Burlington, WI Fence Regulations: Retaining Walls (2026)

Section 181-4F covers fence and retaining wall requirements together. Retaining walls must be structurally sound, and the Code specifically prohibits construction or maintenance that causes repeated spillage of mud, gravel or debris onto a public sidewalk, street, alley or adjoining property. Fences, addressed in the same subsection, must simply be properly maintained and kept in good repair. Because retaining walls fall under the broader Property Maintenance Code adopted August 1, 2023, they are also swept into that chapter's general exterior-maintenance obligations: the exterior premises must stay clean, safe and sanitary, and accessory structures on the lot must be structurally sound and in good repair.

The Building Inspector or the City's contracted code enforcement agency can inspect a wall at any reasonable time after presenting identification, and if a wall is found unsound or spilling debris, the City can issue an order to correct under § 181-6, specifying the violation, the required fix, a compliance deadline and the reinspection fee that applies if the work is not verified on the first check. If the owner does not comply after proper service of that order, the City may perform the repair itself and bill the owner, or pursue the matter as a public nuisance under § 181-8 and Chapter 227.