Eden Prairie council approves first reading of ordinance restricting hazardous fence materials

The Eden Prairie City Council on Jan. 7 approved the first reading of an ordinance amending the city code to regulate fence materials and visibility at intersections.

Community Development Director Julie Klima told the council the proposal relocates existing fence-height language from Chapter 11 to Chapter 9 and adds material standards. "The language that we're proposing to add requires fence materials to be permanent in nature," Klima said, adding that wood fences must be decay-resistant and that mesh, wire and similar materials would not be permitted. The draft also "prohibits the use of barbed wire, razor wire, electric wire, and other hazardous or temporary materials," she said, noting exceptions for certain institutional and utility sites.

The draft ordinance allows barbed wire only at data centers, airports, city-owned facilities and similar sites, and requires barbed wire to be placed at least 6½ feet above grade. Electric fencing would be allowed only for animal containment used in invasive vegetation treatment, such as temporary goat containment, and requires approval from the city forester, Klima said.

Council member Mark Freiberg asked whether "razor wire" was intended to be treated like barbed wire. Klima replied the listed materials are illustrative rather than exclusive and intended to show the types of materials the city would consider hazardous and therefore prohibited.

After discussion the council voted to approve the ordinance’s first reading. The council did not take a second reading or final adoption at the Jan. 7 meeting; staff said the second reading will be scheduled at a later meeting.

The ordinance moves fence-related rules into Chapter 9 to make requirements easier for residents and contractors to find, Klima said. The change also separates fence-height rules from site-triangle (visibility) provisions so both are clearer in the code.