City of South Milwaukee fence permit
Do you need a fence permit in the City of South Milwaukee? Yes. The City of South 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 South Milwaukee (site plan, aerial photo and filled-in details) in a few minutes. Start with your address.
Quick facts
- Permit required
- Yes source
- Fee
- $65.00 source
- Side and rear yards
- 6 ft (Z-2, Z-3, Z-4); 8 ft in Z-1, M-1 source
- Front (street) yard
- Front yard 4 ft (Z-2, Z-3, Z-4 districts); 6 ft in Z-1, M-1 source
- Corner lots
- Street side yard 4 ft (Z-2, Z-3, Z-4); 8 ft in Z-1, M-1 source
- Distance from lot line
- Fences may not encroach on public property or rights-of-way. source
- Good side faces
- Finished side must face neighbors, public rights-of-way or City-approved private drives; structural supports on the interior side. source
- Not allowed
- Electrified fencing, barbed wire, razor wire and materials intended to cause harm (except in M-1 zones); no chain link in residential front or side yards. source
- How to apply
- In person source
How to file for a fence permit in the City of South Milwaukee
Steps based on southmilwaukee.gov — Building Permit 2025 PDF
- Check whether the City has a survey of your property on file; otherwise get a plat of survey (within 10 years).
- Mark the fence location on the survey and fill out the building permit application.
- Bring it to the Inspection Department, 2424 15th Avenue (Mon-Fri 7:30 a.m.-4:00 p.m.) and pay the $65 fee.
- Schedule the final inspection with at least 48 hours' notice when the fence is done.
- Call Diggers Hotline (811) at least 3 business days before digging.
- Paying
- $65.00
- Inspections
- Final inspection mandatory; request at least 48 hours ahead
Who to contact
Steve Petery
Building Inspector
- Phone
- 414-768-8054
- [email protected]
- Hours
- Mon-Fri 7:30 a.m.-4:00 p.m.
- Address
- Inspection Department, 2424 15th Avenue, South Milwaukee, WI 53172
Contact from southmilwaukee.gov — Directory
What to submit
- Building permit application
- Plat of survey dated within the past 10 years showing the proposed fence location (the City may have one on file)
Other rules to know
- Height is measured from the average finished grade on the interior side; posts and decorative features may extend up to 12 inches above the maximum.
- Permitted materials: wood, metal, stone, stone-filled gabions; vinyl and composite allowed in all yards; alternatives need Zoning Administrator approval.
- Final inspections are mandatory; give at least 48 hours' notice. Triple fee for work started before the permit is obtained.
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 South Milwaukee, WI?
Yes. The City of South Milwaukee requires a permit before you build a fence.
How tall can a fence be in the City of South Milwaukee?
Side and rear yards: 6 ft (Z-2, Z-3, Z-4); 8 ft in Z-1, M-1. Front (street) yard: Front yard 4 ft (Z-2, Z-3, Z-4 districts); 6 ft in Z-1, M-1. Corner lots: Street side yard 4 ft (Z-2, Z-3, Z-4); 8 ft in Z-1, M-1.
How close to the property line can I put a fence in the City of South Milwaukee?
Fences may not encroach on public property or rights-of-way.
Which side of the fence has to face the neighbor in the City of South Milwaukee?
Finished side must face neighbors, public rights-of-way or City-approved private drives; structural supports on the interior side.
How much is a fence permit in the City of South Milwaukee?
$65.00.
How do I apply for a fence permit in the City of South Milwaukee?
Check whether the City has a survey of your property on file; otherwise get a plat of survey (within 10 years). Mark the fence location on the survey and fill out the building permit application. Bring it to the Inspection Department, 2424 15th Avenue (Mon-Fri 7:30 a.m.-4:00 p.m.) and pay the $65 fee. Schedule the final inspection with at least 48 hours' notice when the fence is done. 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 South 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 South Milwaukee?
Steve Petery, Building Inspector. Phone 414-768-8054, email [email protected].
Sources
Summarized from the City of South Milwaukee's own ordinances, forms and permit pages. Each link opens the original.
Work for the City of South 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.