City of Burlington fence permit
Do you need a fence permit in the City of Burlington? Yes. The City of Burlington 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 Burlington (site plan, aerial photo and filled-in details) in a few minutes. Start with your address.
Quick facts
- Permit required
- Yes source
- Fee
- $65 (1 and 2 family) source
- Side and rear yards
- 6 ft source
- Front (street) yard
- 4 ft if at least 80% open space; 3 ft if less than 80% open space; decorative fences up to 3 ft in a street yard source
- Corner lots
- Each street yard follows the front-yard rules; no fence in the vision clearance triangle (§ 315-46) source
- Distance from lot line
- Fences may be placed on or near property lines; in a front yard at least 3 ft from the street right-of-way. source
- Good side faces
- The finished or decorative side must face the adjoining property. source
- Not allowed
- Electrified fences, fences designed to shock, and fences with barbed wire or other harmful components (barbed wire allowed only in industrial districts at 10 ft+); fences of unsightly or dangerous materials. source
- How to apply
- In person source
Still being confirmed with Burlington: Can the fence permit application be emailed to the building inspector, and is there a downloadable form?
How to file for a fence permit in the City of Burlington
Steps based on zoneomics.com — Municipal code: chapter 5
- Get a fence permit application from the Building Inspector at City Hall, 300 N Pine Street (262-342-1161).
- Attach site drawings or a survey showing the fence location, plus its materials, height and design.
- In a historic district, get a certificate of appropriateness from the Historic Preservation Commission first.
- Pay the $65 fee and wait for approval; starting work without a permit doubles the fee.
- Call Diggers Hotline (811) at least 3 business days before digging.
- Paying
- $65 (1 and 2 family), fee set by the Common Council
- Review time
- Building Inspector approves fence materials; a denial can be appealed to the Zoning Board of Appeals
- Inspections
- Re-inspection fee $75
Who to contact
Jim Deluca
Building Inspection Services
- Phone
- 262-210-1741
- [email protected]
- Hours
- City Hall M-F 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
- Address
- Building Inspection, Burlington City Hall, 300 N Pine Street, Burlington, WI 53105
Contact from burlington-wi.gov — directory
What to submit
- Fence permit application to the Building Inspector
- Site drawings or a survey showing the fence location
- Fence materials, height and design
Other rules to know
- Historic districts: a fence needs an approved certificate of appropriateness from the Historic Preservation Commission.
- Height is measured from the ground to the top of the fence section, averaged between posts; the Building Inspector may require Plan Commission approval if posts/caps exceed the limit by more than 6 inches.
- Underground 'invisible' pet fences need no permit but must be at least 3 ft from all property lines. Temporary fences protecting plantings or construction hazards need no permit (generally up to 45 days).
- Altering more than 50% of an existing nonconforming fence requires bringing the whole fence into compliance.
- Fee schedule: "Work Started without permits Double Fee"; re-inspection fee $75.
- The city straddles Racine and Walworth counties; these rules apply citywide.
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 Burlington, WI?
Yes. The City of Burlington requires a permit before you build a fence. Underground 'invisible' pet fences need no permit but must be at least 3 ft from all property lines. Temporary fences protecting plantings or construction hazards need no permit (generally up to 45 days).
How tall can a fence be in the City of Burlington?
Side and rear yards: 6 ft. Front (street) yard: 4 ft if at least 80% open space; 3 ft if less than 80% open space; decorative fences up to 3 ft in a street yard. Corner lots: Each street yard follows the front-yard rules; no fence in the vision clearance triangle (§ 315-46).
How close to the property line can I put a fence in the City of Burlington?
Fences may be placed on or near property lines; in a front yard at least 3 ft from the street right-of-way.
Which side of the fence has to face the neighbor in the City of Burlington?
The finished or decorative side must face the adjoining property.
How much is a fence permit in the City of Burlington?
$65 (1 and 2 family).
How do I apply for a fence permit in the City of Burlington?
Get a fence permit application from the Building Inspector at City Hall, 300 N Pine Street (262-342-1161). Attach site drawings or a survey showing the fence location, plus its materials, height and design. In a historic district, get a certificate of appropriateness from the Historic Preservation Commission first. Pay the $65 fee and wait for approval; starting work without a permit doubles the fee. 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 Burlington (site plan, aerial photo and filled-in details) in a few minutes.
Who do I contact about a fence permit in the City of Burlington?
Jim Deluca, Building Inspection Services. Phone 262-210-1741, email [email protected].
Sources
Summarized from the City of Burlington's own ordinances, forms and permit pages. Each link opens the original.
Ordinance: Zoning Code Ch. 315, § 315-51 Fences
Work for the City of Burlington? 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.