The city of Shakopee is now requiring permits for fences in an effort to prevent building in restricted areas. It has had to tell one man to take down his fence and hopes to prevent situations like this from re-occurring. The City Council also last week revised its ordinances to clarify where landscaping can occur around utility easements. To read the full story, read today's edition of the Shakopee Valley News. The print edition will also be available on-line at noon Friday. A summary of the yard rules is below.

Fence permit now needed

+ Construction of all fences, except garden fences, now requires a $25 building permit. The city will assess the lot to determine where the fence can go, based on the location of utilities. (Fences greater than six feet tall still need a conditional use permit.)

If you have an easement:

ALLOWED

+ Fencing, trees, landscaping, etc. is allowed in standard drainage and utility easements that don’t contain underground storm sewer, sanitary sewer or watermain pipes, so long as it doesn’t stop the flow of drainage. But these items are still subject to removal as necessary and at the cost of the property owner.

NOT ALLOWED

+ Fencing, trees, landscaping, etc. isn’t allowed in easements with underground storm sewer, sanitary sewer or water main pipes. Small gardens, bushes and other low-level landscaping can exist if they don’t block inspection or maintenance access to underground utilities.

+ No fencing or landscaping improvements are permitted on an easement if it prevents city workers from getting access to something like a storm-water pond or catch basin.

+Non-slat chain link or split rail-type fences, trees, landscape walls, etc., can’t be within easements that serve as pond basins, barring certain conditions and approval from the public works department.

For more information, contact the city public works department at (952) 233-9361