Town of Sumner fence permit
Do you need a fence permit in the Town of Sumner? Not confirmed. Contact the Town of Sumner 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 Town of Sumner (site plan, aerial photo and filled-in details) in a few minutes. Start with your address.
Quick facts
- Permit required
- Not confirmed source
- Corner lots
- Within the clearance triangle at a street intersection, no object over 2-1/2 feet above the roadbeds that obstructs the view; open fences are listed as an exception source
- How to apply
- Call 920-674-7130 source
Still being confirmed with Sumner: Does Jefferson County (or the town) require a permit for a residential fence in the unincorporated towns, and what height limits apply? Can zoning permit fees be paid by card online?
How to file for a fence permit in the Town of Sumner
Steps based on apps.jeffersoncountywi.gov — ZONING FEES 2026
- Call Jefferson County Zoning (920-674-7130) and your Town Clerk before you start to ask whether your fence needs a permit.
- If a County Zoning and Land Use Permit is needed, fill out the application and attach a plot plan with all required distances.
- Pay the fee by check payable to "Jefferson County". Work started without a needed permit is charged a double fee (minimum $100).
- Call Diggers Hotline (811) at least 3 business days before digging.
- Paying
- Check payable to "Jefferson County"
Who to contact
- Phone
- 920-674-7130
- Address
- Jefferson County Planning & Development (Zoning), Courthouse, 311 S. Center Avenue, Room C1040, Jefferson, WI 53549
Contact from apps.jeffersoncountywi.gov — ZONING FEES 2026
What to submit
- Zoning and Land Use Permit application (if a permit is needed)
- Plot plan showing existing structures, the new structure, and distances from the road centerline, road right-of-way, side and rear lot lines, navigable waters, septic tank and field, well and driveway access
Other rules to know
- The Town of Sumner follows the Jefferson County zoning ordinance, so fence permits come from the county zoning office, not the town.
- The County Zoning Ordinance applies to all lands and water in Jefferson County except incorporated areas, so it covers every town; no general fence section was found in it.
- The ordinance's permit rule covers 'structures', defined as construction having a roof, supported by columns, walls or the earth.
- In the shoreland-wetland district, fences for pasturing livestock need no zoning permit.
- Where screening is required, it may be an opaque fence or wall 8 ft high within 15 ft of the property line.
- Towns of Jefferson, Koshkonong and Ixonia have their own fence rules and are listed separately. The Town of Lake Mills has its own building inspector (Jeff Fitzwilliams, MSA Professional Services, 608-844-6116, [email protected]), but no Town fence rule was found.
- County after-the-fact permits are charged a double fee (minimum $100).
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 Town of Sumner, WI?
Not confirmed. Contact the Town of Sumner before you build; the rules below are what we found in the ordinance.
How do I apply for a fence permit in the Town of Sumner?
Call Jefferson County Zoning (920-674-7130) and your Town Clerk before you start to ask whether your fence needs a permit. If a County Zoning and Land Use Permit is needed, fill out the application and attach a plot plan with all required distances. Pay the fee by check payable to "Jefferson County". Work started without a needed permit is charged a double fee (minimum $100). 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 Town of Sumner (site plan, aerial photo and filled-in details) in a few minutes.
Who do I contact about a fence permit in the Town of Sumner?
Jefferson County Planning & Development Department (Zoning). Phone 920-674-7130.
Sources
Summarized from the Town of Sumner's own ordinances, forms and permit pages. Each link opens the original.
Ordinance: Jefferson County Zoning Ordinance No. 11 (§11.03 permits, §11.06(a) traffic visibility)
Work for the Town of Sumner? 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.