City of Kenosha fence permit
Do you need a fence permit in the City of Kenosha? Yes. The City of Kenosha 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 Kenosha (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 source
- Front (street) yard
- 4 ft within the residential front yard setback; front-yard fences must be 50% open (split rail, wrought iron or picket) source
- Corner lots
- Corner lot with entrance facing the street side yard: up to 6 ft in the front setback if at least 15 ft from the street side lot line; max 3 ft in vision clearance areas (15 ft triangle) source
- Distance from lot line
- No closer than 6 inches to the public sidewalk; fence must be within your property boundaries as determined by survey. Solid fences at least 3 ft from any window or opening of a habitable room. Side/rear fences over 4 ft may not extend past the front of the house or the required building setback. source
- Good side faces
- Finished side faces the adjacent property or public right-of-way; posts on the inside (except 'Good Neighbor' style). source
- Not allowed
- Electric fences (Special Exception only) and razor wire; barbed wire on residential property; chainlink/wire fences with exposed cut ends at the top; 4-ft chainlink in residential front yards; used/discarded materials (pallets, tires) and non-fence materials (railroad ties, doors, landscape timbers, utility poles). source
- How to apply
- Mail, in person source
Still being confirmed with Kenosha: What is the current City of Kenosha fence permit fee, and what email address takes permit applications?
How to file for a fence permit in the City of Kenosha
Steps based on zoneomics.com — Municipal code: chapter 18
- Draw a site plan or mark up a plat map showing property lines, buildings and where the fence will go.
- Renting? Get the owner's written consent.
- Bring the fence permit application and fee to Building Inspection (625 - 52nd St, Room 100; 262-653-4263); residential fence permits are typically issued over the counter. You can also mail or email it.
- Install the fence within 180 days of the permit being issued; the City may inspect it.
- Call Diggers Hotline (811) at least 3 business days before digging.
- Paying
- Fee due when the application is submitted (amount set by the Common Council)
- Review time
- Reviewed and issued by the Director of City Inspections
- Inspections
- The Department may inspect the fence for compliance
- Permit good for
- 180 days; one extension of up to 180 days for good cause
Who to contact
- Phone
- 262-653-4263
- Hours
- Monday-Friday 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
- Address
- City of Kenosha Building Inspection, 625 - 52nd Street, Room 100, Kenosha, WI 53140
Contact from kenosha.org — index
What to submit
- Completed fence permit application and the full permit fee
- Drawing, site plan or plat map showing property lines, existing buildings and the fence location with distances
- Written owner consent if the property is rented or leased
Other rules to know
- No permit needed for painting, maintenance, or repair/replacement of less than 16 lineal feet.
- Fence must be installed within 180 days; one extension of up to 180 days may be granted.
- Site must be marked by Diggers Hotline before digging.
- Residential fence permits can typically be submitted, paid and issued over the counter in person; applications may also be emailed or mailed (the email address is shown only as a protected link on the City's page). Faxing is no longer accepted.
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 Kenosha, WI?
Yes. The City of Kenosha requires a permit before you build a fence. No permit needed for painting, maintenance, or repair/replacement of less than 16 lineal feet.
How tall can a fence be in the City of Kenosha?
Side and rear yards: 6 ft. Front (street) yard: 4 ft within the residential front yard setback; front-yard fences must be 50% open (split rail, wrought iron or picket). Corner lots: Corner lot with entrance facing the street side yard: up to 6 ft in the front setback if at least 15 ft from the street side lot line; max 3 ft in vision clearance areas (15 ft triangle).
How close to the property line can I put a fence in the City of Kenosha?
No closer than 6 inches to the public sidewalk; fence must be within your property boundaries as determined by survey. Solid fences at least 3 ft from any window or opening of a habitable room. Side/rear fences over 4 ft may not extend past the front of the house or the required building setback.
Which side of the fence has to face the neighbor in the City of Kenosha?
Finished side faces the adjacent property or public right-of-way; posts on the inside (except 'Good Neighbor' style).
How do I apply for a fence permit in the City of Kenosha?
Draw a site plan or mark up a plat map showing property lines, buildings and where the fence will go. Renting? Get the owner's written consent. Bring the fence permit application and fee to Building Inspection (625 - 52nd St, Room 100; 262-653-4263); residential fence permits are typically issued over the counter. You can also mail or email it. Install the fence within 180 days of the permit being issued; the City may inspect it. 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 Kenosha (site plan, aerial photo and filled-in details) in a few minutes.
Who do I contact about a fence permit in the City of Kenosha?
Department of City Inspections (Building Inspection). Phone 262-653-4263.
Sources
Summarized from the City of Kenosha's own ordinances, forms and permit pages. Each link opens the original.
Ordinance: City of Kenosha Zoning Ordinance Section 16 (Fence Code)
Work for the City of Kenosha? 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.