Fence Regulations in Milwaukee County, WI (2026)
3 county-level rules, plus city-specific rules for 3 cities in Milwaukee County, Wisconsin.
Verified from official government sources
Fence Permit Requirements
Milwaukee County requires a permit and a recordable agreement with the director of public works before installing a fence that projects into a county public way, no closer than six inches from the sidewalk.
Milwaukee County Public-Way Fence Permits
Some RestrictionsMilwaukee County Code of General Ordinances § 67.07(7)(a)3, (8)
3.Retainment devices defined as a structural earth retainment facility or fence.(8)...The owner of a property under consideration for the employment of a fence or retainment device defined as a structural earth retainment facility shall submit plans to the director of public works for review, approval and preparation of a recordable agreement to be executed by the owner and the proper county of...
Neighbor Fence Rules
Milwaukee County sets no neighbor fence rules. Boundary-line fences on residential land follow municipal zoning, while Wisconsin's statewide partition-fence law governs shared fences on farming or grazing land.
Fence Neighbor Rules in Milwaukee County
Some RestrictionsWis. Stat. § 90.03
The respective occupants of adjoining lands used and occupied for farming or grazing purposes ... shall keep and maintain partition fences between their own and the adjoining premises in equal shares so long as either party continues to so occupy the lands.
Retaining Walls
Milwaukee County treats a retaining wall in the public way as a 'retainment device' requiring director approval, a recordable agreement, and a minimum six-inch setback from the sidewalk.
Milwaukee County Retaining Wall Permit Rules
Some RestrictionsMilwaukee County Code of General Ordinances § 67.07(7)(a)3, (8), (9)
3.Retainment devices defined as a structural earth retainment facility or fence.(8)Application. The owner of a property under consideration for the employment of a fence or retainment device defined as a structural earth retainment facility shall submit plans to the director of public works for review, approval and preparation of a recordable agreement to be executed by the owner and the proper...
Fence Regulations by City in Milwaukee County
3 cities in Milwaukee County have their own fence regulations rules. Each link goes to that city's dedicated page with code citations.
All Milwaukee County ordinances
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