Racine County, WI Fence Regulations: Retaining Walls (2026)
Key Facts
- Setback
- 75 ft from high-water mark
- Retaining walls
- Barred unless approved
- Approval routes
- Site plan review or WDNR
- Scope
- Unincorporated shoreland areas only
- Penalty
- $20-$1,000 forfeiture per day
Summary
A retaining wall built inside Racine County's shore yard setback is treated as a prohibited structure unless a site plan review, conditional use approval, or the WDNR signs off on it.
Within the shore yard setback area in conformance with the regulations of the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, no structures are permitted. "Structures" includes fences, ice fishing shanties, accessory buildings other than boathouses, minor structures, and any retaining wall not approved by a site plan review/conditional use approval or approved by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources.
(1) Permitted building setbacks shall be established to conform to health, safety and welfare requirements, preserve natural beauty, reduce flood hazards and avoid water pollution. Unless exempt under 20-1045(b), mitigated under 20-1046, a setback of seventy-five (75) feet from the ordinary high-water mark of any navigable waters to the nearest part of a building or structure shall be required for all buildings and structures.
(2) All of the following structures are exempt from the shoreland setbacks standards in sec. 20-1045(a):
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 33).
Full Breakdown
Section 20-1045 lumps retaining walls in with fences and accessory buildings as 'structures' barred from the 75-foot shore yard setback along navigable waters, but it gives retaining walls their own escape hatch: one built inside the setback is exempt from the ban only if it is approved through the county's site plan review or conditional use process, or separately approved by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. Without one of those approvals, a shoreland retaining wall in the setback is not a permitted structure. This governs the county's unincorporated shoreland only, not lots inside the City of Racine or the county's incorporated villages.
Violations & Fines
An unapproved retaining wall in the setback is a chapter 20 violation carrying a forfeiture of $20 to $1,000 plus prosecution costs, with each day of noncompliance a separate offense.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need approval to build a retaining wall near the water in Racine County?
What happens without that approval?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Racine County
Compare Racine County to another location·View the Wisconsin fence regulations overview
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