City of Manitowoc fence permit
Do you need a fence permit in the City of Manitowoc? Yes. The City of Manitowoc 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 Manitowoc (site plan, aerial photo and filled-in details) in a few minutes. Start with your address.
Quick facts
- Permit required
- Yes source
- Fee
- Set by resolution of the Common Council source
- Side and rear yards
- 6 ft source
- Front (street) yard
- 4 ft in front yards source
- Corner lots
- Corner lots: 4 ft from the front corner vision triangle on the street-side yard to the rear corner of the house, then up to 6 ft along the side street line to the rear lot line; nothing over 3 ft within the 15-ft vision triangle at street, alley or driveway intersections source
- Distance from lot line
- No setback from the property line generally, but residential fences may not be within 2 ft of a property line adjoining a property with a permanent driveway, or within 2 ft of another fence or wall, unless the Director of Building Inspection and the affected neighbor approve in writing. No fence closer than 12 inches to a public sidewalk. source
- Good side faces
- Where posts or framing could look like a back side, the front (good) side faces the adjacent property. source
- Not allowed
- Barbed and razor wire (except barbed wire above 6 ft for agricultural, industrial or commercial security with the Director's permission); electric fences. Snow fences only temporarily, not more than six months. source
Still being confirmed with Manitowoc: How do I file a fence permit with the City of Manitowoc Building Inspection Department (online, email or in person), and what is the fee?
How to file for a fence permit in the City of Manitowoc
- Get a fence permit from the City Building Inspection Department before building (MMC 16.350(1)).
- Plan the fence to meet the height, vision-triangle and 2-ft driveway/fence spacing rules.
- Call Diggers Hotline (811) at least 3 business days before digging.
What to submit
- Fence permit application to the City Building Inspection Department
Other rules to know
- Fences over 6 ft need permission of the Inspection Supervisor.
- Pools, hot tubs and spas over 24 inches deep need a barrier at least 48 inches high with self-closing, self-latching gates (§16.350(4)).
- Fences must be kept in good repair or removed (§16.350(5)).
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 Manitowoc, WI?
Yes. The City of Manitowoc requires a permit before you build a fence.
How tall can a fence be in the City of Manitowoc?
Side and rear yards: 6 ft. Front (street) yard: 4 ft in front yards. Corner lots: Corner lots: 4 ft from the front corner vision triangle on the street-side yard to the rear corner of the house, then up to 6 ft along the side street line to the rear lot line; nothing over 3 ft within the 15-ft vision triangle at street, alley or driveway intersections.
How close to the property line can I put a fence in the City of Manitowoc?
No setback from the property line generally, but residential fences may not be within 2 ft of a property line adjoining a property with a permanent driveway, or within 2 ft of another fence or wall, unless the Director of Building Inspection and the affected neighbor approve in writing. No fence closer than 12 inches to a public sidewalk.
Which side of the fence has to face the neighbor in the City of Manitowoc?
Where posts or framing could look like a back side, the front (good) side faces the adjacent property.
How much is a fence permit in the City of Manitowoc?
Set by resolution of the Common Council.
How do I apply for a fence permit in the City of Manitowoc?
Get a fence permit from the City Building Inspection Department before building (MMC 16.350(1)). Plan the fence to meet the height, vision-triangle and 2-ft driveway/fence spacing rules. 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 Manitowoc (site plan, aerial photo and filled-in details) in a few minutes.
Sources
Summarized from the City of Manitowoc's own ordinances, forms and permit pages. Each link opens the original.
Ordinance: Manitowoc Municipal Code §16.350 Fences and Hedges
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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.