Browns Lake, WI

Residential swimming pool barriers in Racine County are governed by the Wisconsin Uniform Dwelling Code (Wis. Admin. Code chs. SPS 320-325), which incorporates IRC Appendix G section AG105. Outdoor pools holding water more than 24 inches deep must be enclosed by a barrier at least 48 inches high with self-closing, self-latching gates. Permits are issued by the municipality (or by Racine County for unincorporated-town one- and two-family construction where the county is the certified UDC authority).

Wis. Stat. §167.10 governs fireworks statewide and requires a local user's permit issued by the mayor, village president, or town chair before any non-exempt fireworks may be possessed or used. Racine County itself does not issue fireworks permits; each incorporated city and village and each unincorporated town acts as the permit authority within its jurisdiction. Several Racine County municipalities have adopted ordinances stricter than the state baseline.

Racine County does not impose a general height cap on residential fences in unincorporated areas. Under Section 20-1086 of the County Zoning Ordinance, residential fences are regulated only when they obstruct traffic visibility on corner lots, are located near a navigable body of water, or fall within a shoreland-wetland or floodplain area. Section 20-1045 prohibits structures (including fences) within the 75-foot shore-yard setback from the ordinary high-water mark of navigable waters, although open fences may be allowed in the setback. Non-residential security fences require a permit. Contact Racine County Development Services at 262-886-8440.

Racine County does not adopt a county-wide decibel-based quiet-hours ordinance for unincorporated areas. Loud, boisterous, or unreasonably noisy conduct is enforced under Wisconsin's disorderly conduct statute, Wis. Stat. § 947.01, by the Racine County Sheriff's Office. Each town (Burlington, Dover, Caledonia, Mt. Pleasant, Norway, Raymond, Rochester, Waterford, Yorkville) may adopt its own public-disturbance ordinance with stricter, time-based limits. The Town of Dover, for example, restricts yelling, shouting, and amplified sound between 11:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m.

Racine County regulates dogs through Chapter 4 (Animals) of its Code of Ordinances and incorporates Wisconsin Statutes Chapter 174 by reference. Under Wis. Stat. § 174.042, a dog is 'running at large' whenever it is off the owner's premises and not under the control of the owner or another person; running-at-large dogs are subject to impoundment. All dogs five months of age or older must be licensed annually through the Racine County Treasurer with proof of current rabies vaccination, per Wis. Stat. § 174.05. Cities and villages within Racine County have their own leash and licensing ordinances.

Wis. Stat. §87.30 requires every Wisconsin city, village, town, and county with FEMA-mapped floodplain to adopt a floodplain zoning ordinance meeting Wis. Admin. Code ch. NR 116 and 44 CFR 59-72 (NFIP). Racine County participates in the NFIP and regulates floodplains along the Root River, Fox River, Pike River, and the Lake Michigan shoreline. Wisconsin's flood protection elevation is 2 feet above the regional (1% annual chance) flood elevation - a state-mandated freeboard stricter than the FEMA minimum.