City of Sparta fence permit
Do you need a fence permit in the City of Sparta? Yes. The City of Sparta 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 Sparta (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 (residential) source
- Front (street) yard
- 4 ft in front yards; 4 ft beyond the setback line in street side yards (residential) source
- Corner lots
- Vision triangle on corner lots (30 ft from the intersection): nothing that materially impedes vision between 2½ and 10 ft above street grade source
- Distance from lot line
- No numeric setback in the fence section; residential fences 6 ft or less may be located on interior lot lines within side and rear yards. source
- Good side faces
- Finished or decorative side must face the adjacent or abutting property or street. source
- Not allowed
- Rope, string, wire products, glass, metal and plastic panels and similar non-fence materials; barbed wire (except as allowed elsewhere in the code, e.g. atop business/industrial fences over 8 ft). source
- How to apply
- Call 608-269-4340 source
Still being confirmed with Sparta: What is the fence permit fee, and can the application be emailed to [email protected]?
How to file for a fence permit in the City of Sparta
Steps based on zoneomics.com — Municipal code: chapter 3
- Call City of Sparta Building and Zoning (608-269-4340) for the fence permit form and fee.
- Apply for a building permit before building (not needed for a decorative fence under 3 ft that is more than 75% open).
- Build with the finished side facing the neighbor or street.
- Call Diggers Hotline (811) at least 3 business days before digging.
Who to contact
Todd Fahning
City Administrator and Community Development Director
- Phone
- 608-269-4340
- [email protected]
- Hours
- Mon-Thu 7am-5pm; Fri 7am-11am
- Address
- Building and Zoning, 201 West Oak Street, Sparta, WI 54656
Contact from spartawisconsin.org — building and zoning
Other rules to know
- No permit is required for decorative fencing: fences (including gates) more than 75 percent open and less than 3 ft tall, such as an ornamental split rail fence. Chain link fences are not considered ornamental.
- Decorative caps on fences more than 75 percent open may extend 18 inches above the allowed height.
- Height is measured from grade to the top of each fence section.
- The City's Permits & Information page lists a 'Fence Permit and Fence Information' handout and a 'Permit Fee Schedule', but their contents could not be opened here.
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 Sparta, WI?
Yes. The City of Sparta requires a permit before you build a fence. No permit is required for decorative fencing: fences (including gates) more than 75 percent open and less than 3 ft tall, such as an ornamental split rail fence. Chain link fences are not considered ornamental.
How tall can a fence be in the City of Sparta?
Side and rear yards: 6 ft (residential). Front (street) yard: 4 ft in front yards; 4 ft beyond the setback line in street side yards (residential). Corner lots: Vision triangle on corner lots (30 ft from the intersection): nothing that materially impedes vision between 2½ and 10 ft above street grade.
How close to the property line can I put a fence in the City of Sparta?
No numeric setback in the fence section; residential fences 6 ft or less may be located on interior lot lines within side and rear yards.
Which side of the fence has to face the neighbor in the City of Sparta?
Finished or decorative side must face the adjacent or abutting property or street.
How do I apply for a fence permit in the City of Sparta?
Call City of Sparta Building and Zoning (608-269-4340) for the fence permit form and fee. Apply for a building permit before building (not needed for a decorative fence under 3 ft that is more than 75% open). Build with the finished side facing the neighbor or street. 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 Sparta (site plan, aerial photo and filled-in details) in a few minutes.
Who do I contact about a fence permit in the City of Sparta?
Todd Fahning, City Administrator and Community Development Director. Phone 608-269-4340, email [email protected].
Sources
Summarized from the City of Sparta's own ordinances, forms and permit pages. Each link opens the original.
Ordinance: Sparta Code Ch. 17 Zoning, Sec. 17-118 Fences; Sec. 17-119 Vision triangle
Work for the City of Sparta? 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.