City of St. Francis fence permit
Do you need a fence permit in the City of St. Francis? Yes. The City of St. Francis 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 St. Francis (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 (7 ft along a lot line abutting a nonresidential district) source
- Front (street) yard
- In residential areas fences generally may not extend closer to the street than the front building line or front setback line, whichever is nearer; front-yard decorative fences must be brick, stone or wood source
- Distance from lot line
- 3 ft from an alley lot line; 2 ft from a street lot line where there is a sidewalk, 3 ft where there is none. source
- Good side faces
- Structural components must face the owner's own property. source
- Not allowed
- Electrically charged or inherently dangerous fences; barbed wire except on industrially zoned property. source
- How to apply
- In person source
Still being confirmed with St. Francis: What is the fence permit fee, and is 414-316-4311 (or 414-481-2300 ext. 4311) the right number?
How to file for a fence permit in the City of St. Francis
Steps based on stfranciswi.org — building
- Call the Building Inspector (414-316-4311) for an appointment.
- Bring a survey less than 10 years old showing the fence location.
- Get the permit from the Building Inspector at City Hall and pay the fee from the City fee schedule.
- Call Diggers Hotline (811) at least 3 business days before digging.
- Paying
- Fee per current City fee schedule
- Inspections
- Next-business-day inspections must be scheduled by 3:30 PM
Who to contact
- Phone
- 414-316-4311
- Hours
- By appointment only
- Address
- St. Francis City Hall, 3400 E. Howard Avenue, St. Francis, WI 53235
Contact from stfranciswi.org — building
What to submit
- Fence permit application to the Building Inspector
- Survey less than 10 years old (unless corner stakes are located and field verified)
Other rules to know
- Permit needed to build, rebuild or replace any fence.
- Height is measured from grade at the finish side of the fence.
- Building Inspector is available by appointment only; calls returned within 24 hours. The City's fence handout PDF could not be read (blocked).
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 St. Francis, WI?
Yes. The City of St. Francis requires a permit before you build a fence.
How tall can a fence be in the City of St. Francis?
Side and rear yards: 6 ft (7 ft along a lot line abutting a nonresidential district). Front (street) yard: In residential areas fences generally may not extend closer to the street than the front building line or front setback line, whichever is nearer; front-yard decorative fences must be brick, stone or wood.
How close to the property line can I put a fence in the City of St. Francis?
3 ft from an alley lot line; 2 ft from a street lot line where there is a sidewalk, 3 ft where there is none.
Which side of the fence has to face the neighbor in the City of St. Francis?
Structural components must face the owner's own property.
How do I apply for a fence permit in the City of St. Francis?
Call the Building Inspector (414-316-4311) for an appointment. Bring a survey less than 10 years old showing the fence location. Get the permit from the Building Inspector at City Hall and pay the fee from the City fee schedule. 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 St. Francis (site plan, aerial photo and filled-in details) in a few minutes.
Who do I contact about a fence permit in the City of St. Francis?
Building Inspector. Phone 414-316-4311.
Sources
Summarized from the City of St. Francis's own ordinances, forms and permit pages. Each link opens the original.
Ordinance: Code § 198-6 Fences
Work for the City of St. Francis? 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.