Park Falls City Zoning Code
ARTICLE XI
Accessory Uses and Structures; Fences and Hedges; Home Occupations
§ 480-70 Accessory uses or structures.
[Amended 8-25-2025 by Ord. No. 25-015]
A.
Definitions. As used in this section, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:
ACCESSORY BUILDING
A subordinate building, customarily found in connection with the principal structure and the use of which is purely incidental to the main building, that has a closed roof, that being a structure forming the upper covering of the subordinate building, shall include all permanent, portable, and temporary structures, excluding the primary structure (main building). This definition does not include campers or other motorized vehicles, nor does it include pergolas or other structures with an open roof of which at least 50% of the surface of the roof is open to the sky. Accessory buildings include, but are not limited to, detached garages, sheds, barns, gazebos, roofed patios, roofed decks, roofed swimming pools, and roofed hot tubs.
ACCESSORY STRUCTURE
A subordinate structure, the use of which is incidental to, and customarily found in connection with, the principal structure or use of the property, but which does not fit within the definition of an accessory building above and which does not contain a roof. Accessory structures include, but are not limited to, patios, decks (both detached and attached), pergolas, swimming pools, hot tubs, retaining walls, driveways, parking lots, sidewalks, detached stairways and lifts.
B.
Compliance. Any accessory, building, use or structure shall conform to the applicable regulations of the district in which it is located, except as specifically otherwise provided.
C.
Placement restrictions in residential district. An accessory use or structure in a residential district may be established subject to the following regulations:
(1)
Accessory building size and construction limits. Detached garages and other detached accessory buildings shall be 24 feet or less in height. Accessory buildings shall not occupy more than 30% of the required area for a rear yard or a side yard or 3,000 square feet, whichever is less. Any accessory building shall not be located within three feet of any other accessory building. Any accessory building shall not be nearer than 10 feet to the principal structure unless the applicable building code regulations in regard to one-hour fire-resistive construction are complied with. In no event can the accessory uses or structures be forward of the front line of the principal structure.
(2)
Attached buildings. All structures that are attached to the primary building, including attached garages and screen porches, are not accessory buildings subject to this section, but they shall comply with all yard and setback requirements of the principal building.
D.
Use restrictions in residential district. Accessory uses or structures in residential districts shall not involve the conduct of any business, trade or industry except for home occupations as defined herein and shall not be occupied as a dwelling unit.
E.
Landscaping and decorative uses. Accessory structures and vegetation used for landscaping and decorating may be placed in any required yard area. Permitted structures and vegetation include flag poles, ornamental light standards, lawn furniture, sun dials, bird baths, trees, shrubs and flowers and gardens.
F.
Temporary uses. Temporary accessory uses such as real estate sales field offices or shelters for materials and equipment being used in the construction of the permanent structure may be permitted by the Zoning Administrator.
G.
Outdoor lighting. Outdoor lighting installations shall not be permitted closer than three feet to an abutting property line and, where not specifically otherwise regulated, shall not exceed 15 feet in height and shall be adequately shielded or hooded so that no excessive glare or illumination is cast upon the adjoining properties.
H.
Lawn accessories. Walks, drives, paved terraces and purely decorative garden accessories such as pools, fountains, statuary, flag poles, etc., shall be permitted in setback areas but not closer than three feet to an abutting property line other than a street line.
I.
Retaining walls. Retaining walls may be permitted anywhere on the lot; provided, however, that no individual wall shall exceed six feet in height, and a terrace of at least three feet in width shall be provided between any series of such walls and provided further that along a street frontage no such wall shall be closer than three feet to the property line.
J.
Accessory structures restricted. An accessory building, use, or structure in any zoning district, other than C-1 Commercial District, shall not be established prior to the principal use or structure being present or under construction. Any accessory building, use, or structure shall conform to the applicable regulations of the district in which it is located, except as specifically otherwise provided.
§ 480-71 Outside storage of firewood.
A.
No person shall store firewood in the front yard on residentially zoned property, except that firewood may be temporarily stored in the front yard for a period of 30 days from the date of its delivery.
B.
Firewood should be neatly stacked and may not be stacked closer than two feet to any lot line and not higher than six feet from grade.
C.
All brush, debris and refuse from processing of firewood shall be promptly and properly disposed of within 15 days and shall not be allowed to remain on the premises.
