Palm Coast's Conley Court looks like your typical, all-American neighborhood.

American flags fly in the breeze, yards are well maintained.

All that's missing is a white picket fence. But you won't find one of those here on Conley or any other street in Palm Coast.

That, however, may soon change.

City ordinance prohibit fences in front yards.

Barbara Grossman with code enforcement said you can't enclose your front lawn because it prohibits utility crews from needed access. And the rules don't stop there. “We also don't allow barbed wire. We don't allow, you know, field fence so there's always been regulations for fencing.”

But there are a few homes in Palm Coast with front-yard fencing, including on Conley Court.

They're grandfathered in because the homes were built before Palm Coast became a city in 1999.

However, city council members have instructed city staff to craft new fencing rules to allow more open fencing for portions of front yards.

There's been talk of allowing additional colors and materials for fencing as well.

Things could be getting a little more stringent for homeowners along the city's saltwater canals though.

Solid 6 foot high fencing would have to get shorter as the fence gets closer to the water.

Admittedly, there haven't been that many fence violations but Grossman realizes when it comes to tweaking rules, you can't please everyone.

What is tasteful for one person may not be for another. 

“Whichever way we go, it's fine until it's in their backyard, or side yard or front yard,” Grossman.

These kinder, gentler regulations are far from a done deal though. Before any changes can take place, there will be plenty of opportunities for public comment.

And there have already been people stepping up to complain about relaxed fence rules before any rule has even been “relaxed.”