City of Madison fence rules
Do you need a fence permit in the City of Madison? No. The City of Madison 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 Madison's rules before you build. Start with your address.
Quick facts
- Permit required
- No (typical residential fence) source
- Side and rear yards
- 6 ft (8 ft along a commercial district boundary) source
- Front (street) yard
- 4 ft for screening fences/hedges in the front yard setback (ornamental fences 5 ft if less than 50% opaque; 6 ft if less than 20% opaque) source
- Corner lots
- Corner street side yard 4 ft (6 ft if 4 ft back from the street-side lot line or behind the rear plane of the house); max 30 inches within 25 ft of a street-intersection corner; max 2 ft within 10 ft of the street-side lot line at driveways source
- Distance from lot line
- You may put a fence up to the lot line, but the fence or posts must not encroach over the lot line. source
- Good side faces
- No legal requirement to face the good side toward the neighbor. source
- Not allowed
- Uncoated chain link only in interior side or rear yards (front and street side yards: wood, ornamental metal, brick, vinyl-coated chain link or stone). source
- How to apply
- Call 608-266-4551 ext. 3
How to build within the rules in the City of Madison
Steps based on cityofmadison.com — fence or hedge
- Review the City's fence and hedge height and placement rules (no permit is needed).
- Find your lot corner stakes or hire a surveyor so the fence stays on your side of the line.
- Questions? Contact Zoning at 608-266-4551 ext. 3 or [email protected].
- Call Diggers Hotline (811) at least 3 business days before digging.
Who to contact
- Phone
- 608-266-4551 ext. 3
- [email protected]
- Hours
- Mon-Fri 7:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. (in-person by appointment)
- Address
- Madison Municipal Building, 215 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd, Suite 017, Madison, WI 53703
Contact from cityofmadison.com — fence or hedge
Other rules to know
- No building permit is needed, but height and placement rules still apply; check your deed restrictions/covenants.
- Height is measured from natural or approved grade; retaining walls follow the same height rules.
- In-ground pools need a fence at least 4 ft high with a locking gate.
- The City does not locate lot lines; you may need a surveyor.
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 Madison, WI?
No. The City of Madison does not require a permit for a typical residential fence, but height and placement rules still apply. No building permit is needed, but height and placement rules still apply; check your deed restrictions/covenants.
How tall can a fence be in the City of Madison?
Side and rear yards: 6 ft (8 ft along a commercial district boundary). Front (street) yard: 4 ft for screening fences/hedges in the front yard setback (ornamental fences 5 ft if less than 50% opaque; 6 ft if less than 20% opaque). Corner lots: Corner street side yard 4 ft (6 ft if 4 ft back from the street-side lot line or behind the rear plane of the house); max 30 inches within 25 ft of a street-intersection corner; max 2 ft within 10 ft of the street-side lot line at driveways.
How close to the property line can I put a fence in the City of Madison?
You may put a fence up to the lot line, but the fence or posts must not encroach over the lot line.
Which side of the fence has to face the neighbor in the City of Madison?
No legal requirement to face the good side toward the neighbor.
Who do I contact about a fence permit in the City of Madison?
Zoning, Building Inspection Division. Phone 608-266-4551 ext. 3, email [email protected].
Sources
Summarized from the City of Madison's own ordinances, forms and permit pages. Each link opens the original.
Work for the City of Madison? 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.