City of Wauwatosa fence permit
Do you need a fence permit in the City of Wauwatosa? Not confirmed. Contact the City of Wauwatosa before you build; the rules below are what we found in the ordinance.
permit.guide can turn a fence drawn on an aerial photo of your lot into a complete permit application package for the City of Wauwatosa (site plan, aerial photo and filled-in details) in a few minutes. Start with your address.
Quick facts
- Permit required
- Not confirmed source
- Side and rear yards
- 6.0 ft if not abutting a street (no permit) source
- Front (street) yard
- Front yard: 3.0 ft, permit required; set back 18 inches, decorative only, length limited to 20% of lot width, 40% open design, design review board approval source
- Corner lots
- 4.5 ft abutting a street on the side (permit required). On corner lots the front yard is generally the narrowest street-facing side. source
- Distance from lot line
- 18 inches from the property line for front-yard and alley-abutting fences. Owners are responsible for placing fences on their own property. source
- Good side faces
- The finished or decorative side faces neighboring properties or public areas. source
- Not allowed
- Barbed wire, agricultural or poultry wire, snow fencing and electric fences in residential areas; chain link in front yards. source
- How to apply
- Online portal source
How to file for a fence permit in the City of Wauwatosa
Steps based on wauwatosa.gov — residential fences
- Check the City's height/location table to see whether your fence needs a permit.
- Gather a recent land survey showing the fence location, the fence height, and a sketch, photo or manufacturer sheet of the style.
- Apply and upload documents through the City's Self Service Portal; fees are paid online.
- Front-yard fence? It also needs design review board approval.
- Call Diggers Hotline (811) at least 3 business days before digging.
- Paying
- Online through the Self Service Portal
Who to contact
- Phone
- (414) 479-8981
- Address
- Building & Safety Division, Wauwatosa City Hall, 7725 W. North Avenue, Wauwatosa, WI 53213
Contact from wauwatosa.gov — residential fences
What to submit
- Sketch, photo or manufacturer information showing the fence style
- Proposed fence height, including any height changes
- Recent land survey showing the proposed fence location (aerial/GIS maps not accepted)
Other rules to know
- Permit needed for front-yard fences, street-side fences, fences abutting an alley and fences abutting non-residential property; side-yard fences up to 4.5 ft, rear-yard fences up to 6 ft not abutting a street, and 6 ft fences in the buildable area need no permit but must still meet the rules.
- Height is measured from finished grade to the highest point; any gap under the fence counts.
- Neighbor permission and notification are not required.
- Floodplain properties may also need a floodplain permit.
- The City moved its website from wauwatosa.net to wauwatosa.gov in 2026; the fence page content was read from the City's staging copy of the new site.
- General Building & Safety line: (414) 479-8907. Aerial maps and GIS images are not accepted in place of a land survey.
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 Wauwatosa, WI?
Not confirmed. Contact the City of Wauwatosa before you build; the rules below are what we found in the ordinance. Permit needed for front-yard fences, street-side fences, fences abutting an alley and fences abutting non-residential property; side-yard fences up to 4.5 ft, rear-yard fences up to 6 ft not abutting a street, and 6 ft fences in the buildable area need no permit but must still meet the rules.
How tall can a fence be in the City of Wauwatosa?
Side and rear yards: 6.0 ft if not abutting a street (no permit). Front (street) yard: Front yard: 3.0 ft, permit required; set back 18 inches, decorative only, length limited to 20% of lot width, 40% open design, design review board approval. Corner lots: 4.5 ft abutting a street on the side (permit required). On corner lots the front yard is generally the narrowest street-facing side..
How close to the property line can I put a fence in the City of Wauwatosa?
18 inches from the property line for front-yard and alley-abutting fences. Owners are responsible for placing fences on their own property.
Which side of the fence has to face the neighbor in the City of Wauwatosa?
The finished or decorative side faces neighboring properties or public areas.
How do I apply for a fence permit in the City of Wauwatosa?
Check the City's height/location table to see whether your fence needs a permit. Gather a recent land survey showing the fence location, the fence height, and a sketch, photo or manufacturer sheet of the style. Apply and upload documents through the City's Self Service Portal; fees are paid online. Front-yard fence? It also needs design review board approval. 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 Wauwatosa (site plan, aerial photo and filled-in details) in a few minutes.
Who do I contact about a fence permit in the City of Wauwatosa?
Building & Safety Division. Phone (414) 479-8981.
Sources
Summarized from the City of Wauwatosa's own ordinances, forms and permit pages. Each link opens the original.
Work for the City of Wauwatosa? 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.