§ 24.60.040. Fencing—Wetlands and geologic hazard areas.

A.

Design. Fences shall be designed and placed to minimize impacts to wetlands, geologic hazard areas, wildlife habitat, and wildlife travel. The fence type and height shall be subject to county approval unless superseded by federal or state approvals.

B.

Fencing the Perimeter of the Buffer. Fences are permitted along the outer boundary of the wetland buffer and geologic hazard area buffer.

C.

Fencing Within the Buffer. Fencing shall not encroach into wetlands, marine hazard areas or buffers except along the perimeter of lawful development within the wetland or buffer. The approval authority may allow fencing along property lines within the wetland, marine bluff hazard areas, and associated buffers only if it would protect wetland and marine bluff functions as determined through review of a critical area permit.

D.

Required Fencing/Thorny Shrubs. The approval authority shall require permanent fencing to be placed along the outer boundary of the critical area buffer if it is determined that a proposed use adjoining the buffer poses a threat to the critical area and buffer functions, or there is a public safety issue (e.g., when livestock or people would otherwise enter and damage the area or disturb sensitive wildlife or areas or there is an unstable geologic area). If the approval authority determines that it would better protect wetland and buffer functions, planting of densely spaced, noninvasive, thorny shrubs to restrict access to the buffer may be required, rather than fencing.

(Ord. No. 14773, § 3(Att. B), 7-24-2012)