Fence height?

9 years ago

I'm trying to decide between an 8' or 6' fence. With a variance I can get an 8' fence if my neighbors are amenable and I think all will be. It's going to be horizontal slats looking like what's below.

The purpose of the fence, aside from generally improving the look from chainlink, is to prevent my German Shepherd from barking (or at least frightening) the people who walk by with their dogs to the park that's a block away (my house is on a corner so this is a fence for the backyard facing the street). My yard is on a hill so the top of an 8' fence will be probably the same height or lower than the top of the 4' fence that's parallel to it on the other side of the yard.

And, from my back porch I'd still be able to, easily, see and be seen, over an 8' fence.

I'd been thinking 8' would be good in terms of all that's above, but now I'm starting to worry that it's going to look, from the street, more like a wooden wall than a nice fence. I am going to go out and create some sort of marker so I can get a visual, but any thoughts would be appreciated.

Comments (3)

emma
9 years ago
In our city you have to have a permit and a good reason for an 8 ft fence.
That is not going to stop your dog from barking. They hear and smell people when they get close. I know you are trying to stop your dog from barking. In our city you have to stop them from barking. If they get a complaint the police come out and talk you and explain you have to stop the barking anyway you can, most likely by keeping them in the home. The second complaint they take your dog. A policeman told that is the easy job they do, no third chance.
Phronesis
Original Author
9 years ago
Really, the only question is one of appearance of 6' vs 8' fence. I've been told by the zoning committee that as long as neighbors are okay with 8' (and they are), they'll likely approve the variance.

And, yes, the height of the fence isn't only to limit barking (actually, right now, her barking is largely minimized by me encouraging her to run in circles instead of barking and the fact that I'm always out with her). It's more to prevent her from scaring (even when only running in circles) the folks who are walking by and prevent her from seeing all the way down the street and getting wound up long before any dog or car gets to the house.

And, I just want a nice fence instead of the falling down chainlink fence.

One of the primary reasons for the height is that she can jump. Currently, I have a 4 foot chain-link fence which she doesn't know she can clear but she could, easily. I suspect that with a running start she could clear a 6' without much effort. Ã¯Â¿Â½Ã¯Â¿Â½" but she doesn't know this and will hopefully never find out

So, the question really is about the appearance of a 6' vs 8' fence from the street.
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emma
9 years ago
I would not want my neighbor to have fence 8 ft long, I would protest because of appearance. It would look out of place. I have to say, the photo you posted looks very nice. I have not seen one done that way before.