“They did a great job installing our aluminum fence. Josh was easy to work with and he made sure we were happy every step of the way.”
Lakefront Fencing & Railing on Lake Wawasee
Dock railing, shoreline fencing, and deck work for Lake Wawasee and Syracuse Lake, built to WPOA standards and Indiana DNR shoreline rules.
Kosciusko County
Lakefront Work on Lake Wawasee
Lake Wawasee is the largest natural lake in Indiana at 13,516 acres, and the shoreline is packed with everything from decades-old family cottages to substantial year-round homes. Together with the connected Syracuse Lake, it makes up one of the busiest waterfront markets we serve.
Wawasee is also home to one of the most active property owners associations in the state. The Wawasee Property Owners Association (WPOA) sets shoreline rules on structures, vegetation, and aesthetics that go well past the state minimums, so a fence or railing here has to clear more than one review.
We've built on dozens of Wawasee and Syracuse Lake lots since 2009. The soil right at the water is sandy or saturated, so we anchor with helical footings as standard practice and design to what both the WPOA and the DNR allow.
The WPOA also runs the lake's biggest night of the year: the Wawasee fireworks show every Fourth of July, one of the largest displays in Indiana. Zambelli, the same pyrotechnics crew behind Thunder Over Louisville, launches it from a fleet of barges anchored on Syracuse Lake, visible from Lakeside Park, the shoreline, or a boat parked mid-lake. If you're planning dock or deck work timed around the holiday, that's the one weekend every contractor on the lake tries to finish ahead of.
What We Install
- Dock & Deck Railing
- Shoreline & Perimeter Fencing
- Privacy Fencing Between Lots
- WPOA & DNR Coordination
- Sand-Soil Anchoring
- Free On-Site Estimates
DNR Permits and WPOA Rules
Wawasee and Syracuse Lake are public freshwater lakes, so Indiana Code 14-26-2 applies. Any structure within 10 feet of the ordinary high water mark needs an Indiana DNR LARE permit. The DNR Region 3 office in Warsaw handles Kosciusko County shoreline permits.
The WPOA reviews shoreline projects separately, and its rules often run tighter than the state's. Both approvals have to be in hand before installation. Start them at the same time, because each one takes weeks.
Ornamental aluminum and certain vinyl styles tend to clear WPOA review more easily than solid privacy fence close to the water. We help you pick a design likely to pass before you file anything.
Anchoring and Materials for Wawasee Shoreline Lots
Right at the waterline, Wawasee ground is often sand, saturated soil, or both. Standard concrete post setting doesn't hold there. We use helical anchors and deep bell footings on every shoreline job so the structure survives spring thaw and shifting water levels.
Aluminum railing is the workhorse at the water: rust-proof, paint-free, and built for permanent exposure. Vinyl fits perimeter runs set back from the edge. We keep bare steel hardware out of direct waterfront applications.
Lots on Wawasee are often narrow, which puts neighbors close together. That makes exact setback compliance and clean privacy screening a regular part of the job.
Common Lake Wawasee Projects
Dock and Deck Railing
Aluminum railing on docks, boat houses, and waterfront terraces, rated for permanent exposure and anchored for shoreline soil.
Privacy Fencing Between Lake Lots
Screening between narrow neighboring parcels, designed to satisfy both WPOA rules and DNR setbacks.
Perimeter Fencing for Year-Round Conversions
Defined property lines for cottages moving from seasonal to full-time use, planned around tight lot layouts.
Deck and Outdoor Railing
Code-compliant railing on new and expanded decks, built in styles that fit the WPOA's aesthetic standards.
Related Pages
Why Choose Us
Why Lake Wawasee Owners Choose Area Wide
We're not the biggest fencing company in Indiana, and we don't try to be. We focus on doing every job right, keeping our customers informed, and leaving the site looking better than when we arrived.
Get a Free Lake Wawasee EstimateLicensed & Insured
Fully licensed and insured for residential and commercial fence and deck work.
15+ Years Experience
Joshua Knisely has been installing fences and decks across Northern Indiana for over 15 years.
On-Time & Clean
We show up when we say we will and always leave the job site clean when we're done.
Truly Local
We live and work in Northern Indiana. We know the region, the terrain, and the regulations.
Quality Materials
We use and supply top-grade vinyl and chain-link materials that last Northern Indiana winters.
Free Estimates
No pressure, no fees. Just honest quotes with clear pricing before any work begins.
What Our Customers Say
Trusted by lakefront homeowners across Northern Indiana's lake country.
“Area Wide Fencing did a great job on our fence. Very respectful, Very Professional, Highly recommended!!! Would definitely use them again!! Sam is a very happy dog now!!”
“Fence is fantastic!”
“Awesome crew, trustworthy, and great prices! They did my chainlink fence and deck. If I ever move, I would 100% use them again.”
“They built a very nice screened in deck onto the back of my house. I love it. I get a lot of comments on it.”
Lake Wawasee Fencing Questions
- Do I need both DNR and WPOA approval for a fence on Lake Wawasee?
- Yes. They're separate. The DNR LARE permit covers state shoreline rules under Indiana Code 14-26-2. The WPOA covers its own standards, which often go further. Start both at once to avoid delays.
- What fencing does the WPOA usually approve?
- The WPOA reviews case by case on materials, height, and placement. Ornamental aluminum and certain vinyl styles review more favorably than solid privacy fence near the water. We help you pick a design before you file.
- My lot is basically sand at the water. Can a post hold there?
- Yes, with the right method. Sandy, saturated shoreline soil needs helical anchors or bell footings, not standard concrete setting. We've done it on dozens of Wawasee lots.
- Does Syracuse Lake follow the same rules as Wawasee?
- Indiana DNR rules apply to both, since both are public freshwater lakes. WPOA oversight depends on your lot's location. We confirm which approvals your project needs before starting.
Get a Free Lake Wawasee Estimate
Serving Lake Wawasee and lake communities across Northern Indiana. No pressure, free on-site estimates.
Planning a lakefront deck too?
View Lakefront Deck Building →Cities We Serve
-
Warsaw, IN
-
South Bend, IN
-
Elkhart, IN
-
Goshen, IN
-
Mishawaka, IN
-
Plymouth, IN
-
Rochester, IN
-
Syracuse, IN
-
Culver, IN
-
Granger, IN
-
Winona Lake, IN
-
Logansport, IN
-
Knox, IN