City of Franklin fence permit
Do you need a fence permit in the City of Franklin? Yes. The City of Franklin 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 Franklin (site plan, aerial photo and filled-in details) in a few minutes. Start with your address.
Quick facts
- Permit required
- Yes source
- Fee
- $14.00 per $1,000 of the value of work, $95.00 minimum, plus a $10.00 technology fee source
- Side and rear yards
- Max 6 ft, or up to 8 ft if abutting an arterial road; may be 100% opaque source
- Front (street) yard
- Front yard: max 4 ft, non-sight barrier construction with max 50% opacity source
- Corner lots
- Street side yard: max 4 ft, or up to 6 ft if set back at least 5 ft from the property line; max 50% opacity unless set back at least 7 ft from the street side lot line (then may be 100% opaque). Must be outside the vision clearance area. source
- Distance from lot line
- Fence, post holes and materials must be wholly within the property lines; minimum 1 ft from any property line abutting a right-of-way or City easement unless the Common Council approves otherwise. source
- Good side faces
- The finished or decorative side must face the adjacent property or street. source
- Not allowed
- Chain link only in interior side or rear yards; masonry prohibited in the Floodplain Overlay District. Permitted materials: wood, wood composites, aluminum, wrought iron, vinyl/PVC, vegetation and masonry, or others approved by the Zoning Administrator. source
- How to apply
- Call 414-425-0084 source
Still being confirmed with Franklin: Can fence permit applications be emailed to [email protected], or must they be filed in person?
How to file for a fence permit in the City of Franklin
Steps based on franklinwi.gov — Fences
- Fill out the City of Franklin Building Permit Application.
- Mark the fence on a plat of survey (actual scale) with distances to lot lines and buildings and the fence height; add a brochure or picture of the fence.
- Sign the Owner's Acknowledgement of WE Energies Utility Easements (required with all fence applications).
- Call or email Inspection Services (414-425-0084, [email protected]) to confirm how to submit, then file at 9229 W. Loomis Road and pay the fee.
- Call Diggers Hotline (811) at least 3 business days before digging.
- Paying
- $14.00 per $1,000 of value, $95.00 minimum, plus $10.00 technology fee
Who to contact
Lynn Tome / Aimee Schlueter
Permit Technicians, Inspection Services
- Phone
- 414-425-0084
- [email protected]
- Hours
- Mon-Fri 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
- Address
- Inspection Services, 9229 W. Loomis Road, Franklin, WI 53132
Contact from franklinwi.gov — Fences
What to submit
- City of Franklin Building Permit Application
- Plat of survey at actual scale showing the proposed fence and existing structures
- Fence dimensions to lot lines and buildings
- Fence height above grade (highest point)
- Brochure or picture of the fence type
- Owner's Acknowledgement of WE Energies Utility Easements
Other rules to know
- Snow fencing needs no permit but is only allowed November 15 to April 15.
- Posts and supports may exceed the allowed height by 6 inches; height is measured from mean natural grade.
- In WE Energies easements keep at least 3 ft from the sides of a transformer and 10 ft from its door.
- Work started without a permit is charged triple fees (first offense).
- The City's fence pages don't say how to submit; the application lists 9229 W. Loomis Road and [email protected].
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 Franklin, WI?
Yes. The City of Franklin requires a permit before you build a fence. Snow fencing needs no permit but is only allowed November 15 to April 15.
How tall can a fence be in the City of Franklin?
Side and rear yards: Max 6 ft, or up to 8 ft if abutting an arterial road; may be 100% opaque. Front (street) yard: Front yard: max 4 ft, non-sight barrier construction with max 50% opacity. Corner lots: Street side yard: max 4 ft, or up to 6 ft if set back at least 5 ft from the property line; max 50% opacity unless set back at least 7 ft from the street side lot line (then may be 100% opaque). Must be outside the vision clearance area..
How close to the property line can I put a fence in the City of Franklin?
Fence, post holes and materials must be wholly within the property lines; minimum 1 ft from any property line abutting a right-of-way or City easement unless the Common Council approves otherwise.
Which side of the fence has to face the neighbor in the City of Franklin?
The finished or decorative side must face the adjacent property or street.
How much is a fence permit in the City of Franklin?
$14.00 per $1,000 of the value of work, $95.00 minimum, plus a $10.00 technology fee.
How do I apply for a fence permit in the City of Franklin?
Fill out the City of Franklin Building Permit Application. Mark the fence on a plat of survey (actual scale) with distances to lot lines and buildings and the fence height; add a brochure or picture of the fence. Sign the Owner's Acknowledgement of WE Energies Utility Easements (required with all fence applications). Call or email Inspection Services (414-425-0084, [email protected]) to confirm how to submit, then file at 9229 W. Loomis Road and pay 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 City of Franklin (site plan, aerial photo and filled-in details) in a few minutes.
Who do I contact about a fence permit in the City of Franklin?
Lynn Tome / Aimee Schlueter, Permit Technicians, Inspection Services. Phone 414-425-0084, email [email protected].
Sources
Summarized from the City of Franklin's own ordinances, forms and permit pages. Each link opens the original.
Ordinance: Unified Development Ordinance Sec. 15-5-08 (fences) and 15-5-12 (vision clearance)
Work for the City of Franklin? 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.