City planning staff presented a Unified Development Code amendment Monday to permit battery-charged electric fences and alarmed security-detection fencing systems for commercial and industrial uses while setting safety and siting conditions.
Johnny Malpika, comprehensive planning special projects staff, said the UDC update responds to state legislation (referenced in materials as "house legislation 25 10 60") and industry requests after a prior UDC revision made the status of battery-charged electric fences unclear. Malpika said the proposed change reintroduces express allowance for battery-charged electric fencing and security detection fencing systems when they are associated with commercial or industrial uses only.
Key regulatory details: The proposed code would permit a battery-charged electric fence (an energizer driven by a battery up to 12 volts DC) or a security detection fencing system where the electrified fence is installed internal to a non-electrified perimeter fence. The non-electrified perimeter fence must be at least 5 feet high. The electrified component may not exceed a specified height (10 feet or 2 feet higher than the perimeter fence, whichever applies), must maintain a minimum separation (4 inches) from the perimeter fence, and must be marked with warning signage every 30 feet. The proposed permit route is either a minor modification to a development plan or a building permit depending on triggers in the code.
Why it matters: The amendment clarifies whether certain security fences are permitted and sets safety and siting requirements that staff said are consistent with state guidance and surrounding jurisdictions. Staff also noted the rules exclude residential property and are limited to industrial and commercial contexts.
Council disposition: A council member suggested placing the amendment on the consent agenda; staff indicated they were comfortable doing so if there were no further questions. No formal council action was taken at the work session.