In residential districts of unincorporated Outagamie County (the 13 towns under county zoning), Chapter 54 (Zoning) limits fences, walls, and hedges to 3.5 feet (42 inches) along the sides or front edge of any front yard, and to 8 feet in side or rear yards. Corner-lot vision triangles further restrict fence/hedge height to preserve driver sight distance. Setbacks from federal, state, and county trunk highways are 55 feet for principal structures. Permits and questions go through Outagamie County Development and Land Services / Zoning at (920) 832-5255. Cities (Appleton, Kaukauna, Seymour, New London) and towns with their own zoning (Black Creek, Buchanan, Grand Chute) set their own fence rules.
Outagamie County administers its Zoning Ordinance (Chapter 54 of the Code of Ordinances) in 13 of the 19 towns in the county; the remaining towns (including Black Creek and Grand Chute) and all incorporated cities and villages have their own zoning. Under Chapter 54, Article IV (Supplementary District Regulations), residential-district fences, walls, and hedges may not exceed 3.5 feet (42 inches) along the sides or front edge of any front yard, and may not exceed 8 feet in any other required yard. On corner lots in all zoning districts, no fence, wall, hedge, planting, or structure may be erected, placed, planted, or allowed to grow that obstructs vision within the corner-lot vision triangle (typically measured from a point above 2.5 feet to 10 feet over the cartway elevation). The general front-yard setback for principal structures along federal, state, and county trunk highways is 55 feet. Outagamie County does not require a separate stand-alone fence permit for fences that comply with these height and setback rules; however, any fence proposed in a shoreland or floodplain area requires zoning review. Wisconsin's general fence statute (Wis. Stat. ch. 90) governs partition fences between agricultural neighbors and is administered by the town fence viewers, not by the county.
Fences that exceed Chapter 54 height limits or violate the corner-lot vision triangle can be cited as zoning violations. Outagamie County Development and Land Services issues notices of violation that typically require the owner to lower or remove the non-conforming fence, or apply for a variance through the Outagamie County Board of Adjustment. Continuing violations can be enforced through municipal court forfeitures plus the cost of compliance.
See how Outagamie County's height limits rules stack up against other locations.
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