Looking at that street plan, it looks like that 15x47.1 area that extends beyond the rear lot line is likely an addition to your property - maybe you have a bigger backyard than you think! My BIL's lot is like that - land behind them was up for development but the neighbours were offered the chance to buy some of the land immediately abutting their property. BIL did that, so his lot looks a bit like what I'm seeing on that street plan view. Maybe the properhy owner at the time that walking trail was made, bought some of the land.... If you haven't alreadty, check that out first. I think it would be possible to make an attractive front fenced area if the backyard option isn't feasible. I'd start by shaping a lawn area by mirroring the curve of the driveway onto the opposite side, which would produce a sort of oval lawn with pointed ends :-) Then leave a straight line from the porch to the street as a wide entrance walkway; fence along that, follow along the curved propertly line, to the garage. I'd use a 4' black ornamental iron or aluminium fence, with a gate halfway along the entrance walk and another at the garage end (or by a sidedoor if there is one...) I'd plant a mixed border along the fence by the walkway, continuing along the house, with shade-tolerant vines to grow on the fence side. You'd have roughly triangular area between the shaped lawn and the fenced area. I'm not sure where the tree is exactly - hopefully in that triangular area! There would be a small clear area in the center of the fenced area - lawn if it would grow; otherwise a low tough groundcover that would tolerate the dogs. It could be quite interesting - let green and white dominate the colors in the plantings - that's the easiest color combination in shade and always looks cool and restful. I'd draw what I mean except my computer with the scanner died last week and I haven't got a new one yet :-) I do not like those electric dog fences - I think they are cruel, especially for sensitive dogs like shelties! So, IMO any option is better than that.

I think it's the case that you're as easily able to create good aesthetics without the fence, as you are with it. Adding it means paying attention to another set of design considerations. People do things all the time thinking that they are creating more beauty, when in fact, they are creating more ugliness, and sometimes an expensive clean-up process. Not saying that would be the case here, but just noting that it's always a possibility, since we can't know how you'd do every detail, and ultimately that's what would matter. Having dogs that spend time in the yard is a commonplace situation. Mostly, they are either relegated to the back yard where the tall fencing is permitted, or they are able to be kept in the front yard by 4' fencing. I don't think the city or the neighborhood in general, will agree that having a special breed of dogs that can't be contained in the front yard by 4' height fencing, is worth granting a variance for. Security for the occupants of the house is a separate matter. Not having any idea of the crime trends of your neighborhood, can't begin to predict if you can make a good enough case for additional security fencing. But maybe you can. Every so often, general ways of doing things change and it all starts with a single case that sets precedent. In the early 70s, it was not common for fathers to be allowed in the delivery room while their child was being born. That they are allowed and expected to be there is now the rule. Even if you end up not being able to get a variance for fencing, there are other ways of addressing the privacy issue. Governments as a rule don't seem to have any objection to your creating privacy with plants, thus the use of tall trimmed hedges where someone doesn't want the outside world looking. You probably already know that there is a non-refundable fee assessed for seeking a variance and a hearing. Check to see what it is in order to figure out if it would be worth it to you if the variance was not granted. I've acquired a few variances along the way, every one for which I applied, but in each case they were based on need such that the homeowner would either needlessly suffer a hardship if the variance wasn't granted, and/or they would inadvertently cause other people (neighbors) problems if forced to comply with the regular rules. The variances were for front yard parking.

@mindshift: We have decided on going with paint. I did a lot of research. And it comes down to the look you want, the wood you use, weather etc. Since we wanted a clean look with little grains showing we went with pain. We also used redwood clear select for our fencing .This is NOT premier high end wood ( like IPE or Managris or Mahagony) and I did not think a dark stain would hold well on it and paint would be a good cover up. If I was not fixated on a black fence I would have stained it clear and gone for the premium quality wood and let the wood do all the talking :-) Also weather here ( Northern California) is decent for painted fences.

UPDATE: I wanted to thank everyone for their helpful suggestions. Our front yard renovation is almost complete. All we have left to do is pick out some colorful pillows for the chairs and wait for the plants to grow larger over time. We’re really happy with it. This is about the most sun the yard gets so finding native California plants that were shade tolerant and drought tolerant was a challenge. Here’s our plant list: Allumroot in 2 variations; Seaside Daisy; Narrow Leaf Milkweed; Blue Eyed Grass; and, Western Sword Fern The pots and window boxes aren’t natives but contain combos of impaitients, lace ferns, a different variation of allumroot, and daffodils. It’s much more enjoyable to sit outside and watch the kids play now.