Monroe County, Wisconsin

Town of Tomah fence permit

Do you need a fence permit in the Town of Tomah? Not confirmed. Contact the Town of Tomah 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 Town of Tomah (site plan, aerial photo and filled-in details) in a few minutes. Start with your address.

Quick facts

Permit required: Not confirmed source
Corner lots: Vision clearance triangles at intersections: no object over 2½ ft above the roadbeds if it obstructs the view across the triangle (triangle distances 300/200/150/100 ft from the intersection by road class) source
Distance from lot line: No fence-specific setback found in the county zoning ordinance (Ch. 47). The ordinance sets highway setbacks for 'all structures' (42 ft from the right-of-way on Class A and B roads, 30 ft on Class C and D roads) and says accessory structures in R, B or C districts must be at least 10 ft from any lot line; whether these apply to fences is not stated. source
How to apply: Online portal, mail, in person source

Still being confirmed with Tomah: Does a residential fence in a county-zoned town need a Monroe County zoning permit, and do the 10 ft accessory-structure and highway setbacks apply to fences?

Plan your fence and build the applicationLook up your address, draw the fence on an aerial photo of your lot, and get a site plan and filled-in application.

How to file for a fence permit in the Town of Tomah

Steps based on co.monroe.wi.us — zoning

Call the Monroe County Zoning Department (608-269-8939) to ask whether your fence needs a county zoning permit and what setbacks apply.
If a permit is needed, apply online through the County's Catalis Public Portal (credit card), or fill out the printable Zoning Permit Application and mail or drop off the fee at 777 S Black River Street, Suite 2, Sparta.
Include a survey map, plat or sketch showing your lot lines and where the fence will go.
Ask your town clerk whether the town also requires a building permit.
Call Diggers Hotline (811) at least 3 business days before digging.

Paying: Online by credit card through the Catalis Public Portal, or mail/drop off payment with a printed application (fees per the County's 'Zoning Fees 2023' schedule)
Review time: Granted or denied in writing within 30 days
Permit good for: 12 months from issue unless work has started

Who to contact

Alison Elliott
Director, Monroe County Zoning Department

Phone: 608-269-8939
Email: [email protected]
Hours: 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Address: Monroe County Zoning Department, 777 S Black River Street, Suite 2, Sparta, WI 54656

Contact from co.monroe.wi.us — zoning

What to submit

Monroe County Zoning Permit application (online through the Catalis Public Portal, or printable)
Certified survey map, plat or sketch showing lot dimensions, structures and distances to property lines (required contents of a zoning permit application)

Town of Tomah online permit portal

Other rules to know

The Town of Tomah follows the Monroe County zoning ordinance, so fence permits come from the county zoning office, not the town.
Monroe County's general zoning ordinance (Ch. 47) has no fence section. It lists fences as an example of an 'accessory use or structure' and says no structure may be located without a zoning permit (Sec. 47-11), but Sec. 47-12(e) says a zoning permit is required for new stand-alone buildings exceeding 200 square feet and for additions (including decks and porches). Ask the Zoning Department whether a fence needs a permit.
The Town of Little Falls website says structures 100 square feet or larger need a county zoning permit, while the Town of Sparta website and the county code say 200 square feet; confirm the current threshold with the County.
The County asks owners to contact the Zoning Department before building if the property is near water (shoreland/floodplain permits apply in every town) or in one of the covered towns.
Property in the City of Sparta's extraterritorial zoning district (Town of Sparta) gets its zoning permit from the City of Sparta instead.
Several towns also require a town building permit through their building inspector for construction over $2,000 (Towns of Sparta and Little Falls: inspector Randy Sullivan, 608-269-5858; the Town of Leon's current site lists no building inspector, office 608-269-5873). The Town of Tomah lists building inspector Kent Erickson, General Engineering Company, 608-697-7774, for new houses and additions. Whether fences are covered is not stated.
Zoning permits are decided in writing within 30 days, must be posted on the premises during construction, and expire 12 months from issue unless work has started (Sec. 47-12; text as of 2020).

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 Town of Tomah, WI?

Not confirmed. Contact the Town of Tomah before you build; the rules below are what we found in the ordinance. Monroe County's general zoning ordinance (Ch. 47) has no fence section. It lists fences as an example of an 'accessory use or structure' and says no structure may be located without a zoning permit (Sec. 47-11), but Sec. 47-12(e) says a zoning permit is required for new stand-alone buildings exceeding 200 square feet and for additions (including decks and porches). Ask the Zoning Department whether a fence needs a permit.

How close to the property line can I put a fence in the Town of Tomah?

No fence-specific setback found in the county zoning ordinance (Ch. 47). The ordinance sets highway setbacks for 'all structures' (42 ft from the right-of-way on Class A and B roads, 30 ft on Class C and D roads) and says accessory structures in R, B or C districts must be at least 10 ft from any lot line; whether these apply to fences is not stated.

How do I apply for a fence permit in the Town of Tomah?

Call the Monroe County Zoning Department (608-269-8939) to ask whether your fence needs a county zoning permit and what setbacks apply. If a permit is needed, apply online through the County's Catalis Public Portal (credit card), or fill out the printable Zoning Permit Application and mail or drop off the fee at 777 S Black River Street, Suite 2, Sparta. Include a survey map, plat or sketch showing your lot lines and where the fence will go. Ask your town clerk whether the town also requires a building permit. 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 Town of Tomah (site plan, aerial photo and filled-in details) in a few minutes.

Who do I contact about a fence permit in the Town of Tomah?

Alison Elliott, Director, Monroe County Zoning Department. Phone 608-269-8939, email [email protected].

Sources

Summarized from the Town of Tomah's own ordinances, forms and permit pages. Each link opens the original.

Ordinance: Monroe County Code Ch. 47 Zoning, Secs. 47-7, 47-11, 47-12, 47-738, 47-767, 47-769

Work for the Town of Tomah? 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.