The City of Waukesha regulates fences in residential districts under Section 22.58 of the Municipal Code, adopted under the city's zoning authority at Wis. Stat. Sec. 62.23(7). Standard residential fences may not exceed 6 feet in height. In the vision triangle at street intersections, street-alley intersections, and alley-alley intersections, fences are limited to 3 feet so they do not obstruct sight lines. Fences are not allowed in a required front yard, but are permitted in side and rear yards. No permit is required for residential fences, though all standards must be met.
Fence regulations for the City of Waukesha are codified in Section 22.58 of the Municipal Code, part of Chapter 22 (Zoning), administered by the Department of Community Development. The 6-foot standard maximum applies to fences in side and rear yards of residential districts. The 3-foot vision triangle limit applies at corner sight clearance areas where two streets meet, where a street meets an alley, or where two alleys meet, and is intended to preserve traffic visibility for pedestrians and motorists. Required front yards in residential districts may not contain any fence. On corner lots, the longer lot dimension abutting a street is treated as the side yard, so fences are allowed there but not within the required front yard setback. Fences must not extend onto or over a property line or into the city right-of-way, and owners are responsible for keeping all fences in good repair under the city's property maintenance standards. Barbed wire and electric fences are prohibited in residential districts and are permitted only in T-1 temporary districts for the control of livestock. Although no fence permit is required for one- and two-family residential properties, commercial and multifamily properties (3 or more units) are directed by the city to contact the Planning Department at 262-524-3530 before installing a fence. The underlying enabling authority is Wis. Stat. Sec. 62.23(7), which empowers the Common Council to regulate the height, area, and location of structures within the city.
Installing a fence taller than 6 feet in a residential district, placing a fence over 3 feet within a vision triangle, or building a fence in the required front yard violates Section 22.58 and Chapter 22 of the Municipal Code. The Zoning Administrator may issue a notice of violation, require the fence to be lowered, removed, or relocated, and pursue forfeitures under the general penalty provisions of the Municipal Code. Encroaching onto a neighbor's property or into the public right-of-way may also expose the owner to civil action and removal at the owner's expense. Installing barbed wire or electric fencing in a residential district is also a zoning violation.
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