Kenosha County, Wisconsin

Kenosha County zoning (Towns of Brighton, Paris, Randall, Somers and Wheatland) fence permit

Do you need a fence permit in the Kenosha County zoning (Towns of Brighton, Paris, Randall, Somers and Wheatland)? Yes. Kenosha County zoning (Towns of Brighton, Paris, Randall, Somers and Wheatland) 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 Kenosha County zoning (Towns of Brighton, Paris, Randall, Somers and Wheatland) (site plan, aerial photo and filled-in details) in a few minutes. Start with your address.

Quick facts

Permit required: Yes source
Fee: $100.00 per fence (County Planning & Development permit fee; $150.00 for any two of deck/fence/pool, $200.00 for all three) source
Side and rear yards: 6 ft source
Front (street) yard: 4 ft in street yards source
Corner lots: 6 ft allowed in a corner lot's side street yard (or a double-frontage lot's rear street yard) if at least 15 ft from that right-of-way; nothing over 2 ft in the vision triangle source
Distance from lot line: Residential fences may extend to side and rear lot lines but must be at least 2 ft from any public right-of-way. In a required shore yard: up to 4 ft, split-rail or board style with openings of at least 1 ft by 8 ft, at least 2 ft from the ordinary high water mark. source
Good side faces: Finished side of the fence faces the neighboring property. source
Not allowed: Barbed wire in residential districts. No fences in the FPO Floodplain Overlay except agricultural barbed wire or wire strand fences. source
How to apply: Online portal source

Plan your fence and build the applicationLook up your address, draw the fence on an aerial photo of your lot, and get a site plan and filled-in application.

How to file for a fence permit in the Kenosha County zoning (Towns of Brighton, Paris, Randall, Somers and Wheatland)

Steps based on permitting.kenoshacountywi.gov — eTRAKiT

Check that your fence isn't one of the exempt types (decorative fence 2 ft or lower, seasonal snow fence, farm fence).
Create a Public account and apply for a zoning permit on the Kenosha County online permit portal.
Pay the $100 fence permit fee (payable to Kenosha County). Starting work before applying triples the fee.
Fence permits are often issued the same day; the permit is good for 18 months.
Questions: call Kenosha County Planning & Development at 262-857-1895 (Mon-Fri 8-12 and 1-5; in-person visits by appointment).
Call Diggers Hotline (811) at least 3 business days before digging.

Paying: $100.00 per fence, payable to Kenosha County; triple fees if work started before applying
Review time: Minor projects such as fences are often issued the same day (about half an hour)
Permit good for: 18 months

Who to contact

Phone: 262-857-1895
Hours: Monday-Friday 8:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. and 1:00-5:00 p.m.; closed major holidays
Address: Kenosha County Division of Planning & Development, 19600 75th Street, Suite 185-3, Bristol, WI 53104

Contact from kenoshacountywi.gov — faq

What to submit

Kenosha County zoning permit application (filed through the County's online permit portal)

Kenosha County zoning (Towns of Brighton, Paris, Randall, Somers and Wheatland) online permit portal

Other rules to know

No zoning permit needed for: decorative fences up to 2 ft; snow fences up to 4 ft (wooden pickets bound with wire or molded plastic mesh) removed each year between May 1 and Nov 1; agricultural fences in A-1 to A-4 districts; agricultural wire strand fences in shore yards/floodplain/C-1. Pool fences follow the pool section (12.20.070).
Fences must also meet the structural requirements of local and state codes.
Town of Brighton: all building, zoning and sanitation permits are issued through Kenosha County since Jan 1, 2023; not at the Town Hall.
In-person meetings with County Planning & Development staff are by appointment; call ahead.
Kenosha County requires a zoning permit for non-agricultural fences in the Towns of Brighton, Paris, Randall, Somers and Wheatland.
Triple fees are charged if work starts before you apply for the permit.
Zoning permit fees are payable to 'Kenosha County'.

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 Kenosha County zoning (Towns of Brighton, Paris, Randall, Somers and Wheatland), WI?

Yes. Kenosha County zoning (Towns of Brighton, Paris, Randall, Somers and Wheatland) requires a permit before you build a fence.

How tall can a fence be in the Kenosha County zoning (Towns of Brighton, Paris, Randall, Somers and Wheatland)?

Side and rear yards: 6 ft. Front (street) yard: 4 ft in street yards. Corner lots: 6 ft allowed in a corner lot's side street yard (or a double-frontage lot's rear street yard) if at least 15 ft from that right-of-way; nothing over 2 ft in the vision triangle.

How close to the property line can I put a fence in the Kenosha County zoning (Towns of Brighton, Paris, Randall, Somers and Wheatland)?

Residential fences may extend to side and rear lot lines but must be at least 2 ft from any public right-of-way. In a required shore yard: up to 4 ft, split-rail or board style with openings of at least 1 ft by 8 ft, at least 2 ft from the ordinary high water mark.

Which side of the fence has to face the neighbor in the Kenosha County zoning (Towns of Brighton, Paris, Randall, Somers and Wheatland)?

Finished side of the fence faces the neighboring property.

How much is a fence permit in the Kenosha County zoning (Towns of Brighton, Paris, Randall, Somers and Wheatland)?

$100.00 per fence (County Planning & Development permit fee; $150.00 for any two of deck/fence/pool, $200.00 for all three).

How do I apply for a fence permit in the Kenosha County zoning (Towns of Brighton, Paris, Randall, Somers and Wheatland)?

Check that your fence isn't one of the exempt types (decorative fence 2 ft or lower, seasonal snow fence, farm fence). Create a Public account and apply for a zoning permit on the Kenosha County online permit portal. Pay the $100 fence permit fee (payable to Kenosha County). Starting work before applying triples the fee. Fence permits are often issued the same day; the permit is good for 18 months. Questions: call Kenosha County Planning & Development at 262-857-1895 (Mon-Fri 8-12 and 1-5; in-person visits by appointment). permit.guide can turn a fence drawn on an aerial photo of your lot into a complete permit application package for Kenosha County zoning (Towns of Brighton, Paris, Randall, Somers and Wheatland) (site plan, aerial photo and filled-in details) in a few minutes.

Who do I contact about a fence permit in the Kenosha County zoning (Towns of Brighton, Paris, Randall, Somers and Wheatland)?

Kenosha County Division of Planning & Development. Phone 262-857-1895.

Sources

Summarized from Kenosha County zoning (Towns of Brighton, Paris, Randall, Somers and Wheatland)'s own ordinances, forms and permit pages. Each link opens the original.

Ordinance: Municipal Code of Kenosha County Ch. 12.19 Fences (§§12.19.010-12.19.030)

Work for Kenosha County zoning (Towns of Brighton, Paris, Randall, Somers and Wheatland)? 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.