Fence Regulations in De Pere, WI (2026)
4 verified fence regulations for De Pere, Wisconsin, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Height Limits
De Pere caps residential fence height at three feet in the front or street-side yard setback, four feet if it is a see-through design, six feet along every other lot line, and eight feet where the fence abuts nonresidential zoned property. Sec. 54-7(c) sets these limits and layers a vision-triangle rule at intersections.
De Pere Residential Fence Height Limits
Some RestrictionsDe Pere Code of Ordinances § 54-7(c)(1)-(3)
(c)Residential fences.(1)No fence exceeding three feet in height shall be allowed within the front yard or street side yard building setback limits, except fences may be constructed to a height of four feet in street side yards and front yards of lots provided the same is a see-through design (60 percent, plus visibility).(2)The maximum height of fences on any other property line shall not be m...
Neighbor Fence Rules
De Pere puts the burden of finding the property line on the fence owner, not the neighbor. Sec. 54-7(b) requires the owner to locate all lot lines before building, allows fences right on the line, and Sec. 54-7(c)(5) requires the finished, most attractive side to face the adjoining property.
De Pere Fence Property Line Rules
Some RestrictionsDe Pere Code of Ordinances § 54-7(b), (c)(5)
(b)General regulations. No fence shall have sharp or pointed pickets dangerous to life or limb. Hedges and other plantings shall be continuously trimmed and all parts thereof confined to the property on which they are planted. The owner of the property shall be responsible for locating all property lines prior to construction of any fence. Fences, walls and hedges may be located along a lot lin...
Retaining Walls
De Pere's building design standards cap knee walls and retaining walls used to manage sloping ground-story facades at 30 inches, allowing a taller run for only a 15-foot stretch of facade. It applies to buildings governed by the Article IX ground-story design rules on sloped streets.
De Pere 30-Inch Knee/Retaining Wall Limit
Light RestrictionsDe Pere Zoning Ordinance, Art. IX, § 14-92(10)(a)3
(10) Ground-Story at Sloping Facades See Figure 9-10 for examples of ground-story treatments. (a) Storefront The following regulations apply to all nonstorefront facades along sloping streets: ... 3. Knee wall and retaining walls may not exceed 30 inches in height except along a maximum 15 foot section of facade length.
Material Restrictions
De Pere bans six categories of fencing material on residential lots: barbed wire, permanent chicken wire, thin wire or plastic mesh, hardware cloth, snow fencing, and agricultural or electric fencing. Sec. 54-7(c)(7) lists each prohibited type by name, and the same forfeiture that covers every other fence violation applies to using them.
De Pere Prohibited Fence Materials
Some RestrictionsDe Pere Code of Ordinances § 54-7(c)(7)
(7)The following are prohibited:a.Barbed wire fences;b.Permanent chicken wire;c.Wire or plastic mesh-type fencing with a wire mesh diameter thinner than 11-gauge wire;d.Hardware cloth;e.Snow fencing;f.Agricultural fencing, including, but not limited to, deer fencing, electrical fences, and single, double and triple strand fences.
Looking for Brown County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement De Pere city rules.
Fence Regulations in Brown County →