This is a typical American sleeping area, aka suburban area. Such houses themselves can vary greatly from each other – both in size and number of floors, and in the quality of materials and workmanship. But at the same time, such houses have one important detail in common – the almost universal absence of fences separating the front of the house from the rest of the street.
Where are the fences?
It is worth noting right away that fences as such are used, but in the vast majority of cases they are not installed at all on the facade of the house. Relatively small fences are located between the plots – behind the house and on its sides – but not in front.
Thus, only the backyard is actually fenced, where Americans often gather to have a meeting, have a barbecue, and just relax. The backyard is a private place that is perceived almost as an extension of the house. For children, it is a safe place to play, and for wealthy Americans, it is the location of the swimming pool.
Local laws
Of course, the plot of land on which the house is located is the private property of the homeowner. However, at the same time, there are rules at the district level that contain certain restrictions and prohibitions. These include, among others, rules for landscaping the adjacent territory.
These rules exist for a reason. In this way, local residents strive to preserve the aesthetics of the area. And the beautiful appearance of the area, in turn, leads to the fact that real estate does not lose value, and even becomes more expensive.
The point here is that this way it prevents chaos from being created when some homeowners start making changes to their plots that make the overall appearance of the area worse. And installing a high fence around the entire perimeter of the plot is one of those things that is simply unthinkable and unacceptable for most residents of “one-story America.”
Therefore, the facade of the site must comply with local regulations, otherwise you may face court and fines. In the vast majority of cases, decorative fences are permissible, which only visually separate private property from public territory.
It is important to clarify here that the USA is a large and diverse country, and requirements differ from place to place. Therefore, in some areas, installing a full-fledged fence in front of the plot is possible if certain requirements are met and appropriate permits are obtained. However, the vast majority of American homes are not fenced. This forms a general idea of what a typical American house looks like.
Fence as decoration
If a full-fledged high fence, completely closing the plot from the view of outsiders, is more of an exception to the rule, then a decorative fence in front of the house is a common thing. But even this type of fence is not the most common phenomenon. Basically, the private homes of most Americans do not have any fence at all, which would somehow separate private property from public space.
Decorative fencing in the form of a low fence or neatly trimmed bushes is most often characteristic of wealthy Americans who can afford to invest in the appearance of their home. As mentioned earlier, the beautiful appearance of the entire area has a positive effect on the price of all houses and plots, since beauty makes the place more attractive.
Thus, if the owner wants to organize at least a visual barrier between the house and the street, then he can resort to landscape design. Of course, in the USA it costs a lot of money, but people go to such expenses, if only because it is much more pleasant to live among such beauty. And it is also a way to brag to the neighbors and demonstrate to them your taste and financial capabilities.
Attitude towards private property
We should not forget about the appropriate attitude towards private property in the USA. An American simply does not need to enclose his plot with a powerful high fence, because the law is initially on the side of the homeowner.
In the United States, a potential intruder will think twice before attempting to break into someone else's home, as everyone knows that homeowners have the legal right to self-defense, including the ability to use firearms on their property.
In the United States, the phrase “my home is my fortress” is not backed up by a high, sturdy fence, but by a strong law. The front fence for Americans is not the main line of defense, since security is provided by other means, and the fence itself in the United States serves more as a formal designation of the boundary of private property. At the same time, it is an acceptable way to cover the backyard from the view of your neighbors, simply because the neighbors want the same. In addition, backyard fences often perform practical functions, helping to keep children and pets safe, and can also psychologically deter unwanted individuals.
In this, the Americans have found a golden mean. On the one hand, a sufficient level of privacy is maintained. On the other hand, this state of affairs preserves the aesthetics of public space, primarily the aesthetics of the facades of buildings, which with their appearance make a significant contribution to the face of the entire district.
As for security, in the US this issue largely falls on the shoulders of the authorities, here people mostly rely on the police and courts, rather than on a strong fence.
Safety and comfort
The absence of a fence in front of the house is also a big plus from a fire safety perspective, as otherwise a strong fence is guaranteed to create a serious obstacle for rescue services. And in the event of an emergency, minutes count.
It is also worth noting that many American plots are quite modest in size. Often, a larger area of private property is occupied by the house itself, and the plot ends literally a few meters from the facade of the house. In this case, the windows would look directly onto the fence, creating an extremely dubious view from the windows of the house.
The absence of a fence is also a banal comfort from the point of view of everyday life. In the USA, many private houses are combined with a garage, so constantly opening and closing two gates at once is inconvenient and, moreover, a waste of time. As mentioned earlier, the state is responsible for security in the USA, not a strong high wall.
And although the issue of crime in the United States is relevant and varies by region, law-abiding citizens are still protected enough to rely on the police, courts, and the law, not to mention the popular home and property insurance policies in the country.
Mentality
To sum up, we can say that the dislike for high fences is in the mentality of Americans. In the US, fences organize space rather than isolate a person on their plot from the rest of the world.
In the USA, this has happened historically, as well as due to cultural characteristics and traditions. In this country, people are simply accustomed to the absence of fences in front of houses. And from the point of view of Americans, the question will sound different: “Why are fences so popular in some other countries and have become the generally accepted norm?”
