Kennan Quadrupled Its Building Setbacks to 100 Feet. Residen

In March 2025, the Town of Kennan’s zoning commission voted to quadruple building setbacks from 25 feet to 100 feet. Four months later, resident Thad Henderson stood before the commission and said the new rule meant he couldn’t build near his own house. The commission’s response? Apply for a variance. That’s the human cost of a policy change that sailed through with zero public comments at five separate public hearings.

TLDR: The Town of Kennan passed Ordinance 2025-2 in June 2025, increasing minimum side and rear yard building setbacks from 25 feet to 100 feet. The change affects all zoning districts and applies to new construction. Residents who can’t comply must apply for a variance through the Board of Appeals.

The Vote That Quadrupled Setbacks

Last updated: July 2026

By Price County Fun Editorial Team | Price County, Wisconsin

The setback increase happened in two steps. First, at the March 3, 2025 zoning meeting, Tansy motioned to approve an amendment increasing side yard setbacks from 25 feet to 100 feet. Lynn Rafko seconded. The motion carried. Was the initial vote.

Three months later, at the June 2, 2025 meeting, the commission formalized it. Tansy motioned again, this time to approve Ordinance 2025-2, which increased minimum building setbacks for both rear and side yards from 25 feet to 100 feet. Jeff seconded. Motion carried. **The ordinance didn’t just cover one yard orientation. It applied to both side and rear setbacks across the board.**

That’s a 4x increase in one vote. Most Wisconsin towns set side and rear setbacks between 25 and 50 feet. Kennan jumped to 100 feet, which is unusually large for a rural town with large lots and few density pressures.

The Real Impact: Thad Henderson’s Story

By July 7, 2025, the consequences were already showing up at zoning meetings. Thad Henderson, dealing with a land division on Ranch Road, told the commission he couldn’t build near his house because of the new 100-foot setbacks. The response from the commission was direct: apply for a variance.

A variance in Wisconsin zoning law means going to the Board of Appeals (sometimes called Board of Adjustment) and proving “unnecessary hardship.” You have to show that strict application of the ordinance creates an unreasonable burden specific to your property, not just a general inconvenience. **It’s an adversarial process, not a rubber stamp, and there’s no guarantee of approval.**

Henderson’s situation illustrates the core problem with a blanket 100-foot setback. It assumes every lot is large enough to absorb the requirement. On smaller parcels, or lots with unusual shapes, the rule effectively prevents building. A 100-foot setback on a 200-foot-deep lot leaves almost no buildable area.

Five Public Hearings, Zero Comments

The most striking detail in the record is what didn’t happen. On September 2, 2025, the zoning commission held public hearings for setback amendments across four separate zoning districts:

Section 7.03 Multiple Family Residential District
Section 11.04 Agricultural District
Section 12.04 Commercial District
Section 13.04 Industrial District

**All four hearings forwarded to the Town Board with no public comments or objections.** Not a single resident showed up to speak against a rule that quadrupled setback requirements. That’s either a sign of broad community support, or more likely, a sign that nobody knew the hearings were happening.

The commission’s own transparency decisions reinforce the second explanation. In December 2025, the zoning commission discussed adding content to the town website. Their consensus was to add zoning agendas and applications, but NOT to publish meeting minutes or the ordinance book online. Citizens were “encouraged to attend meetings and request meeting minutes at any time.” In practice, that means residents who can’t attend monthly zoning meetings have no way to review what happened unless they make a specific request to the clerk.

The Broader Zoning Overhaul

The setback increase isn’t happening in isolation. The Kennan zoning commission has been working through a series of significant ordinance changes that touch nearly every aspect of land use in the town:

After-the-fact permit penalties: The June 2025 meeting also added penalty fees for unpermitted construction. Anyone caught building without a permit now faces $50 plus expenses.

Ranch Road land division: The commission set a 5-acre minimum lot size and 330-foot minimum width for the Ranch Road subdivision. Henderson’s complaint about setbacks came directly from this project.

Commercial enforcement: By October 2025, the commission was pursuing a legal citation against Midway Lumber for operating without a conditional use permit. The cease-and-desist letter was ignored. The board is now pursuing a $20 building permit violation and $300 CUP violation through the municipal attorney.

Camper and shed dwellings: In January 2026, residents raised concerns about people living in campers and sheds. The commission is drafting language for a Temporary Dwelling Permit that would apply to campers located on a lot for more than four months. They’re also considering limiting lots to two dwellings, temporary or permanent.

CUP fee increase: Conditional use permit fees jumped to $150 at the September 2025 hearings.

**Taken together, these changes represent the most significant zoning overhaul Kennan has seen in years.** The pattern is clear: tighter rules, higher fees, and more enforcement. Whether that’s good governance or regulatory overreach depends on whether you’re trying to build something.

How Does Kennan Compare to Other Wisconsin Towns?