D.
Not more than 30% of the side and rear yard may be used for storage of firewood at any one time.
§ 480-72 Fences.
A.
Fences defined. As used in this section, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:
FENCE
An enclosed barrier consisting of vegetation, 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.
B.
Permit required. No person shall install a fence in the City without first obtaining a fence permit and complying in all respects with the terms and conditions and this chapter. A fence permit shall be valid only for the term of issuance, unless sooner suspended or revoked. A fence permit is not required for painting, maintenance, or repair or replacement of less than 16 linear feet of a fence.
(1)
Permit application. A fence permit application shall be filed with the Zoning Administrator, consisting of the following:
(a)
A fully completed fence permit application form and payment of full permit fee.
(b)
A drawing, site plan or plat map displaying property boundaries, the location of the buildings and structures on the property, the proposed location of the fence and its distances from the existing structures on the property.
(c)
If the fence is proposed to be installed on rented or leased property, the written consent of the owner(s) of the property.
(d)
Other information as may be required by the Zoning Administrator to assist in the review of the application.
(2)
Permit fee. A permit fee in an amount as set from time to time by the Common Council shall be remitted upon submittal of the fence application. If any fence is installed, in full or part, prior to the issuance of a permit, five times the fee shall be charged for the permit.
[Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. II)]
(3)
Application review and approval required, permit issuance. The Zoning Administrator shall review, approve and issue the fence permit, provided that the application is in compliance with this chapter and the standards of this chapter for the fence to be installed have been met. The fence permit may contain reasonable conditions stated in the permit.
(4)
Completion of installation. A fence authorized by a fence permit shall be fully installed in accordance with this chapter and permit conditions, within 180 days of the date of permit issuance. A fence permit shall expire 180 days after the date of issuance. After a fence permit expires, no work requiring such a permit shall be commenced, resumed or undertaken until a new permit is issued or the original permit is extended.
(a)
A permit applicant may file a written request for an extension of the fence permit stating the reason for the request, for up to 180 additional days to complete the fence installation. The zoning administrator, in administering this chapter, shall grant the request if good cause is shown.
C.
Fences categorized. Fences shall be categorized into three classifications:
(1)
Boundary fence. A fence placed on or within three feet of the property lines of adjacent properties.
(2)
Protective fence. A fence constructed to enclose a hazard to the public health, safety and welfare.
(3)
Architectural or aesthetic fence. A fence constructed to enhance the appearance of the structure or the landscape.
D.
Approved fence materials. All fences shall meet the following material requirements:
(1)
Fences to be situated in side and/or rear yards shall be constructed using materials suitable for residential-style fencing, including but not limited to brick, fieldstone, wrought iron, vinyl, chain link (with a minimum thickness of nine gauge and a required top rail support), stockade or board-on-board wood.
(2)
No fence shall be constructed of used or discarded materials in disrepair, including but not limited to pallets, tree trunks, trash, tires, junk, or other similar items. Materials not specifically manufactured for fencing, such as railroad ties, wooden doors, landscape timbers or utility poles shall not be used for or in the construction of a fence.
(3)
Residential front yard fences shall be 50% open (see-through) and be of split rail or wrought iron.
E.
Setback and height of fences regulated. Fences and walls are allowed in all yards, provided they are within the height limitations as follows unless otherwise stated:
(1)
In front yards, not to exceed four feet in height, except at corner lots where it may not exceed three feet.
(2)
In side and rear yards, not to exceed six feet.
F.
Security fences. Security fences are permitted on the property lines in all districts except residential districts, but shall not exceed 10 feet in height and shall be of an open type similar to woven wire or wrought iron fencing.
G.
Prohibited fences. No fence shall be constructed which is a picket fence or is designed to electrically shock or which uses barbed wire; provided, however, that barbed wire may be used in industrially zoned areas if the devices securing the barbed wire to the fence are 10 feet above the ground or height and project toward the fenced property and away from any public area. Additionally, barb wire may be placed on top a fence at least six feet in height that surrounds a public utility structure and/or equipment.
H.
Fences to be repaired. All fences shall be maintained and kept in a state of good repair.
I.
Temporary fences. Fences erected for the protection of planting or to warn of 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. The issuance of a permit shall not be necessary for temporary fences as described herein, but said fences shall not be erected for more than 45 days.
J.
