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Rexburg planning commission recommends city council adopt fence and billboard code updates
Summary
The planning and zoning commission voted Aug. 8 to recommend changes clarifying fence setbacks, sight-triangle rules, dog-run distances and permit thresholds, and to grandfather existing billboards while removing a 50% replacement limit so signs may be repaired or rebuilt.
The Rexburg City Planning and Zoning Commission voted Aug. 8 to recommend that city council adopt a pair of ordinance amendments clarifying rules for fences and for billboards.
City staff presented the amendments, saying the changes add clearer definitions, a 15-foot side-triangle requirement for private driveways and alleys, new example diagrams for sight triangles, and specific rules about fence heights and maintenance. “Existing approved billboard signs shall be designated as having a grandfathered status and may be repaired or replaced,” staff said during the presentation, adding that the draft removes a previous 50% replacement threshold that could force removal of older signs.
The amendments also spell out fence-height limits (front-yard fences generally limited to about 3 feet, rear-yard fences allowed up to 6 feet with conditions, and fences over 7 feet requiring a building permit), require gates adjacent to sidewalks and bike paths to swing inward for public safety, and define dog runs as separate fenced areas that must sit at least 10 feet from a neighbor’s property. Staff noted that utility access must be preserved when fences are installed, and that masonry or sport-containment fences may require additional review or permits.
A central point of debate among commissioners was whether barbed wire should remain restricted to agricultural/transitional-agricultural zones. One commissioner argued barbed wire is sometimes necessary to contain livestock, while others raised concerns about aesthetics and safety in areas that are becoming more residential. Staff responded that existing barbed-wire fences are grandfathered and that the code aims to balance agricultural uses with neighborhood character and safety. “If they are doing it when they are brought into the city, you can continue with that same deal,” staff said, describing grandfathering for existing uses.
On enforcement and implementation, staff said the city mailed or called local fence contractors to inform them of the new code and will continue to rely primarily on complaint-driven enforcement and regular field checks. Staff said they typically work with residents to remedy issues and use citations only as a last resort. For routine approval, residents may call the planning office for a quick GIS check or drop off a sketch for staff review.
No members of the public signed up to speak during the reopened public-input portion. After discussion, the commission formally moved and seconded a recommendation that city council approve the fencing and billboard language as written; the motion passed on a voice vote and the commission will forward the recommendation to the council.
Next steps: the recommendation will be considered by Rexburg City Council at a subsequent meeting; the planning commission noted the Aug. 15 meeting was rescheduled to Aug. 22. The commission adjourned at the end of the Aug. 8 session.
