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Fence Ordinance Adopted

TOWN OF RICHMOND, ST. CROIX COUNTY, WISCONSIN

ORDINANCE NO. 2025-03

AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND A PORTION OF TITLE 15 CHAPTER 1 SECTION      15-1-12 FENCES
OF THE TOWN OF RICHMOND BUILDING, PLUMBING, ELECTRICAL, AND HEATING AND VENTILATION CODE 

The Town Board of the Town of Richmond, St. Croix County, Wisconsin, does ordain as follows:

Section 15-1-12 of Title 15 Chapter 1 entitled Fences is hereby rescinded and replaced with the following:                                               

SECTION 1 - DEFINITIONS

 A. Fences defined. For the purpose of this section, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:

  1. Fence. An enclosed barrier consisting of wood, stone or metal intended to prevent ingress or egress. No fence shall be constructed of unsightly or dangerous materials which would constitute a nuisance. For the avoidance of doubt, an underground pet containment system shall not be considered a fence under this ordinance.
  2. Security Fence. A fence constructed to enclose a hazard to the public health, safety and welfare.

     3. Agricultural Fence. A fence governed by Wisconsin Statute Chapter 90.

B. Every fence shall be constructed in a substantial, workmanlike manner and of material reasonably suited for the purpose for which the fence is proposed to be used. Link fences shall be constructed in such a manner that no barbed ends shall be at the top except for limited outdoor storage areas.

C. Location; heights.

  1. On corner lots in all districts, no fence or planting in excess of 30 inches above the street center-line grade shall be permitted within a thirty-foot radius of the lot corner nearest the intersection of the projected curblines of two intersecting streets or such greater distance as may be required in separate code provisions.
  2. Except for Security Fences, fences in all districts shall not exceed six feet in height unless prior approval, in writing, is provided by the Town Board.

D. Setback for fences. Fences erected within residential subdivisions shall be two feet inside of the property line or closer if there is a written agreement between the adjacent property owners. Except for Security Fences as set forth below, Fences erected in other areas may be placed on the property line. It is the responsibility of the owner of the fence to verify the property line between the parcels prior to construction of the fence.

E. Security fences. Security fences are permitted in all zoning districts except residential districts, and shall be setback at least 5 feet from the property line and  shall not exceed 10 feet in height ( excluding any top barb wire)  and shall be of an open type similar to, chain link, woven wire or wrought iron fencing.

F. Prohibited fences. Except for the confinement of livestock, no fence shall be constructed which conducts electricity or is designed to electrically shock or which uses barbed wire; provided, however, that barbed wire may be used in conjunction with Security Fences for commercial or  industrial permitted uses  if the devices securing the barbed wire to the fence are 10 feet above the ground in height and project toward the fenced property and away from any public area.  Agricultural Fences are exempt from this provision.

G. Fences to be in good repair. All fences shall be maintained and kept safe and in a state of good repair, and the finished side or decorative side of a fence shall face adjoining property.

H. Temporary fences. Fences erected for the protection of or to warn of a construction hazard, or for similar purposes, shall be clearly visible or marked with colored streamers or other such warning devices at four-foot intervals. Such fences shall comply with the setback requirements set forth in this section.

I. Nonconforming fences. Any fence existing on the effective date of this chapter and not in conformance with this section may be maintained, but any alteration, modification or improvement of said fence shall comply with this section.

SECTION 2 - SEVERABILITY

The provisions of this Ordinance shall be deemed severable and it is expressly declared that the Town would have passed the other provisions of this Ordinance irrespective of whether or not one or more provisions may be declared invalid. If any provision of this Ordinance or the application to any person or circumstances is held invalid, the remainder of the Ordinance and the application of such provisions to other person’s circumstances shall not be deemed affected.

SECTION 3 - EFFECTIVE DATE

This Ordinance is effective upon publication. The Town Clerk shall properly post or publish this Ordinance as required under Wis. Stat. § 60.80.

Adopted by the Town Board on December 11, 2025

Gary Knutson, Town Chair

Attest: Pat Earley, Clerk

 

Published December 17, 2025