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Thief River Falls council adopts stricter fence ordinance, citing safety concerns
Summary
The council adopted a new Chapter 35 fence ordinance—covering permits, setbacks, vision triangles and limits on electric and barbed wire—with one councilmember opposed; supporters said the rules address growing safety risks at corners and alleyways.
The Thief River Falls City Council on Oct. 30 adopted a comprehensive fence ordinance intended to tighten permit rules, clarify setbacks and improve visibility at intersections and alleyways.
City planning staff read the new Chapter 35 ordinance, which requires building permits for most fences, sets front-yard height limits at 4 feet, establishes vision-triangle setbacks for corner lots and alleyways (35 feet and 25 feet respectively), and restricts electric fences to garden use with visible signage. The ordinance also prohibits razor and barbed wire except in commercial or industrial areas subject to conditional-use approval.
"The purpose of this ordinance is to regulate the construction and maintenance of fences to protect public health, safety and welfare and to ensure consistency in the community aesthetic," the staff presenter said, reading the ordinance text aloud.
Council members stressed safety at intersections and along alleyways. One councilmember noted recent near-miss incidents involving cyclists and electric bikes and said the ordinance was driven by those safety concerns. Another asked that enforcement tools remain available when older, grandfathered structures create hazards.
After discussion, the council waived the second reading and adopted the ordinance in the same meeting. The motion passed with one recorded nay, council member Jason Arstead. Mayor Mike Lorton and other members said the measure responds to repeated public-safety concerns raised by residents and public works staff.
The ordinance directs the building official to administer permits, and it allows enforcement measures including maintenance notices, stop-work orders and, if necessary, court orders to correct or remove unsafe fences. Property owners may seek variances through the council process if strict application would cause undue hardship.
The ordinance will take effect following publication as required by city code.
