Marathon County, WI Building Setbacks & Zoning: Structure Height Limits (2026)
Key Facts
- Base height cap
- 35 feet (most districts)
- Rooftop equipment exception
- Up to 15 feet extra
- Steeples/silos/barns
- Up to 75 feet, with setback
- Applies
- Only in towns that adopt zoning
Summary
Marathon County's zoning Table 2 caps most residential and agricultural structures at 35 feet, Rural Residential included, with limited height exceptions for chimneys, silos, and steeples, and only where a town has adopted county zoning.
Table 2: SCHEDULE OF REGULATIONS FOR A STRUCTURE Zoning District Minimum Lot Minimum Yard Setback (A) Max. Building Height (feet) Max Lot Coverage (C) Max Density (Dwelling Units/Acre) Lot Area (sq. ft.)(acre) ** Easement Acreage Frontage (at street in feet) Width (at building line in feet) Road (F) (setback in feet from Right-of-Way) Side (feet) Rear (feet) U-R Urban Residential w/sanitary sewers & public water 10,000 (I) (.229 ac) 60 (E) 60 See Section 17.202.03(F) 7 35 35 30 percent 3.7 w/o sanitary sewers & public water 20,000 (I) (.459 ac) 80 (E) 60 See Section 17.202.03(F) 10 35 35 30 percent 1.85 two-family dwelling 18,000 (I) (.413 ac) 100 - See Section 17.202.03(F) 10 25 35 30 percent 3.88 Any other permitted or conditionally permitted use 20,000 (.459 ac) 100 - See Section 17.202.03(F) 15 25 35 30 percent 4.8 L-D-R Low Density Residential w/sanitary sewers & public water 20,000 (I) (.459 ac) 60 (E) 60 See Section 17.202.03(F) 7 35 35 30 percent 1.85 w/o sanitary sewers & public water 43,560 (I) (1 ac) 80 (E) 80 See Section 17.202.03(F) 15 35 35 30 percent 1 R-R Rural Residential 87,120 (I) (2 ac) 100 (E) 150 See Section 17.202.03(F) 15 35 35 15% 0.5 R-E Rural Estate 217,800 (I) (5 ac) 200 (E) 175 See Section 17.202.03(F) 20 35 35 15% 0.2 F-P Farmland Preservation Note: See Chapter 17.301 for specific regulations 1,524,600 (35 ac) (D) 150 (D)(E) 200 See Section 17.202.03(F) 20 35 35 — 0.029
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) caps building height at 35 feet in most zoning districts, including Rural Residential (R-R) and General Agriculture (G-A); industrial districts allow more. Sec. 17.202.07 permits limited exceptions: penthouses, elevator housings, chimneys, and similar rooftop equipment may exceed the district limit by up to 15 feet if they cover no more than 25 percent of the roof area, and places of worship, silos, barns, and steeples may rise to 75 feet if set back one extra foot per foot of added height. Because county zoning takes effect town-by-town under Wis. Stat. § 59.69, these limits apply only where a town adopted the Zoning Code, never inside Wausau, Mosinee, or Rothschild.
Violations & Fines
Exceeding the district height limit without qualifying for a listed exception is a zoning violation, enforceable by the Zoning Administrator; industrial-district height exemptions require Board of Adjustment approval.
Frequently Asked Questions
How tall can a building be in Marathon County's zoning districts?
Can a barn or silo exceed the height limit?
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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