A brief overview of Apex, North Carolina

According to the North Carolina History Project, Apex, North Carolina was incorporated in 1873. It received its name after its location as the highest point on a portion of the Chatham Railroad which runs from Richmond, Virginia to Jacksonville, FL. A disastrous fire in 1912 destroyed the majority of the downtown business district. The area was rebuilt is one of the most intact railroad towns in North Carolina. Apex is close to Cary, both cities are great places to buy a home.

In the heart of downtown is the Apex Chamber of Commerce, which is housed at what used to be the Apex Union Depot. The Apex Union Depot was initially a passenger station for the Seaboard Air Line Railroad.

Apex has continued to grow over the years along with the rest of North Carolina. The town's prime location to Research Triangle Park helped the town's population quadruple in the 1990's. In late 2006, a chemical fire at a waste processing facility made headlines. Most all of Apex was evacuated until it was safe. The town's population is in the low 30,000's. Apex's Chamber of Commerce is a great place to find more information about the city and businesses in the area.

In 2007, CNN/Money magazine ranked Apex, NC fourteenth on its list of top small towns to live in.

Forbes magazine ranked the 100 suburbs across the United States that posted the highest growth rates between 2000 and 2006. Apex was No. 63.

OUR FENCE CONTRACTORS SERVE APEX.

Our company wants to be the Apex fence company of choice. Our Apex fence company is dedicated to bringing astonishing looking fences to your neighborhood at a fraction of the cost of our competition's. We are able to keep our Apex fence prices lower than virtually all of our competitors because we are able to CONTROL our advertising costs. This Apex fence installer has no telephone book ads, our Apex fence company does NOT do direct mailings and WE HAVE NO ADVERTISING COSTS. This means really low priced fences for you and your family. Whether the reason for your fence is a child, a pet, or privacy, we have one that fits every budget.

Town of Apex, North Carolina.
Fence Code & Ordinances.

Our fence contractors install wood, aluminum, PVC, and vinyl fences in Apex, NC. Contact us for more information.

Also we have researched the fence ordinances for Apex, NC. and have posted them on this page:

Apex Fence Code and Ordinances

This was taken directly from the Town of Apex website. And before we get into the details of the code, here are some FAQ’s I took from the site that may answer most questions regarding your fence application. They include a definition for a fence in Durham, what types of materials you can use for your fences in Durham, height requirements for fences in Durham, and also answers questions in reference to buffer zones and right of way regulations for any fence, residential and commercial, in the Durham, NC jurisdiction.

The FAQ section shown first in this section explains most problems consumers will run across when building a fence on their property in Durham, NC.

Fences
Fences are artificially constructed barriers intending protection, screening, or boundary. Refer to Section 8.2 of the Unified Development Ordinance (UDO) for standards and diagrams on ?Landscaping, Buffering, and Screening.?

What materials can you use?
1) Fences or walls shall be constructed of wood, stone, brick, decorative concrete block, wrought iron, (or products created to resemble these materials), or a combination of any of these materials. Chain link fencing is allowed provided it meets the standards listed below.
2) All fencing shall be finished on the side facing a public right-of-way or adjacent properties.
3) Materials such as, but not limited to, plywood, particleboard, sheet metal, concrete slabs, or concrete barriers shall not be used for fencing or for walls.
4) Chain link fencing shall be coated in black, brown, or dark green vinyl or equivalent and shall not utilize slats. In residential zoning districts, chain link fencing is only allowed in the side and/or rear yards of individual lots and is not allowed to be used by the developer of a subdivision for buffering and screening.
5) Barbed wire and similar fence materials may only be used in conjunction with a permitted agricultural use or in conjunction with the permitted keeping of horses or livestock. Up to 2 feet of barbed wire can be erected on top of another fence type as a safety function for industrial and utility uses.

What are the size requirements for a fence?
1) No freestanding fence or wall shall exceed seven feet in height including piers, posts and finials. Non-residential fences or walls may be higher for security and/or screening purposes with approval by the Planning Director, after taking into account topography, unique site conditions, and unique safety, security, and screening requirements of the property owner.
2) Fences and walls including piers, posts, and finals in front yards shall not exceed 48 inches in height.
3) Fences and walls shall be allowed in the controlled and limited access highway buffer, throughfare buffer, and streetfront buffer provided that they meet the requirements of Section 8.2.7(F), ?Fences in Required Buffers,??and the height requirements of Section 8.2.7(B)(1) and (2).

How can I use a fence to separate my property from a right-of-way?
Where non-residential fencing or walls will abut a public right-of-way, it shall be set back at least 4 feet from the right-of-way and a minimum of 3 small evergreen shrubs spaced every 20 feet shall be planted on the side of the fence or wall facing the surrounding rights-of-way, walks, parks, trails, or other public use properties. Fencing or walls must provide visual interest through the use of posts and finials.

Are there extra requirements for a fence abutting a right-of-way?
Where a residential fencing or wall will abut a major or minor thoroughfare, it must provide visual interest through changes in fence setbacks or materials, or through the use of decorative posts with finials, or through the use of plants spaced every 20 feet on the side of the fence or wall facing the public throughfare.? Plantings shall not be planted within the public right-of-way.

