[miamicuse]

Posts are visible on both sides, I don't see what the issue is?

Like I said, the fence looks the same on both sides,

5 inch posts, 3x 2x4's between the posts, then vertical 1x6's

What I mean is down here that's not typical on the way the horizontal rails are connected. What is city requires is for the posts to be installed first, embedded in concrete with a 10" diameter cylinder. Then the horizontal rails are FACE MOUNTED on the posts on the neighbor's side with specific nail size, length and count. So for example a 6' tall fence cannot have posts exceeding 4' separation for hurricanes, once they set three posts, typically they will then face nail three 2X12s across all three posts at top, middle and bottom. The pickets are then nailed onto both sides staggered so both sides have similar patterns, but the neighbor's side is a continuous pattern, your side will start and end at the 4X4 posts, you still see the posts on one side.

The only way to make it identical on both sides in appearance is to attach the horizontal rails recessed between the posts like how you build an interior wall. This requires more work because each piece have to be cut to fit, and in our city this requires an additional plan review exception because they want to you to use special brackets as toe nailing will not pass inspection.

 

[miamicuse]

We are getting ready to install a 4 ft wood fence. We have a corner lot, so the fence on the side will have the pickets on the street side. No complaints there. On the adjacent neighbor side … we get the pickets. Part of that is because of their attitude, i’m not giving them anything i don’t have to.

Talking about penalty when building fences. If you are in our city, to build a fence at a corner lot, you are SEVERLY PENALIZED from zoning because they now enforce a sight triangle rule. In other words, if your corner lot abutts two streets, you go to your property corner, walk back 25' in one direction along one street, then you go back to that same property corner and walk along another street for 25', those three points form a sight triangle. That entire triangle, with two sides 25' long, cannot have fences inside that triangle that is taller than 3'. Basically if you want a 4' privacy fence at a corner, no go, unless you build it outside of the sight triangle which causes you to lose the use of that triangular space. You can't even plant shrubs with a projected mature height more than 3' there. Talking about penalizing home owners some cities are insane.

https://cms7files1.revize.com/northlauderdale/document_center/residents/forms%20&%20applications/REQUIREMENTS%20FOR%20FENCE%20PERMIT.pdf

 

[Msradell]

BS. Prove it. Show me an ordinance that requires that. I just checked the ordinances in my county … it discusses setbacks, height, and general design considerations … but nothing about which side the pickets are on.

Attached is another example a requirement for the good side to be towards your neighbors.. There are many examples of that requirement.

 

[Msradell]

We are getting ready to install a 4 ft wood fence. We have a corner lot, so the fence on the side will have the pickets on the street side. No complaints there. On the adjacent neighbor side … we get the pickets. Part of that is because of their attitude, i’m not giving them anything i don’t have to.

you probably need to check with local requirements because as been pointed out here many communities have requirements of the good side be towards your neighbors. As you can see by the results of the poll the majority certainly say the posts have to be towards your side.

Clear, but still dumb. As miami pointed out … the guy that pulls the permit gets the back side of the fence. It’s almost a penalty.

I don't see why you say it's dumb. It's so you don't put up something ugly that your neighbors see! That's just being a good neighbor.

 

[Msradell]

Deleted

 

[Half-fast eddie]

As you can see by the results of the poll the majority certainly say the posts have to be towards your side.

I don't see why you say it's dumb. It's so you don't put up something ugly that your neighbors see! That's just being a good neighbor.

Internet poll doesn't mean squat.
It’s dumb because 99% of fences have a good side and a bad side. Why should the person Paying for the fence get the bad side?

 

[Msradell]

Internet poll doesn't mean squat.
It’s dumb because 99% of fences have a good side and a bad side. Why should the person Paying for the fence get the bad side?

Very Simple, the neighbor shouldn't have to have his property value decreased because you want a fence!

 

[James999]

What I mean is down here that's not typical on the way the horizontal rails are connected. What is city requires is for the posts to be installed first, embedded in concrete with a 10" diameter cylinder. Then the horizontal rails are FACE MOUNTED on the posts on the neighbor's side with specific nail size, length and count. So for example a 6' tall fence cannot have posts exceeding 4' separation for hurricanes, once they set three posts, typically they will then face nail three 2X12s across all three posts at top, middle and bottom. The pickets are then nailed onto both sides staggered so both sides have similar patterns, but the neighbor's side is a continuous pattern, your side will start and end at the 4X4 posts, you still see the posts on one side.

Okay now I understand,

I have never seen a fence built like that, around here the cross pieces are mounted between the posts, not face

 

[CaptTom]

Talking about penalty when building fences. If you are in our city, to build a fence at a corner lot, you are SEVERLY PENALIZED from zoning because they now enforce a sight triangle rule...

As a driver, I wish more municipalities would enforce rules like that. Fences, trees, bushes, stone walls, anything which would reduce the sight lines ought to be considered. Look at it this way: The roads were there first. If you plan to buy property on a corner, you need to factor into your decision that it's not fair of you to block visibility for people using those roads. Complaining after the fact is like people buying property near an airport and then complaining about the noise.

 

[LMJohnson]

One can have the option to stagger the "pickets" inside and outside.

I burnt my salmon burger reading all the replies. Good thing I had another. And thanks for all the suggestions.

