City of Milwaukee fence permit
Do you need a fence permit in the City of Milwaukee? Yes. The City of Milwaukee 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 Milwaukee (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 feet source
- Front (street) yard
- 4 feet (front yard) source
- Corner lots
- Vision triangle rules of Ch. 295 apply source
- Distance from lot line
- The entire fence, including posts and vertical supports, must be on your property and meet the fence height, setback and vision triangle regulations of Ch. 295. source
- Good side faces
- Supporting horizontal and vertical members must face the interior of the lot; exterior-facing material must be the same grade or better than the interior-facing material. source
- Not allowed
- Doors or plywood sheets, snow fence, pallets, chicken wire, and plastic material less than 1/2 inch thick. source
- How to apply
- Mail, in person source
How to file for a fence permit in the City of Milwaukee
Steps based on city.milwaukee.gov — Permits
- Fill out the Fence Permit Application - 1 and 2 Family.
- Draw your property showing the house, garage, streets, alleys, sidewalks, property lines and the proposed fence with its heights marked and a North arrow.
- Apply online through the City's Land Management System (LMS, linked from city.milwaukee.gov/Permits), mail it to 809 N. Broadway, 1st Floor, Attention: Development Center, Milwaukee, WI 53202, or drop it in the Development Center entry vestibule.
- Pay the permit fee (cash, check, Visa or Mastercard).
- Call Diggers Hotline (811) at least 3 business days before digging.
- Paying
- Cash, check, Visa or Mastercard; amount not listed on the fence application
Who to contact
- Phone
- 414-286-8210
- [email protected]
- Hours
- Mon-Fri 8:00 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
- Address
- Development Center, 809 N. Broadway, 1st Floor, Milwaukee, WI 53202
Contact from city.milwaukee.gov — Fence Permit Application 1 and 2 Family
What to submit
- Fence Permit Application - 1 and 2 Family (project info, material, type and height by yard)
- Owner and contractor information (contractor HICL license number, or check the box if the owner installs)
- Property drawing showing house, garage, streets, alleys, sidewalks, property lines and the proposed fence with locations and heights marked, plus a North arrow
- Signed attestation
Other rules to know
- A permit is required for both new fences and fence replacements.
- Uniform color required (two colors allowed); three or more colors need the commissioner's permission.
- Construction standards: wood posts 6 in. nominal maximum, boards one by 8 in. nominal maximum, stockade poles 3 in. nominal maximum diameter; opaque fences 4 ft or taller anchored at least 30 inches deep; must withstand 30 lb/sq ft wind pressure; up to 2 inches extra height allowed for ground clearance.
- Historic properties need a Certificate of Appropriateness from the Historic Preservation Commission for exterior changes.
- Fences outside the height limits need a dimensional variance from the Board of Zoning Appeals.
- Development Center hours: 8:00 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Mon-Fri; cashier closes at 4:00 p.m. Payment by cash, check, Visa or Mastercard.
- Fee amount is not listed on the fence application; see the DNS plan exam & permit fee schedule or call the Development Center.
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 Milwaukee, WI?
Yes. The City of Milwaukee requires a permit before you build a fence.
How tall can a fence be in the City of Milwaukee?
Side and rear yards: 6 feet. Front (street) yard: 4 feet (front yard). Corner lots: Vision triangle rules of Ch. 295 apply.
How close to the property line can I put a fence in the City of Milwaukee?
The entire fence, including posts and vertical supports, must be on your property and meet the fence height, setback and vision triangle regulations of Ch. 295.
Which side of the fence has to face the neighbor in the City of Milwaukee?
Supporting horizontal and vertical members must face the interior of the lot; exterior-facing material must be the same grade or better than the interior-facing material.
How do I apply for a fence permit in the City of Milwaukee?
Fill out the Fence Permit Application - 1 and 2 Family. Draw your property showing the house, garage, streets, alleys, sidewalks, property lines and the proposed fence with its heights marked and a North arrow. Apply online through the City's Land Management System (LMS, linked from city.milwaukee.gov/Permits), mail it to 809 N. Broadway, 1st Floor, Attention: Development Center, Milwaukee, WI 53202, or drop it in the Development Center entry vestibule. Pay the permit fee (cash, check, Visa or Mastercard). 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 Milwaukee (site plan, aerial photo and filled-in details) in a few minutes.
Who do I contact about a fence permit in the City of Milwaukee?
Permit & Development Center (DNS). Phone 414-286-8210, email [email protected].
Sources
Summarized from the City of Milwaukee's own ordinances, forms and permit pages. Each link opens the original.
Ordinance: MCO 239-2 (fence design standards) and Ch. 295 (Zoning)
Work for the City of Milwaukee? 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.