Does anyone know why Minnesotans dislike fences? (Minneapolis, Fridley: rental, neighbourhoods)

[TimtheGuy]

Originally Posted by Anneee

Thanks everyone! Good thoughts all around.
Before I started this thread I asked a few friends the same question. One said it was because fences don't hold up well in Minnesota because of the weather and they can look shabby after a few years. Another said it was because the snow melts and can puddle up against a fence, causing a problem for a next door neighbor that's a bit uphill from you. Does that ring a bell with anyone? I guess I'm wondering if there's a practical reason for the HOA rules that limit fences.

I don't think the reasons you list here are the actual reasons at all.

[Thedosius]

I've never heard that Minnesotans don't like fences. I have a backyard privacy fence where I live (Minneapolis). My neighbors and I get along so well that they just use my fence along their property line and built their own fence around the rest of their property.

My mom lives in Waseca and has built a privacy fence in her backyard. Neither she nor I have heard any complaints or negative comments from neighbors, nor would we ever expect to hear anything of the like despite the fact that we both have lived in Minnesota the vast majority of our lives (therefore may have some claim to knowing Minnesotans).

I suspect the phenomenon you're referring to has nothing to do with Minnesota and more to do with specific homeowner's associations.

[drishmael]

'Cause it's weird. Oh, jeez, look at your magnificent parcel! Yer really big-time now!

[Gaul Figalle]

Minnesotans traditionally are a bunch of nosey Germans and Scandinavians who like to keep tabs on their neighbors. Privacy fences greatly reduce the number of potential neighborhood gossip topics.

[HighFlyingBird]

The no fence thing is alive and well in Rochester. I couldn't find a house with a fence or a sub-division that allowed them (at least that met our other requirements in a house). So we have dogs and had to get an invisible fence which hasn't worked out AT ALL. The dogs are terrified and won't go in the yard at all. Not awesome. But I have also noticed more people walk their dogs and less dogs are let outside to play during the day (even in the warm months). Still, tons of people have dogs.

[cheddar]

The HOAs I know of limit the type of fences. Mostly they prohibit plain chainlink fences.

I think the lack of fences in the Midwest is more of a cultural thing and not related to snow or the other reasons mentioned. We visited relatives in a new development in Utah and it was odd how they all had fences so that other houses couldn't be seen and kids definitely couldn't go from yard to yard.

[TimtheGuy]

Originally Posted by cheddar

The HOAs I know of limit the type of fences. Mostly they prohibit plain chainlink fences.

I think the lack of fences in the Midwest is more of a cultural thing and not related to snow or the other reasons mentioned. We visited relatives in a new development in Utah and it was odd how they all had fences so that other houses couldn't be seen and kids definitely couldn't go from yard to yard.

The upper end neighborhood in Hastings (Wyndam Hills) does not allow any type of fence unless you have a pool and then it has to be wrought iron.

[Vintage_girl]

Originally Posted by drishmael

'Cause it's weird. Oh, jeez, look at your magnificent parcel! Yer really big-time now!

It has nothing to do with being weird or thinking one's a big-timer. Some people put up fences because they hang their clothes on a clothesline and don't want others to see their bedsheets or socks.

[drishmael]

Originally Posted by Vintage_girl

"It has nothing to do with being weird or thinking one's a big-timer. Some people put up fences because they hang their clothes on a clothesline and don't want others to see their bedsheets or socks."

Oh, I agree that there are legitimate reasons for having a fence. It's just that if everyone has one -- which, in a lot of places, is the norm -- it certainly detracts from the 'community' vibe.

[JeffTheGreat]

It's Minnesota Nice. Most people like to know their neighbors.
It's like the Pope says: Don't build walls, build bridges.