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Racine County, WI Building Setbacks & Zoning: Structure Height Limits (2026)

Some Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified September 2026

Key Facts

District
R-1 Country Estate
Max building height
35 feet
Min lot area
5 acres
Applies in
unincorporated county R-1 land

Summary

In the county's R-1 Country Estate District, Racine County caps building height at 35 feet under the area requirements table.

City-specific rules exist: Burlington has its own structure height limits rules that differ from Racine County's county-level regulations. If you live in Burlington, check the city-specific page instead.

The area requirements for the R-1 country estate district are as follows: ... Building / Height / Maximum / 35 feet

View official code

Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 33).

Full Breakdown

The R-1 Country Estate District, the county's estate-lot residential zone for one-family dwellings on 5-acre lots (or 20,000 square feet on unsewered shoreland), sets a maximum building height of 35 feet under its area requirements. The limit sits in the same section as the district's minimum lot width and area standards, so a homeowner sizing a new house or an addition in unincorporated R-1 land needs to check both together before designing.

Violations & Fines

A structure that exceeds the 35-foot cap without a variance from the board of adjustment is a zoning violation, subject to the ordinance's compliance and enforcement provisions.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does the 35-foot cap apply county-wide?
No: it's the R-1 Country Estate District standard; other zoning districts in the unincorporated county set their own height limits in their own area-requirements sections.
Can a taller structure get approved?
Only through a variance from the county board of adjustment, which must find the hardship criteria in the ordinance are met.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Racine County

All Racine County rules

Compare Racine County to another location·View the Wisconsin building setbacks & zoning overview

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Structure Height Limits in Cities Across Racine County