City of Hopkins • Fences

Fence Permit Application - 42k

No person may construct, or cause to be constructed or erected within the City, any fence without first making application for and securing a permit from the zoning administrator.

Boundary line fences will be located entirely upon the private property of the person constructing or causing the construction of the fence unless the owner of the property adjoining agrees, in writing, that a fence may be erected on the division line of both properties. The zoning administrator may need the owner of the property on which a fence now exists, or may require any applicant for a fence permit to establish the boundary lines of his/her property by a survey to be made by any registered land surveyor.

A fence will be constructed in a substantial, workmanlike manner and of material reasonably suitable for the purpose for which the fence is proposed to be used. The fence has to be maintained in a condition of reasonable repair and will not be allowed to become and remain in a condition of disrepair or danger, or constitute a nuisance, public or private. Link fences, wherever permitted, will be constructed so that the barbed end is at the bottom of the fence and the knuckle end is at the top.

Any fence which is, or has become dangerous to public safety, health or welfare, is considered a public nuisance. The Zoning Administrator may start proper proceedings for an abatement.

Barbed wire fences are permitted only in industrial districts as provided in the City Code (Click "City Code - Zoning Code - Chap V").

In an R district, no boundary line fence may be erected or maintained more than four feet in height except for:

fences on any corner lot erected within 30 feet of the intersecting curb line are subject to City Code 520.11;

fences on side property lines cannot be more than 6 feet high the distance starting from the rear lot line proceeding along the property line to the rear wall line intersection of the existing principal building on the lot on either side of the fence, which building line intersecting such fence line is closest to the rear lot line from where the fence starts provided that if the principal building is located more than 50 feet away from the fence line and is owned by someone other than the fence owner or constructor, then the 6 foot side yard fence may be constructed to a point of the side yard which would be intersected by the rear wall of the principal building on the lot being fenced;
fences along any rear property line, which is also the rear property line of an abutting lot shall not exceed 6 feet in height;
fences along a rear property line, which line constitutes the side lot line of an abutting lot may not exceed 6 feet in height for a distance calculated as in clause b and may not exceed 4 feet in height.All fences in any residential district must be constructed so that at least 25% of the plane between the ground and the top of the fence is open. In calculating the percentage, distances of 50 feet may be averaged beginning at the permitted point opposite the principal building;

fences on side street lot lines cannot be more than 6 feet in height, the distance starting from a point on the rear lot line and proceeding along a 40 feet distance to the front lot line. In no case can the fence extend forward of the front line of the house;
property line fences next to R districts must conform to the conditions applying to the R districts.
fences enclosing swimming pools must have a minimum height of 4 feet and cannot exceed 6 feet subject to the provisions of 520.13 Subd. 6.
the side(s) of residentially zoned properties next to a State or County road may have an opaque fence.
The side of the fence facing the public right-of-way cannot contain the structure and/or support of the fence.

Fence Diagram

Contact at 952-548-6342 for more information.