6-Foot Privacy Fence Variance Approved for Southeast Watertown Corner Lot

Northeast Radio SD News – Watertown, SD - A variance was granted to property owner Andrew Wiese at 527 3rd Street SE, allowing for the replacement of a 6-foot privacy fence that exceeds current city height restrictions for front yards.

A 2025 amendment to the city’s fence ordinance restricted fences in front yard setbacks to a maximum height of 48 inches. Because Wiese’s property is a corner lot, it is technically considered to have dual frontages. The 6-foot fence in question sits along 6th Avenue SE, a street that functions as the property’s backyard despite the “frontage” classification.

Contractor Sean Thurman, representing Wiese, reasoned that a 4-foot fence would create a hardship by leaving pets and family activities visible to heavy traffic. “The owner bought the property with full intention of replacing the fence at its current locations and enjoying the backyard with their pets and family,” Thurman noted in the application.

Board members observed that the right-of-way on 6th Avenue SE is exceptionally wide at 80 feet, compared to the modern standard of 66 feet. Todd Kays noted that this extra space effectively pushes the fence farther from the roadway than it would be on most local streets.

The Board approved the 6-foot height, citing it as a replacement for an existing permitted structure and noting that the property layout was unique due to the double frontage.