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To Picket Fences
f the 359 homeowners in my When pressed, Barbara confessed
area, 112 are running afoul that she had just received a
of the law in a deviously letter from the L.A. City
blatant way by committing the Attorney Rocky Delgadillo asking
heinous "fence offence;" in other her to "appear for a City
words, breaching Los Angeles Attorney hearing to determine if
municipal code sections 12.21 and a criminal complaint should be
12.22 which limit front yard issued against (her)... for an
fence and hedge height to a alleged (fence) violation."
maximum 3 "½ feet above grade.
Now that's a lot of criminal "It's a stressful situation,"
activity for one neighborhood. Barbara says. "It makes me feel
like a felon. Shouldn't there be
With their pens and pads, my a statute of limitations on
investigative team--three fences that have been in place
17-year-old, out-of-work for so long?"
babysitters--scoured my
neighborhood in search of Fence snitches are on the rise,
scoundrels and found one very according to some local
troublesome woman. This 74 year representatives. Meddlesome
old widow named Barbara gave them neighbors or quality of life
a suspicious story about how her protectors, depending upon ones
"charming wooden slats" were perspective, protest fences by
installed unknowingly by her calling the city's toll free
otherwise law-abiding husband in number anonymously to tattle on
1987. My detectives measured the their neighbors for wrought-iron,
"offensive picket" at a full four chain link and hedge
feet —rather than the legal 3 indiscretions. Barbara's picket
"½ -- above grade. caught the attention of
authorities when complainants
tipped off the Department of philosophical exercise--what
Building and Safety to another would the city do if she were a
neighbor's fence. A dozen "no show" at the hearing? How
families on the street received would the city react if Barbara
the ominous code violation faxed them a list of the other
letter. 111 high fences in our
neighborhood, or better yet, the
My investigative crew told me to tens of thousands in L.A,?
grab my polygraph and
interrogation spotlight, and Two things are certain: it would
scurry to Barbara's home for a take a lot of out-of-work
"Guantanamo Bay style" probe. But babysitters to compile the list,
when I arrived, I took pity on and it would start a revolution.
the wide-eyed senior, hinting Homeowners would not be willing
"Have you ever seen Leonardo to dismantle fences that cost
DiCaprio's movie, "Catch Me If them thousands of dollars to
You Can?" construct.
Of course, I would never advise Whistle-blowing Barbara could
Barbara to creep further into the then create a directory of every
recesses of crime by snubbing Mr. property with any sort of code
Delgadillo and tossing the violation. In fact, we have one
violation notice in the trash. now: it's called the phone book.
And I would hate for the fence
fiasco to culminate in a showdown As a Realtor for the past 17
at a dusty printing warehouse in years, I have never sold a home
France, all on the taxpayers' that complies with every Building
dime. and Safety rule. There are
enclosed patios and guest houses
But I wondered-- merely as a that are not "built to code;"
there are water heaters, roofs third of all home-owning
and air conditioners that have Angelenos cannot and should not
been installed without permits. be inputted into a "fence
It can be illegal to park too offender database."
many vehicles in the driveway or
store too many items in the The Barbaras of this city should
garage. not be frightened by official
notices, turned into scofflaws
Due to a number of break-ins in and labeled "casualties of the
the area, Barbara wants to retain process," as one fence snitch
her picket for security. Fence calls her.
proponents tout other benefits,
such as increased privacy and the The city could encourage
flexibility to transform front residents to drape existing
yards into grassy play areas for fences with greenery to capture
kids and pets, especially when the pastoral quality of the
pools swallow up the rear of a yesteryear or require them to
lot. Hill-adjacent properties as contribute $100 annually to a
well as those that have succumbed neighborhood beautification fund
to expansion or mansionization in return for the right to ignore
may not have room for a yard the law.
without enclosing the front.
The city could even change the
Too many years have passed and law to accommodate higher fences
too many fences have been built and mature hedges; after all, an
for Los Angeles to attempt a owner has paid for her front
perilous, impractical and costly yard, so she should, within
u-turn back to the "Leave it to reason, be able to use it as she
Beaver" days when neighborhoods pleases.
had unobstructed front lawns. One
The "fence" controversy has routinely disregard the laws.
traveled beyond Los Angeles to
the California communities of As I said good-bye to infamous
Burbank, Santa Monica, Richmond, L.A. picket, Barbara whispered in
and Glendale where angry my ear.
homeowners have flocked to city
council meetings—often breaking "Don't tell Mr. Delgadillo, but I
attendance records--to voice wish my fence were higher. Then I
their dissatisfaction with what could take out my trash in my
they perceive to be arcane and nightie."
restrictive rules. The issue is
likely to continue weaving its I nodded, "Why should a person
way across America since most have to get dressed just to walk
communities limit front-yard out her own front door?"
fence heights to three to four
feet while property owners
About the Author:
Charlotte Laws is a member of the Greater Valley Glen Council, a Realtor in Los Angeles and an author. Her political website is http://www.CharlotteLaws.org Her blog is http://charlottelaws.typepad.com Her real estate website is http://www.YourTopBroker.com
Source: www.isnare.com
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