Ask the News - Oct. 22

What is the proper way to keep trespassers off my property?

How high may I erect a property fence?

What if I want to top my property fence with barbed wire or razor wire?

Clovis Deputy Police Chief Trevor Thron outlined the first line of defense against trespassers: warning signs.

“I would suggest making sure your property is properly posted with ‘No Trespass’ signs first,” Thron said in an email response.

Once properly posted, police can take action if someone trespasses on your property.

“If this is, say, your lawn we are talking about, and you are having neighbor issues where they are continually coming on your property, I suggest politely asking them to stay off your property,” Thron wrote.

Thron went on to note if there has been an ongoing issue in this situation and you don’t feel comfortable confronting someone he invites citizens to call police.

“Then … we can help resolve the issue,” Thron wrote.

Clovis City Manager Justin Howalt outlined the city’s ordinances about fences. He noted if a city property owner is considering building a fence the city has guidelines outlined in ordinances that must be followed.

“There is not an ordinance stating there must be a fence on a property within Clovis. However a fence is defined by City of Clovis as 6 foot tall,” Howalt wrote in an email.

He went on to describe how things change when someone wants to build a fence taller than 6 feet high.

“Anything over such height will be considered a wall and will be permitted as such to meet … zoning requirements if and where applicable,” Howalt wrote.

As for topping fences with barbed wire or razor wire, that falls under the definition of a public nuisance.

“A ‘public nuisance’ shall mean any act, thing, occupation, condition or use of real or personal property which shall be of such a nature and shall continue for such length of time as to substantially annoy, injure or endanger the comfort, health, repose or safety of the public,” Howalt wrote in his email.

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