Lafayette County Zoning (all towns) fence permit
Do you need a fence permit in the Lafayette County Zoning (all towns)? Yes. Lafayette County Zoning (all towns) 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 Lafayette County Zoning (all towns) (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 (residential districts) source
- Front (street) yard
- 6 ft (residential districts; privacy-type fencing not allowed in the front yard setback area in R-1) source
- Corner lots
- No fence may obstruct the vision corner triangle at road intersections (Table 3-5.001: 300 ft Class A highway, 200 ft Class B, 150 ft Class C, 100 ft private road/access easement) source
- Distance from lot line
- Not within 2 ft of any public right-of-way or property line. Placing a fence less than 2 ft from a property line requires a Conditional Use Permit with a recorded written agreement between the property owners. source
- Not allowed
- Only residential-type fences (privacy, ornamental, wood, chain link) in residential districts; security fences (up to 10 ft) not allowed in residential districts; in R-1, agricultural-type fencing such as barbed wire, single strand wire or electrified fencing is prohibited. source
- How to apply
- Call 608-776-3836 source
Still being confirmed with Lafayette County Zoning: What is the county zoning permit fee for a residential fence, can the application be emailed or mailed, and are all 18 towns under county zoning?
How to file for a fence permit in the Lafayette County Zoning (all towns)
Steps based on energyzoning.org — Zoning ordinance (archived copy)
- Call Lafayette County Land Conservation / Planning & Zoning (608-776-3836) for the zoning permit application and the current fee.
- Draw a location sketch showing the property lines and the fence's distance from them (keep at least 2 ft from property lines and road right-of-way unless you get a Conditional Use Permit).
- Submit the application with the fee to the office at 700 Main Street, Lower Level, Darlington. The county has 30 days to grant or deny the permit in writing.
- Call Diggers Hotline (811) at least 3 business days before digging.
- Paying
- Fee required with the application; doubled (or $200, whichever is greater) if work starts before the permit
- Review time
- Granted or denied in writing within 30 days
- Permit good for
- Expires within 1 year of issuance unless substantial work has commenced
Who to contact
Cari Starr
Assistant Zoning Administrator, Lafayette County Land Conservation and Planning & Zoning
- Phone
- 608-776-3836
- Address
- Land Conservation / Planning & Zoning, 700 Main Street, Lower Level, Darlington, WI 53530
Contact from lafayettecountywi.org — 63301
What to submit
- Lafayette County zoning permit application
- Location sketch showing property lines, dimensions and the fence location and distances (Sec. 4-6.03)
- Fee payment
Other rules to know
- County Zoning Ordinance Sec. 3-4.00: a Zoning Permit is required for all fences except agricultural-type fencing in an Ag district.
- The county's Forms page lists a 2026 Fee Schedule (Land Conservation, Planning and Zoning); its fence fee could not be read online, so ask the office.
- Starting work before the permit is issued doubles the fee, or $200, whichever is greater (Sec. 4-9.00).
- Applies to all unincorporated lands (towns) in Lafayette County; cities and villages issue their own permits.
- Department staff (2026 county directory): Erica Sauer, Conservation/Zoning Manager; Cari Starr, Assistant Zoning Administrator.
- Town of Belmont separately requires its Conformance to Town Ordinances Checklist for new structures over 256 sq ft; its page does not mention fences.
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 Lafayette County Zoning (all towns), WI?
Yes. Lafayette County Zoning (all towns) requires a permit before you build a fence.
How tall can a fence be in the Lafayette County Zoning (all towns)?
Side and rear yards: 6 ft (residential districts). Front (street) yard: 6 ft (residential districts; privacy-type fencing not allowed in the front yard setback area in R-1). Corner lots: No fence may obstruct the vision corner triangle at road intersections (Table 3-5.001: 300 ft Class A highway, 200 ft Class B, 150 ft Class C, 100 ft private road/access easement).
How close to the property line can I put a fence in the Lafayette County Zoning (all towns)?
Not within 2 ft of any public right-of-way or property line. Placing a fence less than 2 ft from a property line requires a Conditional Use Permit with a recorded written agreement between the property owners.
How do I apply for a fence permit in the Lafayette County Zoning (all towns)?
Call Lafayette County Land Conservation / Planning & Zoning (608-776-3836) for the zoning permit application and the current fee. Draw a location sketch showing the property lines and the fence's distance from them (keep at least 2 ft from property lines and road right-of-way unless you get a Conditional Use Permit). Submit the application with the fee to the office at 700 Main Street, Lower Level, Darlington. The county has 30 days to grant or deny the permit in writing. 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 Lafayette County Zoning (all towns) (site plan, aerial photo and filled-in details) in a few minutes.
Who do I contact about a fence permit in the Lafayette County Zoning (all towns)?
Cari Starr, Assistant Zoning Administrator, Lafayette County Land Conservation and Planning & Zoning. Phone 608-776-3836.
Sources
Summarized from Lafayette County Zoning (all towns)'s own ordinances, forms and permit pages. Each link opens the original.
Ordinance: Lafayette County Comprehensive Zoning Ordinance, Chapter 6-1 (adopted 2019) Sec. 3-4.00 Fences
Work for Lafayette County Zoning (all towns)? 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.