Senate Bill 387
County shoreland zoning ordinances relating to fences near public highways
Became law
The governor signed it on Dec 6, 2021. It's .
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Introduced, passed
Jun 10, 2021
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Committee, passed
Approved
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Senate vote, passed
Passed Oct 25, 2021
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Assembly vote, passed
Passed Oct 26, 2021
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Governor, passed
Signed
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Law, here now
2021 Wisconsin Act 105
Latest entry in the official record, Dec 6, 2021: “Published 12-4-2021”
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Terms on this page
Wisconsin Act
The number a bill gets when it becomes law, like 2025 Wisconsin Act 12.
Official term: Act. More in the glossary
Legislative Reference Bureau
The Legislature's nonpartisan office that drafts bills and writes the summary at the top of each one.
Official term: LRB analysis. More in the glossary
Author
A lawmaker who formally puts a bill forward. The text itself is drafted by the Legislative Reference Bureau.
Official term: Author, coauthor. More in the glossary
Signed on in support
Lawmakers who back a bill without being one of its authors, often from the other chamber.
Official term: Cosponsor. More in the glossary
Roll call
A vote where each lawmaker's yes or no is recorded by name.
Official term: Roll call vote. More in the glossary
What it does
Summary by the , the Legislature's nonpartisan drafting office. It's their wording, not ours.
This bill provides that a county shoreland zoning ordinance may not prohibit within a shoreland setback area the construction of a fence 1) that is no taller than 15 feet; 2) that is located at least two feet landward of the ordinary high-water mark, entirely outside of a highway right-of-way, no less than 10 feet from the edge of a roadway, and no more than 40 feet from the edge of a roadway or highway right-of-way, whichever is greater; and 3) that is generally perpendicular to the shoreline. Under current law, a roadway is the area that is between the regularly established curb lines or that is improved, designed, or ordinarily used for vehicular travel, excluding the berm or shoulder.
Current law requires each county to zone by ordinance all shorelands in its unincorporated area. The Department of Natural Resources is required to promulgate by rule shoreland zoning standards, and a county shoreland zoning ordinance may not regulate a matter more restrictively than the matter is regulated by a shoreland zoning standard.
Read the full summary Show less
Current law defines “shoreland setback area" to mean an area in a shoreland that is within a certain distance of the ordinary high-water mark in which the construction or placement of structures has been limited or prohibited under a county shoreland zoning ordinance. Current law requires a county shoreland zoning ordinance to establish a shoreland setback area of 75 feet but provides that a county shoreland zoning ordinance may not prohibit the construction of certain structures within the setback area, such as a boathouse or a structure that provides pedestrian access to the shoreline.
Who's behind it
2 senators are its . All 2 are Republicans.
5 more lawmakers .
See all 7 names Hide the names
Authors (2)
- Joan Ballweg · Republican, Senate
- Mary Felzkowski · Republican, Senate
Signed on in support (5)
- Dan Knodl · Republican, Assembly
- Jeff Mursau · Republican, Assembly
- Michael Schraa · Republican, Assembly
- Gary Tauchen · Republican, Assembly
- Jeremy Thiesfeldt · Republican, Assembly
How lawmakers voted
There was one vote on this bill.
Senate Committee on Sporting Heritage vote to recommend it
Passed, 5 to 0 · Oct 21, 2021
No member-by-member record exists for this vote. Committee votes and some older sessions record totals only.
Official motion: “Report passage recommended by Committee on Sporting Heritage, Small Business and Rural Issues, Ayes 5, Noes 0”. Official record · This vote on its own page
What happened
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Dec 6, 2021
The new law was published.
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Dec 6, 2021
The governor signed it. It became 2021 Wisconsin Act 105.
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Dec 2, 2021
Sent to the governor.
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Oct 26, 2021
The Assembly passed it too.
