Kenosha County, WI Fence Regulations: Height Limits (2026)
Key Facts
- Side/rear yard max
- 6 ft, residential districts
- Street (front) yard max
- 4 ft, residential districts
- Corner/double-frontage exception
- 6 ft if ≥15 ft from side-street ROW
- Vision triangle cap
- 2 ft max, any location
- Non-residential security fence max
- 10 ft
- Shoreland residential fence max
- 4 ft, split-rail/board type
Summary
In unincorporated county towns, Section 12.19.030(a) caps residential fences and walls at 6 feet in the side and rear yard, 4 feet in the street (front) yard, and just 2 feet inside the vision triangle at corners and driveways.
(a) Residential fences or walls are permitted up to the side and rear property lines and not closer than two (2) feet to any public right-of-way in residential districts, but shall not be greater than six (6) feet in height in the side yard and rear yard, nor greater than four (4) feet in height in the street yard. Residential fences or walls may be six (6) feet in height in the rear street yard of a double frontage lot or in the side street yard of a corner lot not closer than fifteen (15) feet to the right-of-way of the side street yard. No fence or wall greater than two (2) feet in height shall be placed within the vision triangle.
Official source re-checked September 8, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: current through Ordinance 37 (2026), passed March 17, 2026).
Full Breakdown
030(a) lets a residential fence or wall run to the side and rear property lines, staying at least 2 feet off any public right-of-way, but limits it to 6 feet in the side and rear yard and 4 feet in the street yard. Corner and double-frontage lots get more room: a fence can rise to 6 feet in the rear street yard of a double-frontage lot, or in the side street yard of a corner lot, as long as it stays at least 15 feet from that street's right-of-way.
Regardless of location, no fence or wall over 2 feet tall may stand inside the vision triangle, the sight-line area at intersections and driveways. The same subsection lets a residential fence sit inside the required shore yard, but only if it is 4 feet tall or less, split-rail or board style with openings at least 1 foot by 8 feet, and set at least 2 feet back from the ordinary high-water mark. 030(b) allows taller security fences and walls, up to 10 feet, on side and rear property lines, but those too are barred from the vision triangle above 2 feet and from any required shore yard. 010 is required to build a fence at any of these heights, and the finished side must face the neighboring property.
Violations & Fines
A fence built above the applicable height cap, placed inside the vision triangle above 2 feet, or set closer than 2 feet to a public right-of-way triggers the ordinance's general penalty under Section 12.53.010: a forfeiture of $10 to $500 per violation plus prosecution costs, with each day of continued noncompliance a separate offense and unpaid forfeitures defaulting to up to 30 days in the county jail.
Frequently Asked Questions
How tall can my backyard fence be in unincorporated Kenosha County?
What is the "vision triangle" rule for fences?
Can a business build a taller fence than a house?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Kenosha County
How Kenosha County compares: Cities That Allow the Tallest Residential Fences·Compare Kenosha County to another location·View the Wisconsin fence regulations overview
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