Nonconforming fences. Any fence existing on the effective date of this Municipal Code and not in conformance with this section may be maintained, but any alteration, modification or improvement of said fence shall comply with this section.
[Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. II)]
§ 480-73 Swimming pools.
A.
Definitions. As used in this section, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:
PRIVATE OR RESIDENTIAL SWIMMING POOL
An outdoor structure containing a body of water in a receptacle or other container having a depth for water at any point greater than 1 1/2 feet, located above or below the surface of ground elevation, used or intended to be used solely by the owner, operator or lessee thereof and his family and by friends invited to use it, and includes all structural facilities, appliances and appurtenances, equipment and other items used and intended to be used for the operation and maintenance of a private or residential swimming pool.
B.
Exempt pools. Storable children's swimming or wading pools with a maximum dimension of 15 feet and a maximum wall height of 15 inches and which are so constructed that it may be readily disassembled for storage and reassembled to its original integrity are exempt from the provisions of this section.
C.
Construction requirements. In addition to such other requirements as may be reasonably imposed by the Zoning Administrator, the Zoning Administrator shall not issue a permit for construction as provided for in Subsection B, unless the following construction requirements are observed:
(1)
All materials and methods of construction in the construction, alteration, addition, remodeling or other improvements and pool installation shall be in accord with all state regulations and codes and with any and all Ordinances of the City now in effect or hereafter enacted.
(2)
All plumbing work shall be in accordance with all applicable Ordinances of the City and all state codes. Every private or residential swimming pool shall be provided with a suitable draining method and, in no case, shall waters from any pool be drained into the sanitary sewer system, onto lands of other property owners adjacent to that on which the pool is located or in the general vicinity.
(3)
All electrical installations, including lighting and heating but not limited thereto, which are provided for, installed and used in conjunction with a private swimming pool shall be in conformance with the state laws and City Ordinances regulating electrical installations.
D.
Setbacks and other requirements.
(1)
Private swimming pools shall be erected or constructed on rear or side lots only and only on a lot occupied by a principal building. No swimming pool shall be erected or constructed on an otherwise vacant lot. A lot shall not be considered vacant if the owner owns the contiguous lot and said lot is occupied by a principal building.
(2)
No swimming pool shall be located, constructed or maintained closer to any side or rear lot line than is permitted in this chapter for an accessory building, and in no case shall the water line of any pool be less than six feet from any lot line.
§ 480-74 Home occupations.
A.
Purpose. The purpose of this section is to regulate the conditions under which occupations may be carried on at homes in order that such home occupations may not undermine the general intent and purposes of this chapter and the specific purposes of the residential districts.
B.
Conditions of use. The following regulations shall be applicable to home occupations:
(1)
Only those occupations which, by their nature, can be carried out safely in homes without generating any nuisance or hazards are allowed.
(2)
Such occupations shall not have more than one principal and one assistant involved in the operation other than family members living on the premises.
(3)
Home occupations may not occupy more than 25% of the total floor area of the house.
(4)
Activities which involve the manufacture, utilization, processing or storage of inflammable and explosive materials shall not be carried out.
(5)
No operation producing any form of glare or heat shall be carried out as home occupations.
(6)
Home occupations shall not produce noise or sound that may be heard in the adjacent property.
(7)
No odors or vibrations may emanate from home occupations.
(8)
No activity shall emit radioactive or electrical disturbances outside the premises that are dangerous or may adversely affect the use of neighboring premises.
(9)
There shall be no outside storage of any kind related to the home occupation.
§ 480-75 Outdoor furnaces.
A.
The installation and maintaining of a furnace outside a dwelling or business shall be subject to the following restrictions:
(1)
An outdoor furnace shall be housed in an accessory building or the appearance of the outdoor furnace shall be that it looks like an accessory building;
(2)
The exhaust stack of an outdoor furnace shall not exceed 10 feet above the lowest point of the roof line of the building that it serves;
(3)
Only wood shall be burned in an outdoor furnace. All other materials, including, but not limited to, garbage, trash, newspaper, and cardboard, shall not be burned in an outdoor furnace, with the exception that paper may be burned in an outdoor furnace for the purpose of kindling to start the furnace;
(4)
Outdoor furnaces shall not be constructed or maintained in an R-1 District; and
(5)
Installation of an outdoor furnace shall first be approved by the Plan Commission.