Prairie Grove amends fence design ordinance to require finished side face street, removes neighbor-agreement clause

Prairie Grove’s city council on Oct. 21 voted to amend municipal fence design standards so that finished surfaces face outward on street-facing portions of fences and to remove a clause allowing neighboring property owners to decide which side would remain finished.

Council members debated whether shared fences and lot-line situations require additional regulation. One member questioned why an agreement between neighbors should govern the finish when the owner paying for the fence might reasonably choose which side to finish. After discussion, a motion carried to strike the language about neighboring agreements and adopt the simplified requirement that finished surfaces face street-facing portions.

The amendment was presented as a clarity-focused revision: it narrows the city’s enforcement concern to how fences present to public rights-of-way while leaving private side treatments to property owners except where the fence faces the street. Council approved the amended ordinance on roll-call vote.

The council also noted the existing variance and appeals process remains available for atypical lots or corner situations; staff said the face of the fence must be within property lines and that the city encourages neighbors to reach private agreements but will not require neighbor-led agreements to determine the finished side for street-facing sections.