City of Stoughton fence permit
Do you need a fence permit in the City of Stoughton? Not confirmed. Contact the City of Stoughton 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 Stoughton (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 (10 ft along NB, PB, CB, PI, GI or HI zoning) source
- Front (street) yard
- 4 ft in the front setback area (residential corner lots); 6 ft along residential lot lines source
- Corner lots
- No obstruction between 2 1/2 and 10 ft above grade within 10 ft of the intersection source
- Distance from lot line
- Minimum 3 ft side and rear yard setbacks for fences in or next to residential property; 6 inches for maintenance-free fences, or less if the adjacent owner consents in writing to maintenance access. source
- Good side faces
- Perimeter wood fences: finish side of the slats faces the neighboring property. source
- Not allowed
- Barbed wire and electric fences (barbed tops allowed only in the HI district on fences at least 8 ft tall). source
- How to apply
- Online portal, in person source
Still being confirmed with Stoughton: Does the City of Stoughton require a zoning permit for a residential fence, and what is the current fee?
How to file for a fence permit in the City of Stoughton
Steps based on cityofstoughton.com — Planning Development
- Ask Zoning Administrator Nic Miles (608-646-0421) whether your fence needs a zoning permit and what it costs.
- If so, apply through the Stoughton Citizen Portal (Zoning and Planning Applications) or at Planning & Development, 207 S. Forrest Street.
- Keep the fence 3 ft from side and rear lines unless it is maintenance-free or your neighbor consents in writing.
- Call Diggers Hotline (811) at least 3 business days before digging.
Who to contact
Nic Miles
Zoning Administrator
- Phone
- 608-646-0421
- Hours
- Planning & Development: Mon-Thu 8:00 am-4:00 pm; Fridays by appointment
- Address
- Planning & Development, 207 S. Forrest Street, Stoughton, WI 53589
Contact from cityofstoughton.com — Planning Development
Other rules to know
- Fence rules: Zoning Code Sec. 78-718 (easement rules at 78-718(3)(i)). Temporary fences need no permit.
- The City's former fence pamphlet and 2024 fee schedule are no longer online; zoning permits go through the City's iWorQ Citizen Portal.
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 Stoughton, WI?
Not confirmed. Contact the City of Stoughton before you build; the rules below are what we found in the ordinance. Fence rules: Zoning Code Sec. 78-718 (easement rules at 78-718(3)(i)). Temporary fences need no permit.
How tall can a fence be in the City of Stoughton?
Side and rear yards: 6 ft (10 ft along NB, PB, CB, PI, GI or HI zoning). Front (street) yard: 4 ft in the front setback area (residential corner lots); 6 ft along residential lot lines. Corner lots: No obstruction between 2 1/2 and 10 ft above grade within 10 ft of the intersection.
How close to the property line can I put a fence in the City of Stoughton?
Minimum 3 ft side and rear yard setbacks for fences in or next to residential property; 6 inches for maintenance-free fences, or less if the adjacent owner consents in writing to maintenance access.
Which side of the fence has to face the neighbor in the City of Stoughton?
Perimeter wood fences: finish side of the slats faces the neighboring property.
How do I apply for a fence permit in the City of Stoughton?
Ask Zoning Administrator Nic Miles (608-646-0421) whether your fence needs a zoning permit and what it costs. If so, apply through the Stoughton Citizen Portal (Zoning and Planning Applications) or at Planning & Development, 207 S. Forrest Street. Keep the fence 3 ft from side and rear lines unless it is maintenance-free or your neighbor consents in writing. 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 Stoughton (site plan, aerial photo and filled-in details) in a few minutes.
Who do I contact about a fence permit in the City of Stoughton?
Nic Miles, Zoning Administrator. Phone 608-646-0421.
Sources
Summarized from the City of Stoughton's own ordinances, forms and permit pages. Each link opens the original.
Ordinance: Zoning Code Sec. 78-718 Fences
Work for the City of Stoughton? 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.