Racine County, WI Building Safety: Building Permits (2026)

Pergolas, decks, stairs and landings that abut a principal structure, whether or not physically attached, and outdoor swimming pools, hot tubs or whirlpools on top of, within, or immediately abutting such shall be considered to be part of the principal structure and principal structure setbacks would apply for required setbacks except where sections 20-1113, 20-1118, and 20-1120 setbacks apply. Items such as a fence, trellis, retaining wall, and sidewalk, driveway or patio less than six (6) inches from grade are not considered an attachment, and are exempt from setbacks except where regulated by shoreland, floodplain or traffic visibility regulations.

(e) For shoreland zoning purposes, in accordance with section 59.692(1)(e), an accessory structure include detached garage, shed, boathouse, sidewalk, stairway, walkway, patio, deck, retaining wall, porch, or fire pit, where the accessory structure is or is not permanently attached to the principal structure by a roof or wall-to-wall, shall be considered separate from the principal structure. (Code 1975, § 7.062; Ord. No. 86-86, § 7.062, 8-26-86; Ord. No. 2000-251S, 8-28-01; Ord. No. 2007-28, 6-26-07; Ord. No. 2008-107, 1-13-09; Ord. No. 2008-136, 3-10-09; Ord. No. 2011-61, 11-8-11; Ord. No. 2020-110, 4-13-21)