City of Fort Atkinson fence permit
Do you need a fence permit in the City of Fort Atkinson? Yes. The City of Fort Atkinson 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 Fort Atkinson (site plan, aerial photo and filled-in details) in a few minutes. Start with your address.
Quick facts
- Permit required
- Yes source
- Side and rear yards
- 6 ft (rear street yard of a double-frontage lot: 4 ft, at least 50% open) source
- Front (street) yard
- 4 ft in front or street side yards, at least 50% open source
- Corner lots
- Street side yard 4 ft, at least 50% open; fences across driveways at least 50% open and no more than 4 ft source
- Distance from lot line
- Fences or walls are permitted up to the property line; a fence on the property line must sit adjacent to the line without overlapping it and must not obscure survey pipes. source
- Good side faces
- Decorative or nonstructural side outward, facing adjacent public rights-of-way and neighboring properties. source
- Not allowed
- Fences or walls using barbed or similar security or sharp top spikes are not permitted in residential districts. source
- How to apply
- Online portal source
How to file for a fence permit in the City of Fort Atkinson
Steps based on fortatkinson.portal.iworq.net — fortatkinson
- Plan the fence to meet the height limits (4 ft and 50% open in front/street yards, 6 ft in side/rear yards).
- Apply through the City's online permit portal.
- Request inspections through the online permit portal if required.
- Call Diggers Hotline (811) at least 3 business days before digging.
What to submit
- Permit application (submitted through the City permit portal)
Other rules to know
- No permit needed for normal maintenance of existing fences.
- Exempt from permits: decorative fences up to 3 ft tall and 16 ft long (at least 50% open), privacy screens up to 6 ft located with a patio, deck or pool, provided they do not interfere with traffic visibility.
- Manufacturing districts: up to 10 ft on interior side and rear lines.
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 Fort Atkinson, WI?
Yes. The City of Fort Atkinson requires a permit before you build a fence. No permit needed for normal maintenance of existing fences.
How tall can a fence be in the City of Fort Atkinson?
Side and rear yards: 6 ft (rear street yard of a double-frontage lot: 4 ft, at least 50% open). Front (street) yard: 4 ft in front or street side yards, at least 50% open. Corner lots: Street side yard 4 ft, at least 50% open; fences across driveways at least 50% open and no more than 4 ft.
How close to the property line can I put a fence in the City of Fort Atkinson?
Fences or walls are permitted up to the property line; a fence on the property line must sit adjacent to the line without overlapping it and must not obscure survey pipes.
Which side of the fence has to face the neighbor in the City of Fort Atkinson?
Decorative or nonstructural side outward, facing adjacent public rights-of-way and neighboring properties.
How do I apply for a fence permit in the City of Fort Atkinson?
Plan the fence to meet the height limits (4 ft and 50% open in front/street yards, 6 ft in side/rear yards). Apply through the City's online permit portal. Request inspections through the online permit portal if required. 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 Fort Atkinson (site plan, aerial photo and filled-in details) in a few minutes.
Sources
Summarized from the City of Fort Atkinson's own ordinances, forms and permit pages. Each link opens the original.
Ordinance: Zoning Code §15.9.6 Fences
Work for the City of Fort Atkinson? 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.