East of the city, two large townships cover most of the Twin Lake and Wolf Lake area. Egelston Township had 11,128 residents at the 2020 census, and Dalton Township had 9,427. A Twin Lake or Muskegon mailing address doesn't tell you the township, and the township, not the post office, decides the fence rules. Twin Lake itself is an unincorporated community of about 2,056 people in Dalton Township, and its ZIP code, 49457, also covers parts of Egelston, Muskegon Township and others.
Egelston Township: what the code says
Egelston's fence rule is Section 450-327 of its code, also posted by the township as a one-page fence ordinance. Fences are permitted in all districts.
| Where | Limit |
|---|---|
| Front yard, non-industrial | 4 ft |
| Side and rear yards | 6 ft |
| Industrial districts | 10 ft |
- Screening: where a fence is required for screening, it must be completely solid or opaque.
- Banned materials: it is unlawful to build a fence of tires, vehicle parts, tree stumps, rotting lumber, rubbish, or any material that harbors pests.
- Wire: barbed and electrified wire are allowed in the R-5 district only.
- Pools: pool, spa and hot tub barriers must comply with the township building code and be approved by the Building Inspector.
The code says building permits are required for structures under the building codes. We found no fence permit or fee named in the sections we read, so ask the township whether a fence counts, and what it costs.
Dalton Township: what we could verify
The township's zoning page lists a Zoning Land Use Compliance Application that has to accompany a site plan and is "required when building homes, additions, garages, fences, decks and sheds." The 2018 form says the fee is $25 for a new house only and there is no fee for all other construction. It asks for a complete plot plan.
We could not verify Dalton's fence height or placement rules. The township's compiled zoning ordinance link no longer works, and its online code host blocks our reader. We are not going to guess. Ask the township zoning office for the fence section before you design anything, and confirm that the fee is still zero.
Lakes and sand
Wolf Lake sits in Egelston Township, so lakefront lots are part of the picture here. We did not find a lakefront fence rule in either township's text, so a lot on the water deserves a phone call to the zoning office. Our wood fence guide covers post materials and frost.
Comparing the neighbors
Egelston's 4-foot front limit is the same as Norton Shores, but Egelston has no 50 percent open rule in the text we read. Muskegon Township, next door, limits solid front fences to 3 feet. See all the numbers side by side.
Questions for the township office
- Does a fence need a building permit in Egelston, and what is the fee?
- What are Dalton Township's front, side and rear fence limits?
- Does a lakefront lot have extra limits?
What to confirm
We read Egelston's code as posted on ecode360 and its Feb. 2026 fence ordinance upload, but not Dalton's current ordinance. Both townships could have amended since. A fence installer who works your township will usually know the counter staff and the practical rules, but the written ordinance is what counts.
Sources, checked October 26, 2026: Township of Egelston Code, Secs. 450-322, 450-327 and 450-328 (ecode360); Egelston Township Fence Ordinance PDF (Feb. 2026); Dalton Township Zoning page and Zoning Land Use Compliance Application (May 2018); Wikipedia, Egelston Township, Dalton Township and Twin Lake, Michigan (2020 census).