Fence Regulations in Walworth County, WI (2026)
3 rules for unincorporated Walworth County, Wisconsin.
Verified from official government sources
Height Limits
In the towns under Walworth County zoning, fences on the property line cannot exceed six feet in side, rear or street yards under Code § 74-38(3). Near intersections, no fence may rise above two and a half feet inside the visibility triangle formed by lines 50 feet back from the corner, and freeway-adjacent fences top out at ten feet.
Fence Height Limits in Walworth County
Some RestrictionsWalworth County Code § 74-38(3)
No fence shall be permitted in any district above the height of two and one-half feet above the plane through the mean centerline roadway grades within the triangular space formed by any two existing or proposed intersection street or alley right-of-way lines and a line joining points on such lines located 50 feet from their point of intersection. Fences are permitted on the property lines, but...
Fence Permit Requirements
Walworth County does not require a zoning permit to build a residential fence in the towns under Walworth County zoning. Section 74-248 of the zoning ordinance exempts residential fences, along with essential services and accessory structures of 100 square feet or less, from the permit requirement, but the fence must still meet the height and setback rules in section 74-165(3) and the floodplain standards of section 74-173.
Walworth County Fence Permit Exemption
Some RestrictionsWalworth County Code § 74-248
No zoning permit shall be required for essential services, residential fences per section 74-165, and an accessory structure 100 square foot or less in size (except planned campground developments) but shall still be required to maintain the setback and use requirements of the ordinance including, but not limited to, section 74-173.
Retaining Walls
Retaining walls over four feet tall built for slope stabilization in unincorporated Walworth County must be designed and certified by a Wisconsin-licensed professional engineer under County Code Sec. 26-71, unless a pre-engineered product is installed to the manufacturer's specs. Walls in the shoreyard setback face extra scrutiny and need an engineering report proving no gentler fix will work.
Walworth County Retaining Wall Engineering Rule
Some RestrictionsWalworth County Code § 26-71(a)
(3)All retaining walls constructed for slope stabilization with a height greater than four feet, shall be designed and certified by a professional engineer, licensed in the State of Wisconsin, unless pre-engineered products are used and installation complies with manufacturer's specifications.(4)No change in the existing topography of any land shall be made which would result in increasing any ...
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