Fond du Lac County, WI Sidewalk & Pedestrian Rules: Encroachment Permits (2026)

Fond du Lac County Code Sec. 46-207, in the Access Control article of Chapter 46, requires a permit for any private use of the county highway right-of-way: no structure, object or growth may be constructed, reconstructed, altered, placed, installed or planted within the article's jurisdiction until the highway department issues a permit. Sec. 46-206 confirms the article's reach covers 'objects, growth and use of land within the rights-of-way of the county highways,' and directs that where it is unclear whether part of an object falls within that jurisdiction, the whole object is treated as within it.

Applications go to the highway department before construction begins, and the inspector or a designee must grant or deny the permit within ten business days based on the article's access standards; the department may demand scale drawings or other supporting information first. Fees are set by access type: $100 for a new road connection or Type C access, $50 for Type B, $50 for Type A, and $20 for an agricultural field access. A permittee is liable for all materials, labor and other construction costs, and the county disclaims liability for damage, injury, or maintenance including snow and ice control on the access.

An issued permit expires one year from the date of issuance, and construction must be completed within that year. Anyone who begins work before a permit is approved risks denial of the permit, removal of the access, and fines or prosecution. A decision may be appealed to the county highway committee within 30 calendar days, and the committee must rule within 30 calendar days of the appeal being filed.