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A hair-raising solution

Electric fencing will soon have some new conditions imposed after city staff drafts and council adopts a proposed zoning bylaw amendment.
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Electric fencing will soon have some new conditions imposed after city staff drafts and council adopts a proposed zoning bylaw amendment.

Council passed a motion directing city staff to prepare the amendment, after one Rosslander brought concerns to their attention about unregulated use.

At a meeting on Jan. 13 council heard a presentation from Jeff Ginalias (whose neighbour has erected an electric fence on the property boundary) outlining some concerns with electric fences in residential areas and requested council consider some policies or provisions regulating electric fences.

Prohibiting electric fences in residential zones or in all zones ran contrary to the city's current support of local agriculture and the city's support of Wildsafe BC's recommended approaches to wildlife conflict prevention.

Electric fences are permitted throughout the city with no other regulations. Council had asked staff for a report on the issue.

Under the report, the following regulations will have to be observed:

• Must be installed a least one metre from property lines;

• Must only use controllers that meet the requirements of all applicable Canadian Standards Association standard;

• May not conduct current in excess of 10,000 volts;

• Fences must display appropriate signage;

• Inspection is done by the building inspector after installation.