Fond du Lac County, WI Building Setbacks & Zoning: Structure Height Limits (2026)
Key Facts
- Height cap
- 35 feet
- Zone of applicability
- within 75 ft of ordinary high-water mark
- Effective date
- on or after February 1, 2011
- Measurement point
- lowest exposed wall to highest point
- Penalty range
- $50-$500 per offense per day
Summary
Within shoreland areas of unincorporated Fond du Lac County, the county may not permit any structure taller than 35 feet within 75 feet of the ordinary high-water mark of a navigable water, per Code Sec. 44-84. Height is measured from the lowest exposed wall point to the highest point of the structure.
(a)To protect and preserve wildlife habitat and natural scenic beauty, on or after February 1, 2011, a county may not permit any construction that results in a structure taller than 35 feet within 75 feet of the ordinary high-water mark of any navigable waters.
Full Breakdown
Fond du Lac County Code Sec. 44-84 caps structure height near the water's edge in shoreland areas: on or after February 1, 2011, the county may not permit construction resulting in a structure taller than 35 feet within 75 feet of the ordinary high-water mark of any navigable water. The rule exists, per the section's stated purpose, to protect and preserve wildlife habitat and natural scenic beauty along the shoreline. The code defines exactly how that 35-foot line is measured: structure height is the vertical distance from the lowest point where any exposed wall meets the ground up to a horizontal line drawn at the highest point of the structure, unless another section of the code specifies a different measurement method for a particular structure type.
This 35-foot cap sits alongside the district-specific accessory-structure limits in Sec. 44-83(6), which separately caps garages, sheds and storage buildings in the recreational-residential district at one story and ten-foot sidewalls. The height limit applies only within shoreland areas of unincorporated Fond du Lac County, the land within 1,000 feet of a lake or 300 feet of a river or stream; general residential height limits elsewhere in the unincorporated county are set by the governing town, not the county, because Fond du Lac County has no general zoning ordinance outside shoreland, floodplain and similar special-purpose chapters.
Applicants seeking relief from the 35-foot cap must apply for a variance through the county's board of adjustment process under Article XIV of Chapter 44.
Violations & Fines
Constructing a structure that exceeds the 35-foot height limit within 75 feet of the ordinary high-water mark violates Chapter 44 and is enforced under Sec. 42-431 (Article XVI). The zoning administrator refers violations to the corporation counsel for prosecution, and a person or entity found in violation faces a forfeiture of not less than $50.00 nor more than $500.00 per offense, with each day of continued violation treated as a separate offense, plus the taxable costs of the action.
Frequently Asked Questions
How tall can a structure be near the water in unincorporated Fond du Lac County?
How is structure height measured under this rule?
Does the 35-foot cap apply to my whole property?
What happens if a structure exceeds the height limit?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Fond du Lac County
Compare Fond du Lac County to another location·View the Wisconsin building setbacks & zoning overview
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