City of Onalaska fence permit
Do you need a fence permit in the City of Onalaska? Not confirmed. Contact the City of Onalaska 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 Onalaska (site plan, aerial photo and filled-in details) in a few minutes. Start with your address.
Quick facts
- Permit required
- Not confirmed source
- Side and rear yards
- 6 ft source
- Front (street) yard
- 4 ft in the street yard in front of the addressed street of the home source
- Corner lots
- No fences in the vision triangle (20 ft along each street lot line, no obstructions between 2 1/2 and 10 ft high); the non-addressed street side is treated as a side yard (6 ft max) source
- Distance from lot line
- May be placed up to the lot line in rear and side yards; not closer than 2 ft to any public right-of-way. Owners must locate fences so each side can be maintained from their own property. source
- Good side faces
- Finished or decorative side must face the adjoining property; fences must be kept safe and in good repair. source
- Not allowed
- Fences in dangerous condition, fences that conduct electricity or are designed to shock, and barbed wire (barbed wire only in industrial areas, at least 10 ft above ground and projecting toward the fenced property). source
- How to apply
- Call 608-781-9541 source
Still being confirmed with Onalaska: Does a residential fence need a City of Onalaska permit, and if so which form and fee?
How to file for a fence permit in the City of Onalaska
Steps based on zoneomics.com — Municipal code: chapter 3
- Call the City Inspection Department (608-781-9541) to ask whether your fence needs a permit and which application to use.
- Keep the fence to 4 ft in the street yard and 6 ft in side and rear yards, at least 2 ft from any public right-of-way, with the finished side facing out.
- Call Diggers Hotline (811) at least 3 business days before digging.
Who to contact
- Phone
- 608-781-9541
- Address
- Inspection Department, 415 Main St., Onalaska, WI 54650
Contact from cms3.revize.com — 2024 Residential Miscellaneous Building Permit Application
Other rules to know
- The zoning code fence section (§13.03.41-45) does not state whether a fence permit is required, and the City's 2024 residential miscellaneous permit application does not list a fence permit (only 'Other').
- Height is measured from up to 3 inches above ground; a fence on a retaining wall counts the combined height if they share a vertical support system.
- Temporary fences must be marked at 4-ft intervals and may not stand more than 45 days.
- Privacy screens up to 8 ft high and 20 ft long are allowed but require a building permit and Zoning Administrator approval of materials/design.
- Pool barriers: at least 48 inches high, at least 6 ft from the pool wall, with self-closing, self-latching gates.
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 Onalaska, WI?
Not confirmed. Contact the City of Onalaska before you build; the rules below are what we found in the ordinance.
How tall can a fence be in the City of Onalaska?
Side and rear yards: 6 ft. Front (street) yard: 4 ft in the street yard in front of the addressed street of the home. Corner lots: No fences in the vision triangle (20 ft along each street lot line, no obstructions between 2 1/2 and 10 ft high); the non-addressed street side is treated as a side yard (6 ft max).
How close to the property line can I put a fence in the City of Onalaska?
May be placed up to the lot line in rear and side yards; not closer than 2 ft to any public right-of-way. Owners must locate fences so each side can be maintained from their own property.
Which side of the fence has to face the neighbor in the City of Onalaska?
Finished or decorative side must face the adjoining property; fences must be kept safe and in good repair.
How do I apply for a fence permit in the City of Onalaska?
Call the City Inspection Department (608-781-9541) to ask whether your fence needs a permit and which application to use. Keep the fence to 4 ft in the street yard and 6 ft in side and rear yards, at least 2 ft from any public right-of-way, with the finished side facing out. 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 Onalaska (site plan, aerial photo and filled-in details) in a few minutes.
Who do I contact about a fence permit in the City of Onalaska?
Inspection Department. Phone 608-781-9541.
Sources
Summarized from the City of Onalaska's own ordinances, forms and permit pages. Each link opens the original.
Ordinance: Unified Development Code §13.03.41-13.03.45 Fences
Work for the City of Onalaska? 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.