Town of Lincoln fence rules
Do you need a fence permit in the Town of Lincoln? No. The Town of Lincoln does not require a permit for a typical residential fence, but height and placement rules still apply.
At permit.guide you can draw your fence on an aerial photo of your lot and check it against the Town of Lincoln's rules before you build. Start with your address.
Quick facts
- Permit required
- No (typical residential fence) source
- How to apply
- Call 608-459-0909 source
Still being confirmed with Lincoln: Does the Town of Lincoln require any permit for a residential fence?
How to build within the rules in the Town of Lincoln
Steps based on lincolnadamscountywi.gov — Town Zoning Ordinance 1
- Under the Town ordinance a fence is not a "structure", so no Town Land Use Permit is listed. Near a lake or stream, or unsure? Call Zoning Administrator John Wilkinson (608-459-0909) to confirm.
- Keep the fence out of the road right-of-way where it would block visibility.
- Call Diggers Hotline (811) at least 3 business days before digging.
Who to contact
John Wilkinson
Zoning Administrator
- Phone
- 608-459-0909
Contact from lincolnadamscountywi.gov — 2023 Tax letter
Other rules to know
- The Town of Lincoln Zoning Ordinance (revised January 22, 2015) requires a Land Use Permit for structures (§ 4-3.02), but its definition of "structure" excludes "fences, driveways and surfacing" (§ 2-2.78). It sets no fence height, setback or finished-side rules.
- Traffic visibility (§ 7-1.01): no obstruction, including "any fence, wall, sign, vegetation", may create a substantial impediment to visibility in the right-of-way.
- Adams County shoreland zoning still applies near lakes and streams.
- Per the Town's 2023 tax letter, Land Use Permits come from Zoning Administrator John Wilkinson (608-459-0909); Clerk Patti Nelson (608-369-4433).
Before you dig
Call Diggers Hotline at 811 (or file online at diggershotline.com) at least 3 business days before digging post holes. Find your lot corner markers and keep the fence on your side of the line. County parcel maps can be off by several feet; if you're not sure where the line is, a licensed land surveyor can stake it.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a permit to build a fence in the Town of Lincoln, WI?
No. The Town of Lincoln does not require a permit for a typical residential fence, but height and placement rules still apply.
Who do I contact about a fence permit in the Town of Lincoln?
John Wilkinson, Zoning Administrator. Phone 608-459-0909.
Sources
Summarized from the Town of Lincoln's own ordinances, forms and permit pages. Each link opens the original.
Ordinance: Town of Lincoln Zoning Ordinance (rev. 1-22-2015) §§ 2-2.33, 2-2.78, 4-3.02, 7-1.01
Work for the Town of Lincoln? Help us keep this right
If anything on this page is wrong or out of date, tell us and we'll fix it. Municipal staff reports are reviewed first. Please include a link to the current ordinance, form or fee schedule if you can.