Wisconsin towns have zoning authority under Wis. Stats. § 60.61 and § 60.62. The state doesn’t mandate specific setback distances, so each town sets its own. Most rural Wisconsin towns use 25 to 50 feet for side and rear setbacks. Kennan’s 100-foot requirement is at the high end of what you’ll find anywhere in the state.

Price County has its own zoning authority for areas without town zoning, but Kennan adopted its own comprehensive zoning ordinance, which means the town’s rules apply rather than the county’s. The county’s shoreland ordinance still governs property within 1,000 feet of a lake or 300 feet of a river or stream. **If your property is near water, you’re dealing with both town setbacks and county shoreland rules, and the more restrictive standard wins.**

For context on how conditional use permits work in this regulatory environment, see our guide on CUPs in Wisconsin and Price County. The zoning commission’s enforcement action against Midway Lumber is a real-world example of what happens when you skip the permit process.

How to Apply for a Variance in Kennan

If you’re a Kennan property owner affected by the 100-foot setback, here’s what the variance process looks like:

You file an application with the Board of Appeals. The board schedules a public hearing and notifies adjacent property owners. At the hearing, you present your case for why strict application of the ordinance creates unnecessary hardship on your specific property. The board considers evidence, hears any objections, and votes.

“Unnecessary hardship” has a specific legal meaning in Wisconsin. It’s not enough to show that the ordinance is inconvenient or costs money. You need to show that your property has unique characteristics, like shape, topography, or existing structures, that make compliance unreasonable. **Simply wanting to build closer to your property line won’t qualify. You need a property-specific constraint that the ordinance didn’t account for.**

The town clerk can provide variance application forms. The commission decided in December 2025 to add zoning applications to the town website, though minutes and the full ordinance book remain available only by request.

Leadership in Transition

All of this is happening against a backdrop of leadership change in Kennan. Chairman Bieszk announced his retirement, effective with the April 2027 election. Clerk Lynn Redfall announced her resignation effective March 2027. The town’s legal counsel is also changing, with Attorney Koch retiring in January 2027 and the board exploring Dempsey Law Firm as a replacement.

That means the officials who passed the 100-foot setback may not be the ones dealing with the consequences. The next chairman and clerk will inherit a zoning framework that’s still being actively rewritten. For context on how local government transitions work in Price County, see our guides on how the county board operates and the budget process.

What This Means for Property Owners

If you own land in Kennan or are thinking about buying, the 100-foot setback changes the math on what you can build. Here’s what to check:

First, determine which zoning district your property is in. The setback applies differently across residential, agricultural, commercial, and industrial zones. The September 2025 hearings amended setbacks in all four districts, so the 100-foot rule applies everywhere in town jurisdiction.

Second, measure your lot. If your side or rear yard is less than 100 feet deep, you may need a variance before you can build anything. Includes garages, sheds, additions, and even fences and accessory structures.

Third, check whether your property falls under county shoreland jurisdiction. If it does, you’re dealing with two layers of setback rules. The more restrictive one applies.

**The bottom line: Kennan’s zoning has gotten significantly more restrictive in the past 18 months, and most residents haven’t realized it yet.** The five public hearings with zero attendance tell you everything about how much attention this change got.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Kennan’s current building setback requirement?

Ordinance 2025-2 sets minimum side and rear yard setbacks at 100 feet, increased from the previous 25 feet. The change was approved at the June 2, 2025 zoning meeting and applies across residential, agricultural, commercial, and industrial zoning districts.

When did Kennan increase setbacks from 25 to 100 feet?

The initial amendment passed March 3, 2025. The formal ordinance (2025-2) was approved June 2, 2025. Public hearings for all zoning districts were held September 2, 2025, with no public comments received.

Can I build closer than 100 feet to my property line in Kennan?

Only with a variance from the Board of Appeals. You must demonstrate “unnecessary hardship” based on unique property characteristics. Contact the town clerk at 715-474-3451 for variance application forms.

Does the 100-foot setback apply to all structures?

Building and land use permits are required for structures larger than 10 feet by 12 feet. Secondary features like walks, garden accessories, and drives must be at least 3 feet from abutting property lines. The 100-foot setback applies to primary structures.

Are Kennan’s zoning minutes available online?

No. In December 2025, the zoning commission decided to add agendas and applications to the town website but NOT to publish meeting minutes or the ordinance book online. Residents can request minutes directly from the town clerk.

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Sources

Town of Kennan Zoning Planning Commission Minutes: March 3, 2025; June 2, 2025; July 7, 2025; August 4, 2025; September 2, 2025; October 6, 2025; December 1, 2025; January 5, 2026; February 2, 2026. Town of Kennan official website (townofkennan.wi.gov). Price County Zoning & Land Conservation (co.price.wi.us). Wisconsin Statutes § 60.61 and § 60.62 (town zoning authority). Zoneomics Kennan Town zoning code database.