Village of Amherst fence permit
Do you need a fence permit in the Village of Amherst? Yes. The Village of Amherst 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 Village of Amherst (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
- 10 ft source
- Front (street) yard
- 2 ft along front lot lines in residential and commercial districts (split-rail or other decorative fencing may be taller with Plan Commission approval) source
- Corner lots
- No fencing over 2 ft above curb grade in the clear vision triangle (measured back 30 ft along each intersecting line) source
- Distance from lot line
- At least 2 ft from the street right-of-way. Fences along side and rear lot lines may be on the property line. source
- Good side faces
- When decorative fencing is used, the decorative side must face the adjacent property. source
- How to apply
- In person source
Still being confirmed with Amherst: Who is the Village Zoning Administrator and what is the fence zoning permit fee?
How to file for a fence permit in the Village of Amherst
Steps based on villageofamherst.wi.gov — Chapter 9 Zoning
- Call the Village office (715-824-5613) to reach the Zoning Administrator and get a Zoning Permit application.
- Prepare two copies of a scaled sketch showing your lot and the fence location.
- Stake out the fence line on the ground before the permit is issued.
- The Zoning Administrator acts within 10 days (minimum 3-business-day review). Start work within one year.
- Call Diggers Hotline (811) at least 3 business days before digging.
- Paying
- Fee set by Village Board (amount not posted); double fees if work starts before the permit is issued
- Review time
- Zoning Administrator acts within 10 days of receiving the application; minimum review period of 3 business days
- Permit good for
- Lapses if work is not begun within one year; a 6-month extension applies if exterior work is not finished
Who to contact
Jodi Patoka
Village Clerk/Treasurer (for the Zoning Administrator)
- Phone
- 715-824-5613
- [email protected]
- Hours
- Mon-Thu 7:30 AM-12:00 PM and 12:30-3:30 PM; Fri 7:30 AM-12:00 PM and 12:30-1:30 PM
- Address
- Village of Amherst, 160 Mill Street (PO Box 36), Amherst, WI 54406
Contact from co.portage.wi.gov — Portage County Official Directory
What to submit
- Zoning Permit application
- Location sketches in duplicate, drawn to scale, showing the lot's location, shape and dimensions and what is proposed
Other rules to know
- Zoning Code §9.02C lists "Fence" among the items requiring a Zoning Permit from the Zoning Administrator.
- The lot and proposed work must be staked out on the ground before the Zoning Permit is issued.
- Double fees apply if work starts before a permit is applied for and issued.
- The Village website does not name the Zoning Administrator or post a permit application; contact the Village office.
- Portage County Official Directory (updated 11-4-2026): Clerk/Treasurer Jodi Patoka, 715-824-5613, [email protected]; Building Inspector Mike Bembenek, 715-570-8378, [email protected].
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 Village of Amherst, WI?
Yes. The Village of Amherst requires a permit before you build a fence.
How tall can a fence be in the Village of Amherst?
Side and rear yards: 10 ft. Front (street) yard: 2 ft along front lot lines in residential and commercial districts (split-rail or other decorative fencing may be taller with Plan Commission approval). Corner lots: No fencing over 2 ft above curb grade in the clear vision triangle (measured back 30 ft along each intersecting line).
How close to the property line can I put a fence in the Village of Amherst?
At least 2 ft from the street right-of-way. Fences along side and rear lot lines may be on the property line.
Which side of the fence has to face the neighbor in the Village of Amherst?
When decorative fencing is used, the decorative side must face the adjacent property.
How do I apply for a fence permit in the Village of Amherst?
Call the Village office (715-824-5613) to reach the Zoning Administrator and get a Zoning Permit application. Prepare two copies of a scaled sketch showing your lot and the fence location. Stake out the fence line on the ground before the permit is issued. The Zoning Administrator acts within 10 days (minimum 3-business-day review). Start work within one year. 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 Village of Amherst (site plan, aerial photo and filled-in details) in a few minutes.
Who do I contact about a fence permit in the Village of Amherst?
Jodi Patoka, Village Clerk/Treasurer (for the Zoning Administrator). Phone 715-824-5613, email [email protected].
Sources
Summarized from the Village of Amherst's own ordinances, forms and permit pages. Each link opens the original.
Ordinance: Zoning Code §9.02C (Zoning Permit) and §9.10A(E) Fences
Work for the Village of Amherst? 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.