Marathon County, WI Building Setbacks & Zoning: Setback Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- G-A side setback
- 20 feet
- G-A rear setback
- 35 feet
- R-R side setback
- 15 feet
- Setback measured from
- Road right-of-way centerline
- Applies
- Only in towns that adopt zoning
Summary
Marathon County's zoning Table 2 sets a 20-foot side and 35-foot rear yard setback in the General Agriculture (G-A) district, with road setbacks measured from the right-of-way centerline, but only where a town has adopted county zoning.
17.202.01.Standard methods of measurement.A.Minimum Street Yard Setback Requirements. The minimum yard setback requirements listed in Table 2 shall be measured from the center line of road right-of-way and/or the right-of-way, whichever distance is greater, unless specifically noted otherwise. ... G-A General Agriculture 435,600 (10 ac) 200 (E) 200 See Section 17.202.03(F) 20 35 35 — 0.1
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 59).
Full Breakdown
Marathon County's Schedule of Regulations (Sec. 17.202, Table 2) sets minimum yard setbacks by zoning district. In General Agriculture (G-A), the largest unincorporated district, the side setback is 20 feet and the rear setback is 35 feet; road setbacks follow a separate formula up to 110 feet from centerline on state highways. Denser districts use smaller side yards, 15 feet in Rural Residential, 7 feet in Urban Residential with sewers. All setbacks are measured from the road right-of-way centerline or the right-of-way line, whichever is greater. Because county zoning takes effect town-by-town, these numbers apply only where a town adopted the Zoning Code, never inside Wausau, Mosinee, or Rothschild.
Violations & Fines
Building within the required side, rear, or road setback without a variance from the Board of Adjustment is a zoning violation, subject to citation by the Zoning Administrator.
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the side-yard setback in Marathon County's G-A zoning district?
Do these setbacks apply on my property near Wausau?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Marathon County
Compare Marathon County to another location·View the Wisconsin building setbacks & zoning overview
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