Whitehall is a city of 2,909 people (2020 census) on White Lake, about 5 miles inland from Lake Michigan, in northwestern Muskegon County. Montague is across the lake. Whitehall was a lumber town, renamed Whitehall in 1862, and became a city in 1943. Its fence rules are short and specific, and they start with a site plan.
Site plan before you build
Whitehall requires a site plan, including a survey drawing, to be approved before a fence is installed. The city's residential site plan application lists a $50 fee for a fence. It also says an approval is valid for one year, and expires if construction hasn't started within that year.
The survey drawing requirement means you'll want to know exactly where your lines are. If you don't have a recent survey, ask the installer whether they can work from your existing one, or whether you'll need a new one. That cost is separate from the fence.
Height limits
| Where | Limit |
|---|---|
| Front yard | 42 inches |
| Side and rear yards | 8 feet |
The city's rule includes an exception for tennis court enclosures. The 8-foot side and rear limit is higher than in the City of Muskegon, Norton Shores, North Muskegon, or Muskegon Heights, which all cap residential back yards at 6 feet. Taller fences cost more per foot. HomeGuide puts an 8-foot privacy fence at $50 to $85 per linear foot installed, compared with $25 to $60 for 6 feet.
The 42-inch front limit is a bit tighter than the 4 feet allowed for open front fences in several nearby cities. A standard 4-foot picket or aluminum fence won't fit in a Whitehall front yard. Ask for 3- or 3.5-foot panels.
Other rules
- Vision: fences can't obstruct vision for traffic.
- Finished side out: the finished side faces away from the property it's on.
- Property line: the fence has to be within your parcel unless the neighbor gives written approval to the zoning administrator.
Near White Lake
Lots near White Lake and the White River often mean sand or wet ground. USDA describes the Rubicon series, common along the Lake Michigan shore, as forming on dunes and beach ridges, and wetter Granby soils as having a high water table. Either can mean deeper posts or concrete. Mention it in your request if your yard slopes to the water or stays wet in spring.
Snow and wind
Whitehall is in the lake-effect snowbelt along with the rest of the county. NOAA's normals for Muskegon County Airport, to the south, average 87.2 inches of snow a season. An 8-foot solid fence catches more snow and wind than a 6-foot one. HomeGuide notes that vinyl privacy fences can sway in high wind, and that installers often recommend aluminum-reinforced posts for them.
Montague and the townships
We haven't summarized Montague's or Whitehall Township's fence rules. If you're across the lake in Montague, or outside city limits in the township, check with that office before buying materials. Send a request either way. The installer will confirm coverage.
Cost and digging
HomeGuide's national averages put most fences at $20 to $60 per linear foot installed. Angi's 2026 average is $3,277 per project. See the cost guide and privacy fences. Michigan's MISS DIG law requires notice at least 72 hours before post holes are dug.
What to include in your request
- Your street and whether you're in the city.
- Whether you have a survey drawing.
- Length, height, and material, and whether any part is in the front yard.
Sources, checked October 23, 2026: City of Whitehall fence regulations sheet and residential site plan application; Wikipedia, Whitehall, Michigan (2020 census, geography, history); HomeGuide privacy fence and fence installation cost guides; Angi fence cost guide; USDA soil series descriptions; NOAA 1991-2020 normals; MISS DIG law. Confirm current rules with the city.