City of Portage fence permit
Do you need a fence permit in the City of Portage? Yes. The City of Portage requires a permit before you build a fence.
permit.guide can turn a fence drawn on an aerial photo of your lot into a complete permit application package for the City of Portage (site plan, aerial photo and filled-in details) in a few minutes. Start with your address.
Quick facts
- Permit required
- Yes source
- Fee
- $75 source
- Side and rear yards
- 4 ft anywhere; up to 6 ft (no closer than 5 ft to a public right-of-way) source
- Front (street) yard
- 4 ft anywhere on the lot; up to 6 ft if no closer than 5 ft to any public right-of-way. Any fence in a front yard must be a maximum of 50 percent opaque. source
- Corner lots
- Within 25 ft of a street-intersection corner, nothing higher than 2½ ft above the street centerline (chain link with 2-inch or larger mesh allowed); 15-ft vision triangle kept clear between 2½ and 10 ft source
- Distance from lot line
- Fences may be placed along lot lines in residential areas. Fences over 4 ft must be no closer than 5 ft to any public right-of-way, and no closer than 5 ft to an alley line. source
- Good side faces
- Visible supports and other structural components face toward your own property. source
- Not allowed
- Electric fences; barbed wire and security fences (except M-1/M-2 districts); fences of dangerous materials; wire mesh and chain link in front or street side yards in residential districts. source
- How to apply
- Online portal, in person source
How to file for a fence permit in the City of Portage
Steps based on portagewi.gov — building permits and inspections
- Apply online through the General Engineering building permit portal and select "All Other Residential" (the City asks for electronic submission, not email), or fill out an application at City Hall.
- After approval, the City contacts you with the fee.
- Pay online at portagewi.gov/make-a-payment (include the project address), or by check payable to City of Portage, mailed or dropped off at City Hall.
- Call Diggers Hotline (811) at least 3 business days before digging.
- Paying
- After approval: online, or check payable to City of Portage by mail or at City Hall
Who to contact
Matthew Paske
Building Inspector
- Phone
- 608-617-9834
- [email protected]
- Hours
- City Hall: Mon-Thu 8:00am-4:30pm, Fri 8:00am-12:30pm
- Address
- City Hall, 115 W. Pleasant Street, Portage, WI 53901
Contact from portagewi.gov — building permits and inspections
What to submit
- City of Portage building permit application (choose "All Other Residential" for a fence)
Other rules to know
- Temporary fences do not need a permit (Sec. 90-121(8)(c)).
- Building inspection is handled by General Engineering for the City; general questions go to [email protected].
- The $75 fence fee is from the January 2025 fee schedule; check the current schedule.
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 Portage, WI?
Yes. The City of Portage requires a permit before you build a fence. Temporary fences do not need a permit (Sec. 90-121(8)(c)).
How tall can a fence be in the City of Portage?
Side and rear yards: 4 ft anywhere; up to 6 ft (no closer than 5 ft to a public right-of-way). Front (street) yard: 4 ft anywhere on the lot; up to 6 ft if no closer than 5 ft to any public right-of-way. Any fence in a front yard must be a maximum of 50 percent opaque.. Corner lots: Within 25 ft of a street-intersection corner, nothing higher than 2½ ft above the street centerline (chain link with 2-inch or larger mesh allowed); 15-ft vision triangle kept clear between 2½ and 10 ft.
How close to the property line can I put a fence in the City of Portage?
Fences may be placed along lot lines in residential areas. Fences over 4 ft must be no closer than 5 ft to any public right-of-way, and no closer than 5 ft to an alley line.
Which side of the fence has to face the neighbor in the City of Portage?
Visible supports and other structural components face toward your own property.
How much is a fence permit in the City of Portage?
$75.
How do I apply for a fence permit in the City of Portage?
Apply online through the General Engineering building permit portal and select "All Other Residential" (the City asks for electronic submission, not email), or fill out an application at City Hall. After approval, the City contacts you with the fee. Pay online at portagewi.gov/make-a-payment (include the project address), or by check payable to City of Portage, mailed or dropped off at City Hall. 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 Portage (site plan, aerial photo and filled-in details) in a few minutes.
Who do I contact about a fence permit in the City of Portage?
Matthew Paske, Building Inspector. Phone 608-617-9834, email [email protected].
Sources
Summarized from the City of Portage's own ordinances, forms and permit pages. Each link opens the original.
Ordinance: Portage Zoning Code Sec. 90-121 Fences
Work for the City of Portage? 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.