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Oct 25, 2021
“Read first time and referred to calendar of 10-27-2021 pursuant to Assembly Rule 45 (1)” (the official wording)
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Oct 25, 2021
The Assembly received it.
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Oct 25, 2021
The Senate passed it.
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Oct 21, 2021
The committee voted to recommend passing it, 5 to 0.
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Jul 21, 2021
The committee held a public hearing.
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Jun 10, 2021
Sent to the Senate Committee on Sporting Heritage, Small Business and Rural Issues.
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Jun 10, 2021
Introduced in the Senate.
See the official record, word for word Hide the official record
- Jun 10, 2021 · Senate
Introduced by Senators Felzkowski and Ballweg; cosponsored by Representatives Mursau, Knodl, Schraa, Tauchen and Thiesfeldt
- Jun 10, 2021 · Senate
Read first time and referred to Committee on Sporting Heritage, Small Business and Rural Issues
- Jul 21, 2021 · Senate
Public hearing held
- Oct 21, 2021 · Senate
Executive action taken
- Oct 21, 2021 · Senate
Report passage recommended by Committee on Sporting Heritage, Small Business and Rural Issues, Ayes 5, Noes 0
- Oct 21, 2021 · Senate
Available for scheduling
- Oct 22, 2021 · Senate
Placed on calendar 10-25-2021 pursuant to Senate Rule 18(1)
- Oct 25, 2021 · Senate
Read a second time
- Oct 25, 2021 · Senate
Ordered to a third reading
- Oct 25, 2021 · Senate
Rules suspended
- Oct 25, 2021 · Senate
Read a third time and passed
- Oct 25, 2021 · Senate
Ordered immediately messaged
- Oct 25, 2021 · Assembly
Received from Senate
- Oct 25, 2021 · Assembly
Read first time and referred to calendar of 10-27-2021 pursuant to Assembly Rule 45 (1)
- Oct 26, 2021 · Assembly
Rules suspended to withdraw from calendar of 10-27-2021 and take up
- Oct 26, 2021 · Assembly
Read a second time
- Oct 26, 2021 · Assembly
Ordered to a third reading
- Oct 26, 2021 · Assembly
Rules suspended
- Oct 26, 2021 · Assembly
Read a third time and concurred in
- Oct 26, 2021 · Assembly
Ordered immediately messaged
- Oct 27, 2021 · Senate
Received from Assembly concurred in
- Nov 2, 2021 · Senate
Report correctly enrolled
- Dec 2, 2021 · Senate
Presented to the Governor on 12-2-2021
- Dec 6, 2021 · Senate
Report approved by the Governor on 12-3-2021. 2021 Wisconsin Act 105
- Dec 6, 2021 · Senate
Published 12-4-2021
Terms on this page
Wisconsin Act
The number a bill gets when it becomes law, like 2025 Wisconsin Act 12.
Official term: Act. More in the glossary
Legislative Reference Bureau
The Legislature's nonpartisan office that drafts bills and writes the summary at the top of each one.
Official term: LRB analysis. More in the glossary
Author
A lawmaker who formally puts a bill forward. The text itself is drafted by the Legislative Reference Bureau.
Official term: Author, coauthor. More in the glossary
Signed on in support
Lawmakers who back a bill without being one of its authors, often from the other chamber.
Official term: Cosponsor. More in the glossary
Roll call
A vote where each lawmaker's yes or no is recorded by name.
Official term: Roll call vote. More in the glossary
From the Wisconsin Legislature's official record, checked Sep 15, 2026. See the source
Wisconsin Act
The number a bill gets when it becomes law, like 2025 Wisconsin Act 12.
Official term: Act
Legislative Reference Bureau
The Legislature's nonpartisan office that drafts bills and writes the summary at the top of each one.
Official term: LRB analysis
Signed on in support
Lawmakers who back a bill without being one of its authors, often from the other chamber.
Official term: Cosponsor
Roll call
A vote where each lawmaker's yes or no is recorded by name.
Official term: Roll call vote