City of Middleton Zoning Ordinance Sec. 10.06.40 limits residential fences to 6 feet in height (including posts) in side and rear yards. In the front or street yard, fences are capped at 3 feet in height with a maximum of 50% opacity. For corner properties on lakeshore lots, fences between the lakeshore and the rear or side yard facing the lake are limited to 3 feet. All fences must meet the visibility (vision triangle) standards in Sec. 10.06.05. A Shed/Fence Zoning Permit under Sec. 10.10.41 is required before construction; the one- and two-family fee is $80 ($50 zoning + $30 building).
Chapter 10 of the City of Middleton Code of Ordinances is the Zoning Ordinance, adopted under Wis. Stat. Sec. 62.23. Sec. 10.06.40 sets residential fence height limits: 6 feet maximum in side or rear yards (height measured to include posts), 3 feet maximum and 50% maximum opacity in the front or street yard. On corner lakeshore lots, fences between the lakeshore and the rear or side yard facing the lake are capped at 3 feet. All fences must comply with corner visibility (sight triangle) standards in Sec. 10.06.05. No fence may be erected or altered without first obtaining a Zoning Permit under Sec. 10.10.41; the application must include a site plan per Sec. 10.10.43 showing structure locations, lot boundaries, and easements. Applications are submitted to the Planning Department at planning@cityofmiddleton.us and acted on within 30 days. Approved permits must be posted on site, work must begin within 365 days and be completed within 730 days. Per Sec. 10.10.61, the zoning permit fee is $50 for one- and two-family ($30 building fee added, $80 total) and $100 zoning + $30 building ($130) for multi-family and commercial/industrial. Wisconsin's partition-fence statutes (Wis. Stat. Chapter 90, including Sec. 90.03) govern shared boundary fences between adjoining owners.
Erecting or altering a fence without the required Sec. 10.10.41 zoning permit, or exceeding the Sec. 10.06.40 height/opacity limits or Sec. 10.06.05 visibility standards, renders the permit null and void and subjects the owner to enforcement by the Zoning Administrator. The City may also remove any structure or landscaping feature placed within or upon a public utility easement, with repair or restoration performed at the property owner's expense. Continued violations are processed as municipal ordinance violations through Dane County Circuit Court.
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