Wauwatosa, WI Fence Regulations: Height Limits (2026)
Key Facts
- Rear/side yard, no street
- Up to 6 ft, no permit needed
- Side yard, no street
- 4.5 ft or less, no permit needed
- Front yard fence cap
- 3 ft maximum, permit required
- Yard abutting street
- 4.5 ft with a permit
- Alley/nonresidential lot line
- Up to 6 ft with a permit
- Corner lot visibility limit
- 3.5 ft max in intersection sightline area
Summary
Wauwatosa caps fence height by yard location: rear and side yards not facing a street allow up to six feet without a permit, side yards not abutting a street cap at four and a half feet, and front-yard fences top out at three feet. Corner lots must also keep obstructions under three and a half feet in the intersection visibility area.
Fences located in the buildable area of the rear or side yard, six feet or less in height. ... Fences located ... in the side yard not abutting a street, four and one-half feet or less in height. ... Fences located in the front yard setback, but in no event shall a permit be issued for any such fence which is more than three feet in height, more than twenty percent of the lot width in length, setback less than eighteen inches from the front lot line, setback less than three feet from a side lot line, or having an open area less than forty percent; Fences located in the rear yard or side yard abutting a street may be erected to a height of four and one-half feet; ... The board of zoning appeals may grant an exception to allow a fence no more than six feet in height at the side yard of a corner lot in residential districts. ... No building, fence, hedge or other visual obstruction more than 3.5 feet in height may be placed so as to interfere with clear vision from one street to the other across the corner.
Full Breakdown
Wauwatosa splits fence height limits by yard location and by whether a street is adjacent. 020, no permit is needed for a fence in the buildable area of a rear or side yard at six feet or less, for a rear yard not abutting a street up to six feet, or for a side yard not abutting a street at four and a half feet or less; fences next to an alley must also sit back at least eighteen inches from the lot line. 030 controls: in residential districts, a front-yard fence can be permitted only if it is three feet or less in height, no more than twenty percent of the lot width in length, set back at least eighteen inches from the front lot line and three feet from a side lot line, and at least forty percent open.
A rear or side yard fence abutting a street can go to four and a half feet with a permit, and fences along alleys, nonresidential lots or three-or-more-unit multifamily lots can reach six feet with a permit, the maximum height the code allows anywhere in a residential district. 060 lets the board of zoning appeals grant an exception for a side-yard fence up to six feet. 020 caps any fence, hedge, wall or other obstruction at three and a half feet within the intersection visibility area so drivers keep a clear sightline across the corner.
The fence chapter was amended by Ord. O-19-03 pt. VIII in March 2019 and Ord. O-22-37 pt. II in November 2022; the zoning rewrite, Ord. 14 on November 18, 2025.
Violations & Fines
Fences built above the applicable height without a permit, or that block the intersection visibility area, are subject to the design review board's or board of public works' review and Chapter 15.28's general-penalty enforcement under Chapter 15.34 (Section 15.28.070). The chief inspector may require a nonconforming fence to be lowered, relocated or removed before signing off on a permit.
Frequently Asked Questions
How tall can I build a backyard fence in Wauwatosa without a permit?
What is the height limit for a fence in my front yard?
Can I build a six-foot fence on the side yard of my corner lot?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Wauwatosa
How Wauwatosa compares: Cities That Allow the Tallest Residential Fences·Compare Wauwatosa to another location·View the Wisconsin fence regulations overview
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Height Limits in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Milwaukee County handle height limits.