Ashwaubenon, WI Fence Regulations: Height Limits (2026)

Chapter 17 of the Ashwaubenon Municipal Code is the Zoning Ordinance, adopted under the village zoning authority of Wis. Stat. Sec. 61.35 and Sec. 62.23. The Village's published Decks, Fences and Pools handout, issued by the Building Inspection Division, sets the operative residential fence dimensions: perimeter fences may not exceed 6 feet in height on the rear of the lot or on a side lot line measured from the rear of the lot to the front setback line, and the maximum height for any fence located within the front setback (between the front lot line and the front building setback line) is 3 feet. Picket fences must have at least a 1/2-inch flat top on each picket, sharp or pointed pickets that pose a safety risk are not allowed, and every fence must be installed with its decorative or finished side facing the abutting neighbor or the street. Hedges used as a fence must be continuously trimmed and contained within the property boundaries. Permitted fence materials include chain-link, vegetation, wood, stone, and metal. The Sec. 17-4-400 accessory-structure standards in the Zoning Code govern accessory buildings and require a 6-foot rear and side setback (4-foot side without a 2-car attached garage), but fences themselves are governed by the Building Inspection Division's published standards rather than the accessory-building setback table. A fence permit must be obtained from the Community Development Department (Village Hall, 2155 Holmgren Way, 920-492-2300) before any fence is installed, and existing fences must be maintained in good working order and good repair. Wis. Stat. Sec. 90.03 establishes the general state-law obligation of adjoining landowners in farm areas to keep and maintain partition fences in equal shares, but does not preempt municipal height regulation. Corner-lot fences are also subject to vision-clearance requirements at intersections under the Zoning Code's general site-design standards.