chapter 9 for better usability and to add prohibited materials language. Klima said the draft requires fence materials to be “permanent in nature” and notes that wood should be decay-resistant while avoiding overly prescriptive construction standards.

The draft ordinance explicitly prohibits barbed wire, razor wire and electric wire and other hazardous or temporary materials. Klima described limited exceptions: barbed wire may be allowed at data centers, the airport and certain city-owned facilities when mounted at least 6.5 feet above grade, and electric fencing would only be permitted for temporary containment of animals used in invasive vegetation treatment and would require approval by the city forester.

Council Member Mark Freiberg asked whether “razor wire” was intended to be grouped with barbed wire; Klima responded the examples in the draft are illustrative rather than exhaustive and are intended to demonstrate materials the city would consider hazardous and therefore prohibited.

A motion to approve the ordinance’s first reading was moved, seconded and carried by the council; the mayor indicated a second reading was being held for a future meeting by choice rather than requirement.