City of Fitchburg fence rules
Do you need a fence permit in the City of Fitchburg? No. The City of Fitchburg 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 City of Fitchburg's rules before you build. Start with your address.
Quick facts
- Permit required
- No (typical residential fence) source
- Side and rear yards
- 6 ft (perimeter fences within 5 ft of the lot line) source
- Front (street) yard
- 4 ft in front yards; decorative only, at least 50% open source
- Distance from lot line
- Fences may be placed on the lot line (the City recommends about 1 ft inside your lot for maintenance); perimeter fences (within 5 ft of the lot line) may not extend forward of the front face of the house except as front-yard rules allow. source
- Good side faces
- Decorative sides must face outward; supporting members or braces on the inside. source
- Not allowed
- Chicken wire, woven wire, barbed wire, razor wire, electric wire, hazardous wire edges or similar materials (chain link is allowed). source
- How to apply
- Call 608-270-4200 source
How to build within the rules in the City of Fitchburg
Steps based on fitchburgwi.gov — Fences Decks and Pools
- No building or zoning permit is needed; check Neighborhood Association restrictions.
- Contact the Planning Department about easements or other restrictions on your lot.
- Build within the height and material rules (6 ft perimeter, 4 ft decorative front-yard fences).
- Call Diggers Hotline (811) at least 3 business days before digging.
Who to contact
- Phone
- 608-270-4200
- Hours
- Mon-Thu 8:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m.; Fri 8:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m.
- Address
- 5520 Lacy Road, Fitchburg, WI 53711
Contact from fitchburgwi.gov — Permit Forms Fee Schedules
Other rules to know
- Fences must be kept in good repair; if both faces are finished they must match.
- In the R-R Rural Density District these fence rules do not apply (Sec. 22-206(2)).
- Structures cannot be placed in easements or buffers; check neighborhood association covenants.
- SmartCode-zoned lots follow Chapter 23 (SmartCode Ordinance) instead.
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 Fitchburg, WI?
No. The City of Fitchburg does not require a permit for a typical residential fence, but height and placement rules still apply.
How tall can a fence be in the City of Fitchburg?
Side and rear yards: 6 ft (perimeter fences within 5 ft of the lot line). Front (street) yard: 4 ft in front yards; decorative only, at least 50% open.
How close to the property line can I put a fence in the City of Fitchburg?
Fences may be placed on the lot line (the City recommends about 1 ft inside your lot for maintenance); perimeter fences (within 5 ft of the lot line) may not extend forward of the front face of the house except as front-yard rules allow.
Which side of the fence has to face the neighbor in the City of Fitchburg?
Decorative sides must face outward; supporting members or braces on the inside.
Who do I contact about a fence permit in the City of Fitchburg?
Planning & Zoning Department. Phone 608-270-4200.
Sources
Summarized from the City of Fitchburg's own ordinances, forms and permit pages. Each link opens the original.
Ordinance: Zoning Code Sec. 22-56(10) Fences
Work for the City of Fitchburg? 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.