Can I construct a fence in a buffer?
1) Fences/walls shall be permitted in buffers only where they are planned as an integral part of the buffer. Fences/walls are not allowed in Riparian Buffers per Sec. 6.1.11, except for fences/walls installed by the Town for utility protection. Where there is existing vegetation, the installation of the fence/wall must be done in such a manner as to protect significant vegetation, such as, but not limited to, being hand built and winding around trees. It is not the intent of this section to allow the piecemeal installation of fences/walls in buffers or the installation of private fences/walls that result in completely enclosing sections of buffer inside of a fence/wall or fences/walls.
2) Fences shall supplement and not replace the existing and/or required plantings. Fences shall be set back from the edge of the buffer so that the buffer plantings are located on both sides of the fence, with a minimum of four feet from public rights-of-way. Fences shall be of uniform design throughout the buffer. The property owners association or other entity controlling the buffer shall maintain fences. Privately owned and/or installed fences are not permitted in the buffers except where designed and approved as part of the overall buffer.

Next, the actual code is shown here. It goes into more detail on such regulations as what materials are allowed, ie: chain link is only allowed on sides and rear sections in this code.

Actual Code:

8.2.7 Fences, Walls, & Berms

Fences, walls, and berms are permitted as elements of site design and in some locations, may be used to conceal storage or other unsightly or conflicting land uses. Fences are not allowed around detention and retention basins per Section 6.1.12(C)(9).
All fences, walls, and berms shall meet the following requirements:

A) Materials:

1) Fences or walls shall be constructed of wood, stone, brick, decorative concrete block, wrought iron, (or products created to resemble these materials), or a combination of any of these materials. Chain link fencing is allowed provided it meets the standards in Section 8.2.7(A)(4).
2) All fencing shall be finished on the side facing a public right-of-way or adjacent properties.
3) Materials such as, but not limited to, plywood, particleboard, sheet metal, concrete slabs, concrete barriers shall not be used for fencing or for walls.
4) Chain link fencing used in non-residential zoning districts shall be coated in black, brown or dark green vinyl or equivalent, except that chain link fencing used in industrial zoning districts or for public utility purposes does not require vinyl coating. In residential zoning districts, chain link fencing is only allowed in the side and/or rear yards of individual lots and is not allowed to be used by the developer of a subdivision for buffering and screening.
5) Barbed-wire and similar fence materials may only be used in conjunction with a permitted agricultural use or in conjunction with the permitted keeping of horses or livestock. Up to 2? of barbed wire can be erected on top of another fence type for safety purposes for industrial and utility uses.

B) Fence/Wall Height:

1) No freestanding fence or wall shall exceed seven feet in height including piers, posts, and finials. Non-residential fences or walls may be higher for security and/or screening purposes with approval by the Planning Director, after taking into account topography, unique site conditions, and unique safety, security, and screening requirements of the property owner (see section 8.2.8, Screening).
2) Fences and walls including piers, posts, and finials in front yards shall not exceed 48 inches in height.
3) Fences and walls shall be allowed in the controlled and limited access highway buffer, thoroughfare buffer, and streetfront buffer provided that they meet the requirements of Section 8.2.7(F) ?Fences in Required Buffers? and the height requirements of Section 8.2.7(B)(1) and (2).

C) Fences/Walls Abutting Public Rights-of-Way:

1) Where non-residential fencing or walls will abut a public right-of-way, it shall be set back at least 4 feet from the right-of-way, and a minimum of 3 small evergreen shrubs spaced every 20 feet shall be planted on the side of the fence or wall facing the surrounding rights-of way, walks, parks, trails, or other public use properties. Plantings shall not be planted within the public right-of-way. Fencing or walls must provide visual interest through the use of different materials, decorative posts and finials.
2) Where a residential fence or wall will abut a major or minor thoroughfare, it must provide visual interest through changes in fence setbacks or materials, or through the use of decorative posts with finials, or through the use of plants spaced every 20 feet on the side of the fence or wall facing the public thoroughfare. Plantings shall not be planted within the public right-of-way.

D) Berms

Berms may be utilized as part of perimeter landscaping. Where berms are used, they shall not be of a uniform height but may vary in height from 24 to 48 inches in height over the length of the berm, and shall be covered with turf grasses or other appropriate landscaping material as determined by the Planning Department. The slope of a berm shall not exceed three to one (3:1).

E) Fences/Walls in Required Buffers

1) Fences/walls shall be permitted in buffers only where they are planned
as an integral part of the buffer. Fences/walls are not allowed in Riparian Buffers per Sec. 6.1.11, except for fences/walls installed by the Town for utility protection. Where there is existing vegetation, the installation of the fence/wall must be done in such a manner as to protect significant vegetation, such as, but not limited to, being hand built and winding around trees. It is not the intent of this section to allow the piecemeal installation of fences/walls in buffers or the installation of private fences/walls that result in completely enclosing sections of buffer inside of a fence/wall or fences/walls.
2) Fences shall supplement and not replace the existing and/or required plantings. Fences shall be set back from the edge of the buffer so that the buffer plantings are located on both sides of the fence, with a minimum of four feet from public rights-of-way. Fences shall be of uniform design throughout the buffer. The property owners association or other entity controlling the buffer shall maintain fences. Privately owned and/or installed fences are not permitted in the buffers except where designed and approved as part of the overall buffer.
Figure 8..2.7(E): Fences/Walls in Required Buffers

F) Maintenance

The owner of the property (or other party responsible for maintenance as depicted on the approved site plan) on which the fence, wall or berm is located is required to maintain the fence or wall in a safe and attractive condition. This shall mean the following:
1) No fence or wall shall have more that 20 percent of its surface area with disfigured, cracked, ripped or peeling paint or other material;
2) A fence or wall shall not stand with bent or broken supports, including loose or missing appendages;
3) Fences and walls shall be plumb (vertical) to the ground; and
4) Replacement of non-conforming fences, walls and berms shall comply with all the requirements of this section.

Contact us for more information. © 2009 Information reliable but not guaranteed, always check with your city, state, county, town, or municipal for the up to date information regarding permits, right-of-ways, easements, etcs