Appleton, WI Fence Regulations: Height Limits (2026)

Title 23 of the Appleton Municipal Code is the city's Zoning Ordinance, adopted under Wis. Stat. Sec. 62.23. Sec. 23-44 governs fences and walls. Heights are measured at grade (or up to 2 inches above grade for drainage when approved by the Inspections Supervisor). Berms may not be used to increase grade directly under a fence. Posts and post caps may project a maximum of 4 inches above the required fence height. Boundary fences are capped at 6 ft in residential districts and 12 ft in commercial/industrial districts; hedges may grow to natural height. Between the front yard setback line and the abutting lot lines, no boundary fence, wall, hedge, or row planting may exceed 3 ft. Sound barrier fences on a residential property along an access-restricted lot line abutting an arterial or collector street may not exceed 8 ft on double-frontage lots or 6 ft on corner lots, except in the vision corner. Sound barrier fences, walls, or fence/berm combinations along a freeway may not exceed 20 ft as measured from the adjacent freeway grade; plans from a state-certified engineer/architect may be required for fences over 8 ft. Vision corner rules in Sec. 23-50(g) cap fences, walls, signs, or structures at 3 ft within the triangle formed by points 25 ft from the intersection of street rights-of-way (reduced to 20 ft in zoning districts that require only a 10-ft setback). Driveway vision triangles use a 10-ft point and the same 3-ft height cap. Fences must be set back at least 5 ft from the right-of-way line of an improved public alley. The finished side must face the adjoining property. Wisconsin's partition-fence statutes (Wis. Stat. Chapter 90, including Sec. 90.03) also apply to shared boundary fences.