Fence Regulations in Marathon County, WI (2026)
3 county-level rules, plus city-specific rules for 2 cities in Marathon County, Wisconsin.
Verified from official government sources
Height Limits
Residential fences in unincorporated Marathon County towns can run up to 6 feet along most lot lines, but drop to 4 feet in the road setback or corner side yard, and can't sit within 2 feet of the right-of-way.
Marathon County Fence Height Limits
Some RestrictionsMarathon County Code § 17.401.05.A.1
In residential districts, a fence, wall, hedge, or shrubbery may be erected, placed, maintained, or grown along a lot line on residentially zoned property or adjacent thereto to a height not exceeding six feet above the ground level, except that no fence, wall, hedge, or shrubbery which is located within the road setback, or corner side yard shall exceed a height of four feet. Additional consid...
Fence Permit Requirements
A fence meets Marathon County's broad definition of 'structure,' so in towns under county zoning, erecting one generally requires a zoning permit, reviewed against the height, material, and setback standards in the fence chapter.
Marathon County Fence Permit Requirement
Some RestrictionsMarathon County Code §§ 17.902 (Structure); 17.802.01.A
Structure. Anything constructed, placed, or erected, including a building, the use of which requires location on, above, or below the ground and/or is attached to something having a location on, above, or below the ground. ... A zoning permit shall be issued before any of the following may occur:1.Prior to the erection, structural alteration, or moving of any building or structure except as exe...
Material Restrictions
Marathon County's zoning code bans barbed wire and similar hazardous fencing materials in residential districts, with an exception for agricultural uses, but only in the unincorporated towns that have adopted county zoning.
Marathon County Prohibits Barbed Wire Fencing
Some RestrictionsMarathon County Code § 17.401.05.A.2
Materials. Barbed wire and other similar hazardous materials are prohibited in residential districts, except for agricultural uses. 3. Fences in shoreland areas refer to Chapter 22 Marathon County Shoreland, Shoreland-Wetland and Floodplain and NR 115. B. Nonresidential Districts. 1. Location in Front Yards. In nonresidential districts and non-single-family lots in the U-R -District, fenc...
Fence Regulations by City in Marathon County
2 cities in Marathon County have their own fence regulations rules. Each link goes to that city's dedicated page with code citations.
All Marathon County ordinances
See every category we cover for Marathon County: parking, noise, fences, fires, animals, pools, and more.
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