City of Green Bay fence permit
Do you need a fence permit in the City of Green Bay? Not confirmed. Contact the City of Green Bay before you build; the rules below are what we found in the ordinance.
permit.guide can turn a fence drawn on an aerial photo of your lot into a complete permit application package for the City of Green Bay (site plan, aerial photo and filled-in details) in a few minutes. Start with your address.
Quick facts
- Permit required
- Not confirmed
- Side and rear yards
- 6 ft (pool fences up to 8 ft) source
- Front (street) yard
- Solid fences 3 ft in front yard; open decorative fencing less than 50% opaque up to 4 ft; less than 20% opaque up to 5 ft source
- Corner lots
- Corner side yard: solid 3 ft (4-5 ft if open as above); a 6 ft fence allowed if it extends past half the primary building's side facade and is set back at least half the corner side setback. Vision triangle rules (Sec. 44-359) apply. source
- Distance from lot line
- Fences may be placed in any yard along or adjacent to a lot line; the owner must locate property lines before building. source
- Good side faces
- Structural supporting elements must face inward toward the fence owner's side. source
- Not allowed
- Barbed wire or other dangerous material on residentially zoned property and within 4 ft of any public street, sidewalk or alley; sharp or pointed pickets. source
- How to apply
- Call 920-448-3400
Still being confirmed with Green Bay: Does the City of Green Bay require a permit for a residential fence, and if so what is the fee and how is it submitted?
How to file for a fence permit in the City of Green Bay
- Call Diggers Hotline (811) at least 3 business days before digging.
Who to contact
Jon Leroy
Zoning Administrator
- Phone
- 920-448-3400
- Address
- City Hall, 100 N. Jefferson Street, Green Bay, WI 54301
Contact from browncountywi.gov — 2026 27 BROWN COUNTY DIRECTORY 11 05 26
Other rules to know
- Height is measured from the average point between the highest and lowest grade.
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 City of Green Bay, WI?
Not confirmed. Contact the City of Green Bay before you build; the rules below are what we found in the ordinance.
How tall can a fence be in the City of Green Bay?
Side and rear yards: 6 ft (pool fences up to 8 ft). Front (street) yard: Solid fences 3 ft in front yard; open decorative fencing less than 50% opaque up to 4 ft; less than 20% opaque up to 5 ft. Corner lots: Corner side yard: solid 3 ft (4-5 ft if open as above); a 6 ft fence allowed if it extends past half the primary building's side facade and is set back at least half the corner side setback. Vision triangle rules (Sec. 44-359) apply..
How close to the property line can I put a fence in the City of Green Bay?
Fences may be placed in any yard along or adjacent to a lot line; the owner must locate property lines before building.
Which side of the fence has to face the neighbor in the City of Green Bay?
Structural supporting elements must face inward toward the fence owner's side.
How do I apply for a fence permit in the City of Green Bay?
Call Diggers Hotline (811) at least 3 business days before digging. permit.guide can turn a fence drawn on an aerial photo of your lot into a complete permit application package for the City of Green Bay (site plan, aerial photo and filled-in details) in a few minutes.
Who do I contact about a fence permit in the City of Green Bay?
Jon Leroy, Zoning Administrator. Phone 920-448-3400.
Sources
Summarized from the City of Green Bay's own ordinances, forms and permit pages. Each link opens the original.
Ordinance: Green Bay Zoning Code Sec. 44-450 Fence location and height
Work for the City of Green Bay? 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.