Posted on January 25th, 2023

A new city ordinance allows for deer fencing at homes in Norton Shores.

The ordinance that allows residents to erect fencing to protect plants from hungry deer during certain parts of the year has proven successful in other parts of the country, according to city staff.

The ordinance allows plastic or nylon fencing up to 8 feet tall to be placed around landscaping and garden areas between April 1 and Nov. 1.

Staff initiated the ordinance “due to resident complaints about the influx of deer on private properties,” city Planning Director Ted Woodcock wrote in a memo to city council members.

He suggested it would be cheaper, and possibly more effective, than a targeted deer kill known as a “cull.”

“Conversely, a deer cull could only be done on public property, which in turn could force the deer away from the public property and onto the adjacent private properties,” Woodcock wrote. “Culls are also relatively expensive and require state permitting.”

The council adopted the ordinance Jan. 3, and it took effect Friday, Jan. 13.

Communities with similar ordinances located in Oregon, Maryland, New York and New Jersey found they “were successful in deterring the deer from destroying private property,” Woodcock wrote.

Details of the ordinance include:

• Deer fencing must be made of green, brown or black nylon or polypropylene plastic.
• Fencing can be up to 8 feet high, taller than the 6 feet allowed for other fencing.
• Deer fencing can only be placed around gardens or landscaped areas.
• Deer fencing cannot be used as a boundary between properties.
• Fencing cannot be placed on top of a wall or another fence and must have its own supports.
• Fencing is not allowed during November, December, January, February and March.

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