City of Appleton fence permit
Do you need a fence permit in the City of Appleton? Not confirmed. Contact the City of Appleton 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 Appleton (site plan, aerial photo and filled-in details) in a few minutes. Start with your address.
Quick facts
- Permit required
- Not confirmed
- Side and rear yards
- 6 ft (residential boundary fences) source
- Front (street) yard
- 3 ft for boundary fences/walls/hedges between the front setback line and the abutting lot lines source
- Corner lots
- 3 ft in the vision corner (triangle 25 ft from the intersection of right-of-way lines); 3 ft within 10 ft of the street line at driveways. Sound barrier fences along arterial/collector streets: up to 6 ft on corner lots (outside the vision corner), 8 ft on double frontage lots source
- Distance from lot line
- At least 5 ft from the right-of-way line of an improved public alley. source
- Good side faces
- Finished side faces the neighboring property; posts/studs face the owner's lot. source
- Not allowed
- Barbed wire, electric fences and single, double or triple strand fences (except AG, M-1 and M-2 districts). Galvanized chain link is not allowed in front yards (front yard fences must be wood, brick, vinyl, wrought iron or stone). source
- How to apply
- Online portal, in person source
Still being confirmed with Appleton: Does every residential fence in Appleton need a permit, and what is the fence permit fee?
How to file for a fence permit in the City of Appleton
Steps based on appletonwi.gov — index
- Make sure your address is actually inside Appleton city limits (some neighboring towns use an Appleton mailing address).
- Call Building Inspections ((920) 832-6411) if you're unsure whether your fence needs a permit, and check the City fee schedule.
- Apply through the City's online fence permit portal, or in person at City Hall, 100 N. Appleton St. (inspectors are in the office 8:00-9:30 AM, Mon-Fri).
- Call Diggers Hotline (811) at least 3 business days before digging.
Who to contact
Kurt Craanen
Inspections Supervisor
- Phone
- (920) 832-6413
- Hours
- City Hall Mon-Fri 8:00 AM-4:30 PM; inspectors in office Mon-Fri 8:00-9:30 AM
- Address
- Building Inspections, City Hall, 100 N. Appleton St., Appleton, WI 54911
Contact from appletonwi.gov — index
Other rules to know
- Allowed materials outside AG districts: treated or naturally resistant wood, vinyl, coated chain link, wrought iron, brick, stone, masonry, or others the Community Development Director approves.
- Height is measured at grade; posts and caps may extend 4 inches above the fence height. Berms may not be used to raise the grade under a fence.
- Owners must maintain the fence and the ground on both sides of it.
- The City lists 'Fence' among its most requested permits and has an online fence permit portal, but the page does not state when a fence permit is required. Fees are in the City's Building/Miscellaneous Permit Fee Schedule PDFs, which could not be opened.
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 Appleton, WI?
Not confirmed. Contact the City of Appleton before you build; the rules below are what we found in the ordinance.
How tall can a fence be in the City of Appleton?
Side and rear yards: 6 ft (residential boundary fences). Front (street) yard: 3 ft for boundary fences/walls/hedges between the front setback line and the abutting lot lines. Corner lots: 3 ft in the vision corner (triangle 25 ft from the intersection of right-of-way lines); 3 ft within 10 ft of the street line at driveways. Sound barrier fences along arterial/collector streets: up to 6 ft on corner lots (outside the vision corner), 8 ft on double frontage lots.
How close to the property line can I put a fence in the City of Appleton?
At least 5 ft from the right-of-way line of an improved public alley.
Which side of the fence has to face the neighbor in the City of Appleton?
Finished side faces the neighboring property; posts/studs face the owner's lot.
How do I apply for a fence permit in the City of Appleton?
Make sure your address is actually inside Appleton city limits (some neighboring towns use an Appleton mailing address). Call Building Inspections ((920) 832-6411) if you're unsure whether your fence needs a permit, and check the City fee schedule. Apply through the City's online fence permit portal, or in person at City Hall, 100 N. Appleton St. (inspectors are in the office 8:00-9:30 AM, Mon-Fri). 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 Appleton (site plan, aerial photo and filled-in details) in a few minutes.
Who do I contact about a fence permit in the City of Appleton?
Kurt Craanen, Inspections Supervisor. Phone (920) 832-6413.
Sources
Summarized from the City of Appleton's own ordinances, forms and permit pages. Each link opens the original.
Ordinance: Zoning Code (Ch. 23) § 23-44 Fences and walls; vision corners § 23-50(g)
Work for the City of Appleton? 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.