Wrought Iron Fence in Rosamond, CA

Spear points are the obvious clash. Pointed pickets and finials are what most people picture on iron fence, and in the E and R-1 through R-3 districts 19.08.210.D says no sharp wire or points may project at the top of any fence or wall less than 6 feet tall. A fence in a required front yard there is held to 4 feet unless the director allows more after a public hearing under 19.08.210.G, so without that approval it sits under that line. We finish those runs with a flat cap rail over the pickets, pickets cut square through a top rail, or ball caps, and keep any scrollwork below the top.

Height comes from the same section, for the same E and R-1 through R-3 districts. A required front yard allows 4 feet under 19.08.210.B, side and rear yards allow 6 feet under 19.08.210.A, and Kern reads the height from the finished interior grade, leaving out any part of a wall that works as a retaining wall. On a big Rosamond lot an iron fence often runs along the road, and inside the required front yard the lowest number applies.

Our standard panel runs 3/4 inch square pickets through a 1.5 inch channel rail at about 4 inches on center, which leaves a clear gap near 3.25 inches. Line posts are 2.5 inch square for panels up to 6 feet, and gate posts step up toward 4 inch square as the leaf widens. Open pickets let most of the wind through, so an iron run loads its posts far less than a solid face. Gate posts still go at least 36 inches into concrete as our own shop practice, deeper under a wide leaf.

A pool fence brings state law in. California Health and Safety Code 115923 wants the barrier at least 60 inches tall with no more than 2 inches of clearance underneath, no opening that passes a 4 inch sphere, and nothing on the outside face a child under five could climb. The access gate opens away from the pool, closes itself and latches no lower than 60 inches up. Our standard spacing already stops the sphere, so a pool changes the height, the rails and the gate rather than the pickets.

Set those rules beside Kern's and, in the E and R-1 through R-3 districts, a pool barrier in the required front yard of a Rosamond lot does not fit. A 60 inch barrier is taller than the 4 foot required front yard figure there, and at 60 inches it is still under 6 feet, so sharp wire or points at its top are barred as well. Keeping the pool enclosure out of the required front yard avoids the conflict. Where it has to sit there, 19.08.210.G lets the director allow a greater height after a public hearing, and that decision comes before we cut pickets.

Slopes decide step or rake. A stepped panel stays level and drops at each post, which opens a wedge of space under the low end. A raked panel follows the ground. On a pool barrier we rake, because those wedges break the 2 inch clearance limit. Away from a pool, stepping reads tidier on a long straight run.

In Rosamond, dust, sun and sprinkler water attack cut ends and welds first. Galvanizing to ASTM A123 goes under the color, and an AAMA 2604 class powder holds up better than the basic 2603 tier. The galvanized steel needs the ASTM D7803 thermal prep before powder, or zinc outgassing leaves pinholes in the film.

This work runs out of our shop on Division Street in Lancaster. Read the full wrought iron fence details, or call (818) 220-8704 and we will come out.