CELEBRITY
🚧“THEY WANTED AN 8-FOOT WALL… THE VILLAGE SAID NO” — The entire lakeside town froze when Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce’s plan for a high privacy fence around their $5.35 million Bratenahl mansion was shot down by village planners. In a rare public snag for the newlyweds, the Architectural Review Board cited code that caps lakefront fences at 2½ feet unless they’re mostly see-through — forcing the couple to settle for a shorter barrier that doesn’t even enclose the whole property. Neighbors say a spoken alarm now warns anyone who gets too close. Watch the full, surprising Ohio mansion security battle here. 👇👇👇
Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce reportedly had plans to build a high fence surrounding their new lakeside Ohio mansion for privacy and security, but were shot down by village planners.
According to the Daily Mail, the couple wanted to erect an 8-foot fence to wall in their Bratenahl estate, which sits along Lake Erie.
However, the Bratenahl Architectural Review Board either scrapped or ignored the request on two separate meeting dates earlier this month and in August, due to code that requires fences around lakefront homes be capped at 2 and a half feet — unless they are at least 75 percent see-through — in order to preserve lake views and property values.
However, the Bratenahl Architectural Review Board either scrapped or ignored the request on two separate meeting dates earlier this month and in August, due to code that requires fences around lakefront homes be capped at 2 and a half feet — unless they are at least 75 percent see-through — in order to preserve lake views and property values.
Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce (pictured above in March 2026) reportedly wanted to build a high fence surrounding their new Ohio mansion for privacy, but were shot down by village planners.
According to the Daily Mail, the couple wanted to build a full, 8-foot fence surrounding the property. (Seen above: Their new Ohio house.)
Per the outlet, discussion with neighbors and the village convinced the couple to settle for a lower fence that did not enclose their entire property. Kelce — who purchased the house in March — was reportedly “gracious” when dealing with the village officials regarding the structural request.
Page Six has reached out to Swift’s representatives for comment.
Swift and Kelce have taken other precautions besides fencing to secure their new home. Page Six exclusively learned that the couple have set up a warning alarm surrounding the house.
The village board says fences around lakefront homes need to be capped at 2 and a half feet to preserve views of Lake Erie. (Seen above is an aerial shot of the pair’s mansion.)
Swift and Kelce reportedly discussed this with the village and neighbors, and agreed on a shorter fence that doesn’t completely enclose the property (pictured above).
“A neighbor approached the house and got a voice warning about not passing onto the property after getting too close to the house,” a neighbor recently shared with us.
However, the superstar couple apparently haven’t caused much commotion moving in, we’ve been told.
“Something may have been set up at that particular home, which is their private estate, but in terms of any additional fencing for the village, I’m not aware of that,” a veteran real estate agent in the area, Patricia Knight Gary of Howard Hanna realty, exclusively told Page Six. “We found out publicly when everyone else did [about their move].”
Kelce, who bought the house in March prior to marrying Swift in July, was reportedly “gracious” about the matter. (The couple are pictured above in September 2026.)
Swift and Kelce (seen here in September 2026) have installed other means of security in the new home, including a spoken alarm that warns trespassers away.
Knight Gary added that the neighbors are excited to see if they can catch a glimpse of the newlyweds.
Kelce purchased the home prior to marrying Swift in July at Madison Square Garden. The 21,000-square-foot mansion went for $5.35 million, and boasts 8 bedrooms, 11 bathrooms, a game room and a theater.
It’s part of the couple’s growing real estate portfolio, which includes properties in Kansas, New York, Tennessee, Rhode Island and California.
Bratenahl, Ohio, is a few miles away from where the Kansas City Chiefs player grew up in Cleveland Heights.