I didn’t mention that I will be using existing chain link posts and chain-to-wood fittings to attach horizontal 2x4s. Already bought them. Not sure making a two-sided fence is doable using these, besides it’s much more expensive. I will definitely consider alternating picket boards provided my neighbor’s yappy dogs can’t squeeze through.

 

[Steve2444]

I burnt my salmon burger reading all the replies. Good thing I had another. And thanks for all the suggestions.

I didn’t mention that I will be using existing chain link posts and chain-to-wood fittings to attach horizontal 2x4s. Already bought them. Not sure making a two-sided fence is doable using these, besides it’s much more expensive. I will definitely consider alternating picket boards provided my neighbor’s yappy dogs can’t squeeze through.

Sorry bout the burger...

You could still stagger the 2x4" every other one on a different side.
Of course that will make it extreemly tempting to climb over.

Would make a nice trellis for some sort of vine though.

 

[LMJohnson]

Sorry bout the burger...

You could still stagger the 2x4" every other one on a different side.
Of course that will make it extreemly tempting to climb over.

Would make a nice trellis for some sort of vine though.

there will be only two 2x4s set horizontal to attach the 1x6 treated fence boards.

 

[Half-fast eddie]

Very Simple, the neighbor shouldn't have to have his property value decreased because you want a fence!

You have bizarre logic. I am increasing his property value by installing a fence for 1/3 of his back yard.

 

[miamicuse]

As a driver, I wish more municipalities would enforce rules like that. Fences, trees, bushes, stone walls, anything which would reduce the sight lines ought to be considered. Look at it this way: The roads were there first. If you plan to buy property on a corner, you need to factor into your decision that it's not fair of you to block visibility for people using those roads. Complaining after the fact is like people buying property near an airport and then complaining about the noise.

The problem with this new rule is exactly what you said. That this rule is applied blindly without any logical thought considering the locales and conditions.

This is a rule put in place because someone was concerned about downtown high rise buildings with walls right up to the property lines and sidewalks and blocks sight lines when making a turn.

It's a new rule that was introduced during my ownership. So no, it's not like the rule was there and I bought the place, failing to do due diligence then complained after the fact.

Outside my property line is a 4' wide concrete sidewalk. On the other side of the sidewalk is 22' of grass swale, that's where the edge of pavement is. The old fence rule was 3' setback which would have placed my fence 29' outside of the edge of pavement on both sides. No cars would have any issue with vision obstruction.

This is a clear case of someone trying to solve a downtown problem and applies it city wide when most properties in the city outside of the city centers do not have this issue. To me the logical determination of the sight triangle should have been from the edge of pavements, go back 25' and make the triangle, if that triangle is outside of the property envelope, it shouldn't be a problem. If there is an overlap, then the overlapped section can be considered a clear zone. To do it the way they did it is absolutely unforgivable incompetence.

 

[530Foreman]

I've built quite a bit of fencing so far in my career, and the person cutting the check always got the pretty side of the fence or got to choose where it went. We don't have any local codes that regulate which side the boards go on, just height and setbacks. Definitely check your local requirements, but hopefully you can build it however you like.

Just as an aside, if you're using existing metal posts and brackets I usually stagger the joints (eg, if the posts are 8' OC I run 16' PT so that at most 2 of the 3 rails break on any one post, makes the fence stiffer).

 

[CaptTom]

This is a clear case of someone trying to solve a downtown problem and applies it city wide when most properties in the city outside of the city centers do not have this issue.

I hear you on that one. I'm not a fan of one-size-fits-all regulations with no room allowed for common sense. As I said, it's frustrating as a driver when fences or vegetation block an intersection. So I think some sort of regulation would be appropriate. It sounds like in your case the city's solution was neither necessary nor appropriate for the circumstances.

To expand on your theme, around here there seems to be a proliferation of stop signs where no stop is necessary. There's one intersection I frequent where I come to a full stop, and look both ways, even though there's no sign. It's the only safe thing to do. But there are a thousand others with stop signs, where sight lines are sufficient. No need to even slow down unless someone is coming the other way.

Maybe someone can set me straight on this, but my assumption is that the municipality doesn't hire folks with degrees in network analysis to work in the road maintenance department. The maintenance guys and truck drivers who reliably show up for work sober every day get promoted well beyond their ability to make these kinds of decisions. Their budgets and options are limited. When the only tool you have is a hammer, every problem looks like a nail. It's easy to put up stop signs. They can get government grants to put up stop lights. So those "solutions" are applied whether or not they're actually needed. And the real traffic problems never get solved. Rant over. Sorry.

 

[Msradell]

You have bizarre logic. I am increasing his property value by installing a fence for 1/3 of his back yard.

That's just your opinion. Many people, including me don't want a fence in their backyard.

 

[HausDoctor1049]

Make sure you follow town regulations..

 

[jayhanig]

So the question is simple, what is the proper way to construct the fence, posts on inside or outside of fence?

I have always seen the nice side of the fence to the neighbor's side, and the posts and horizontal rails all go to the inside of your yard.

 

[Kratondude24]

BS. Prove it. Show me an ordinance that requires that. I just checked the ordinances in my county … it discusses setbacks, height, and general design considerations … but nothing about which side the pickets are on.

View attachment 728626

I think you might have skipped over the part that reads, "Side of fence or wall facing a road or adjacent properties has a decorative appearance or does not have support structures or framing."