Eden Prairie proposes crackdown on electric and barbed-wire fences after resident’s safety concerns

Suburban life may be symbolized by the white picket fence, but it is electric and barbed-wire fencing drawing the attention of Eden Prairie officials.

Prompted by one resident’s concern about electric fences within neighborhoods and their potential harm to children, the Eden Prairie City Council is looking to tighten its fencing rules and regulations.

Until now, city code has addressed fence height but not specifically fence materials, according to city staff. Restrictions have been scattered throughout city code and will now be consolidated.

Taking a cue from other cities, Eden Prairie is proposing to limit barbed-wire fencing to just a few cases, including around Flying Cloud Airport, other government infrastructure and data centers. Electric fencing would be allowed only in areas where invasive plant species are being eliminated or contained by animals, such as where goats are being used to remove buckthorn.

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Electric fencing to protect a homeowner’s garden from deer – the source of the city’s recent discussion – would not be allowed.

The amended ordinance, which does not apply to underground fencing used to contain pets, received preliminary council approval Tuesday, Jan. 7, with final consideration soon to follow.

Resident’s concern is sparking changes

A resident brought the fencing concern to City Council members last August. He specifically wondered why city code does not address electric fencing being used in neighborhoods to keep deer away and whether child safety is at risk as a result.

Though the city manages Eden Prairie’s deer population, the animals are known to forage in gardens, much to the frustration of homeowners.

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“It made us begin to think, ‘Can you do that in Eden Prairie? Can you just put electric fences up? Can you put barbed-wire fences up?’” Mayor Ron Case said Tuesday.

City staff began looking into the matter. What they found is that a number of other suburbs have regulations on electric and barbed-wire fencing, with some having citywide prohibitions and others limiting such fencing to certain areas.

A City Council workshop discussion in September led to Tuesday’s code amendment proposals that allow the fencing only in a handful of specific cases.

“Thank you to our resident who came forward with an idea that a lot of us looked around and scratched our chin and went, ‘Wow, that’s not a bad idea,’” Case said.

As with other parts of code, the city occasionally considers exceptions for special cases. 

“There is an appeal process that is outlined in code, not only in this situation but others,” said Julie Klima, the city’s director of community development. That process typically starts with a phone call to city staff, she added.

After the ordinance is enacted, any existing fence not meeting the new requirements becomes a violation of city code, Klima said. Once city staff become aware of a violation, she added, they will reach out to and work with the property owner so there is compliance with the regulations.