A permit is required to construct a fence. You may obtain a fence permit via Cloud Permit. The permit fee is $60.
All fences must be built with approved fence wire or treated fence wood. Materials such as barbed wire, razor wire, old doors, chicken wire, sheet metal or plywood are not permitted for fence construction.
Fences in the front yard may be up to 3 1/2 feet in height and must have 50% visibility. (Also see vision setback requirements for corner lots at streets and alleys).
Fences in the side and rear yard may be up to 6 feet in height (Also see vision setback requirements for corner lots at streets and alleys).
Please note: Fences may be up to the property line except when an easement or setback states otherwise. It is the responsibility of the property owner to verify property lines and easements.
The supporting horizontal and vertical members of a fence must face the interior of the lot on which the fence is erected.
Vision Setbacks
On a corner lot in all zoning districts, no fence, wall, hedge, planting or structure shall be erected, placed or planted or allowed to grow in such a manner as to obstruct vision greater than 2 1/2 feet above the centerline grades of the intersecting streets in the area bounded by the street lines of such corner lots and a line joining the points along such street lines 50 feet from the point of intersection and 10 feet from the point of intersection of a street and alley.
Permit Procedures
- Be prepared to indicate the location of the fence, the materials which will be used, height, length and total cost of the job.
- The Inspector will make an inspection of improperly installed or alleged improperly installed fences.
- The only contact you will probably have with the Inspector is if a problem is discovered with the construction or location of the fence.
Special Information
- A plat map showing lot lines may be available from the Engineering Department. Call 920.766.6305 to find out for sure.
- It is the responsibility of the property owner or permit holder to provide, to the satisfaction of the Building Inspector, an accurate, on-site representation of the property line. This shall include but not be limited to:
- The physical recovery and exposure of official property stakes or irons and the provision of a string line identifying the property line.
- When requested by the Building Inspector, and at the expense of the property owner or permit holder, a survey shall be provided to the Building Inspector, signed and sealed by a Wisconsin registered land surveyor certifying the location of the finished fence.
- Disputes between neighbors on fence and property line location are not arbitrated by the Building Inspection Department. A private lawsuit may be initiated if a person believes a fence encroaches over the property lines.
- A fence cannot be built on neighboring property. A fence cannot be built in the area between the curb and the street lot line.
