Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce’s $5.35 million, 21,000-sq-ft Ohio mansion privacy fence plans hit hurdle; Bratenahl board delays approval; neighbours raise concerns over Lake Erie views and property values |
Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce’s plans to fence off their new $5.35 million lakeside mansion in Ohio have run into a hurdle, with the village’s architectural review board considering the proposal twice but failing to approve it, according to the Daily Mail.The couple is seeking greater privacy at their new Lake Erie estate by installing a higher fence around the property. They have also reportedly installed a voice warning system after concerns over people getting too close to the home.
Fence proposal faces Bratenahl rules
The fence proposal first appeared on the agenda of the Bratenahl Architectural Review Board on August 11, a day after the agenda had already been published. It resurfaced on September 8 under old business, indicating that the board had previously reviewed the plans without reaching a decision.Bratenahl’s zoning rules could prove challenging for the couple. Fences along the lakefront are generally limited to 2.5 feet in height unless at least 75% of the fence is see-through.The regulations state that the restriction is intended to protect “the shoreline, views of Lake Erie and property values.”Kelce purchased the property through an LLC in March and initially sought an 8-foot fence around the estate, which would not comply with the village code. Following discussions with village officials and neighbors, the couple agreed to reduce the proposed height and decided that a fence around the entire property was unnecessary.A village official confirmed to the publication that a new permit application for the fence has been submitted.
Couple installs warning system at mansion
While the fence proposal remains unresolved, Swift and Kelce have taken another step to increase security around their new home.Page Six reported that the couple recently installed a voice warning system around the property. A nearby resident told the publication that a neighbor who approached the house received an automated warning after getting too close to the property.Kelce will also have to return before the village board for approval of landscaping work planned for the property in October, although an exact meeting date has not yet been set, according to records.Village officials reportedly described the applicant as “gracious” while working with the municipality.
Neighbors could object to fence plans
Fence plans for Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce’s property have twice stalled before the village board. (Photo: Village of Bratenahl)
Before the village building commissioner can issue a permit for construction work, the architectural review board must approve the design. Under village rules, objections from neighboring property owners can also affect the approval process.Swift and Kelce’s 3.5-acre estate directly borders two properties, with the neighboring homes sharing more than 600 feet of boundary with the property. Three additional households across the road are also entitled to object under the village code.The couple’s immediate neighbors have previously raised objections over fencing at the same property.
Neighbors previously opposed pool fence
In 2023, the two neighboring households filed written objections to a pool fence at the address that is now owned by Swift and Kelce. Both residents subsequently appeared before the same architectural review board to argue against the proposal.Eric Stephenson, who purchased the house northeast of the property for $782,000 in 2018, brought photographs taken from his dining room to demonstrate how he believed the fence could affect his view.“Part of the beauty of living in there is that it’s open space where you can look and we’re all one yard,” he told the board at the time.He also argued that preserving sightlines to Lake Erie was important to the character and value of the surrounding properties.On the other side of the estate, Katherine Bolton, who has owned her home with her husband Bill since 1990, also spoke against the proposed fence.“One of the wonderful things about Bratenahl are the open vistas and the view lines,” she said, arguing that open space should be preserved to maintain the village’s historic character.Bill Bolton is a former president of the Bratenahl village council.
2023 fence dispute was different
The 2023 dispute involved a different type of fence. At the time, the village required a safety barrier around a newly constructed pool, while the property owner did not want the fence.The architectural review board ultimately approved the pool fence by a 2-1 vote despite the neighbors’ objections.The circumstances are different this time. In 2023, the property owner and the neighbors opposed the fence, whereas Swift and Kelce are now seeking one while their neighbors have previously expressed concerns about fencing at the property.
Inside Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce’s Ohio mansion
The couple’s 21,000-square-foot Lake Erie mansion is located in Bratenahl, Ohio. (Photo: Greg Huth)
The property was previously owned by a Middleburg Heights construction company, which purchased the mansion for $1.95 million in March 2023.After restoring the gatehouse and adding a heated pool and bluestone patio, the property was sold to Kelce for $5.35 million in March.
Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce have sought greater privacy around their Ohio estate. (Photo: Greg Huth)
The house was purchased solely by Kelce through an LLC created specifically for the property. The company was incorporated in Ohio on February 26 and was used to purchase the estate seven days later.The 21,000-square-foot mansion features eight bedrooms, 11 bathrooms and a two-bedroom guest cottage. Built in 1895, the property also includes a ballroom that has been converted into a game room and home theatre.The village has not yet published minutes from either the August or September meetings, leaving the precise details of the latest fence application unclear.
