Village of Holmen fence permit
Do you need a fence permit in the Village of Holmen? Yes. The Village of Holmen 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 Village of Holmen (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 yard abutting a public sidewalk: 6 ft only if open construction and set back at least 5 ft from the street line) source
- Front (street) yard
- 4 ft in the front/street yard; fences abutting a sidewalk generally capped at 4 ft source
- Corner lots
- Corner lots with two front yards may have a 6 ft fence in the rear and street-side area if set back at least 15 ft from the street line. Vision triangle (10 ft along each right-of-way line): nothing over 2 ft above top of curb (2.5 ft with no curb); vision clearance area: nothing over 36 inches above adjacent sidewalk grade. source
- Distance from lot line
- May sit on the property line but not within 3 ft of a public right-of-way or alley. Should be at least 3 ft from the lot line for maintenance unless a recordable affidavit with the neighbor is filed or a maintenance-free fence is installed. Within 3 ft of a lot line with no fence record, a survey is needed unless a recordable affidavit signed by affected owners sets an agreed lot line. At least 6 ft from any window or opening in a habitable space. 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
- Electric or shocking fences; barbed wire (except industrial areas with a conditional use permit); wire/chain-link with exposed cut ends at the top; hazardous or incomplete fences; fences on vacant lots; used/discarded materials and materials not made for fencing (railroad ties, doors, utility poles); chain-link or unpainted/unstained fencing in residential yards abutting a sidewalk. source
- How to apply
- Call 608-697-8007 source
Still being confirmed with Holmen: Is the fence permit filed at the Village Office or through the GEC online portal, and what is the fee?
How to file for a fence permit in the Village of Holmen
Steps based on holmenwi.gov — miscellaneous permits information
- Get the Fence Permit Application packet from the Village's Miscellaneous Permits & Information page.
- Plan the fence: 4 ft max in the front/street yard, 6 ft in side and rear yards, finished side facing out, at least 3 ft from any public right-of-way or alley.
- Within 3 ft of a lot line? Get a survey or a recordable affidavit signed by your neighbor.
- Return the application to the Village Office, 421 S. Main St., Holmen (608-526-4336; Mon-Fri 8:00-4:30); call to confirm how to submit and the fee.
- Call Diggers Hotline (811) at least 3 business days before digging.
- Paying
- Fee per the Village Fee Schedule
Who to contact
Bob Alsens
Building Inspector (Residential Permits), General Engineering Company
- Phone
- 608-697-8007
- Hours
- Village Office Mon-Fri 8:00 AM-4:30 PM
- Address
- Village of Holmen, 421 S. Main St., P.O. Box 158, Holmen, WI 54636
Contact from holmenwi.gov — miscellaneous permits information
What to submit
- Village Fence Permit Application (packet on the Miscellaneous Permits page)
- Survey or recordable neighbor affidavit if the fence is within 3 ft of a lot line
Other rules to know
- Permit required for new fences and full replacements; no permit for snow fencing, fences up to 2 ft, or underground electric fences; temporary construction/planting fences limited to 45 days.
- Fee is set in the Village's annual Fee Schedule; the 2026 residential building fee schedule does not list a fence fee.
- Commercial, industrial and multifamily fences also go through site plan review.
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 Village of Holmen, WI?
Yes. The Village of Holmen requires a permit before you build a fence. Permit required for new fences and full replacements; no permit for snow fencing, fences up to 2 ft, or underground electric fences; temporary construction/planting fences limited to 45 days.
How tall can a fence be in the Village of Holmen?
Side and rear yards: 6 ft (rear yard abutting a public sidewalk: 6 ft only if open construction and set back at least 5 ft from the street line). Front (street) yard: 4 ft in the front/street yard; fences abutting a sidewalk generally capped at 4 ft. Corner lots: Corner lots with two front yards may have a 6 ft fence in the rear and street-side area if set back at least 15 ft from the street line. Vision triangle (10 ft along each right-of-way line): nothing over 2 ft above top of curb (2.5 ft with no curb); vision clearance area: nothing over 36 inches above adjacent sidewalk grade..
How close to the property line can I put a fence in the Village of Holmen?
May sit on the property line but not within 3 ft of a public right-of-way or alley. Should be at least 3 ft from the lot line for maintenance unless a recordable affidavit with the neighbor is filed or a maintenance-free fence is installed. Within 3 ft of a lot line with no fence record, a survey is needed unless a recordable affidavit signed by affected owners sets an agreed lot line. At least 6 ft from any window or opening in a habitable space.
Which side of the fence has to face the neighbor in the Village of Holmen?
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 Village of Holmen?
Get the Fence Permit Application packet from the Village's Miscellaneous Permits & Information page. Plan the fence: 4 ft max in the front/street yard, 6 ft in side and rear yards, finished side facing out, at least 3 ft from any public right-of-way or alley. Within 3 ft of a lot line? Get a survey or a recordable affidavit signed by your neighbor. Return the application to the Village Office, 421 S. Main St., Holmen (608-526-4336; Mon-Fri 8:00-4:30); call to confirm how to submit and the fee. 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 Village of Holmen (site plan, aerial photo and filled-in details) in a few minutes.
Who do I contact about a fence permit in the Village of Holmen?
Bob Alsens, Building Inspector (Residential Permits), General Engineering Company. Phone 608-697-8007.
Sources
Summarized from the Village of Holmen's own ordinances, forms and permit pages. Each link opens the original.
Ordinance: Village Code Chapter 195 Zoning, §195-8(H) Fences
Work for the Village of Holmen? 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.