Washington County, MN Fence Regulations: Fence Permit Requirements (2026)
Key Facts
- Permit required
- Certificate of Compliance before construction
- Who needs it
- Lake or river frontage lots in overlay districts
- Max height, buildable area
- 6 feet
- Max height, side setback area
- 6 feet
- Issuing agency
- County Zoning Administrator
Summary
Washington County requires a Certificate of Compliance before any fence goes up on a lake or river frontage lot in its Shoreland or St. Croix River Overlay District. The same section caps those waterfront fences at 6 feet, whether in the buildable area or the setback zone along side lot lines.
(B) On properties located in the Shoreland Management Overlay District or St. Croix River Management Overlay District that have lake or river frontage, fences must comply with the following standards: 1. A Certificate of Compliance is required prior to the construction of any fence. 2. Within the non-buildable setback area, fences are allowed along the side lot lines, but shall not exceed six (6) feet in height from the finished ground grade. 3. Within the buildable area of the property, fences shall have a maximum height of six (6) feet from the finished ground grade.
Full Breakdown
5(2)(B) of the Development Code applies to properties in the Shoreland Management Overlay District or St. Croix River Management Overlay District that have lake or river frontage. Item 1 requires that "a Certificate of Compliance is required prior to the construction of any fence" on those waterfront parcels, making the permit a precondition rather than something obtained after the fact. Item 2 allows fences within the non-buildable setback area along the side lot lines up to 6 feet in height from finished ground grade, and Item 3 caps fences within the buildable area of the property at the same 6-foot maximum.
This permit requirement is narrower than a general county fence permit: it is triggered specifically by lake or river frontage inside the two overlay districts, not by fence construction countywide. 5(2)(A) and (C), or by the applicable township or city, without this specific Certificate of Compliance step. The County Zoning Administrator issues the Certificate of Compliance after confirming the proposed fence meets the applicable height and setback standards for the parcel.
Violations & Fines
Building a fence on lake or river frontage property inside an overlay district without first obtaining the Certificate of Compliance is a Development Code violation. Chapter One Section 15.1 makes any violation a misdemeanor punishable by a fine, imprisonment, or both, plus the cost of prosecution, and the Zoning Administrator can require removal of a fence built without the permit.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit to build a fence on my lake lot?
How tall can a fence be on lake frontage property once permitted?
Does every fence in the county need this specific Certificate of Compliance?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Washington County
Compare Washington County to another location·View the Minnesota fence regulations overview
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