City of Racine fence permit
Do you need a fence permit in the City of Racine? Yes. The City of Racine 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 Racine (site plan, aerial photo and filled-in details) in a few minutes. Start with your address.
Quick facts
- Permit required
- Yes source
- Fee
- $100 per site source
- Side and rear yards
- 6 ft along a lot line source
- Front (street) yard
- 48 inches in a front yard, if the fence has 25 percent opacity or less source
- Corner lots
- 48 inches in a corner side yard, and not to extend past the front of the house; fences in the vision clearance triangle need Zoning Administrator approval source
- Distance from lot line
- Fences may be placed along a lot line (Sec. 114-756); no other lot-line setback is stated. source
- Good side faces
- The finished side (without the visible supporting members) must face away from the fenced property. source
- Not allowed
- Barbed wire fences in any residence district; fences of scrap or salvaged materials (lumber remnants, old doors, broken concrete, wire pieces, old pipe, etc.). Fences must be built of new or like-new materials. source
- How to apply
- Mail, in person source
How to file for a fence permit in the City of Racine
Steps based on media.cityofracinewi.gov — Fence Permit Application 1
- Download the City of Racine Fence Permit Application from the Building Inspection page.
- Draw a site plan showing where the fence goes on your lot, with dimensions (the city's Fence Plan Example shows what's expected).
- Mark the yards (front, side, rear), height, gate and material on the form; any gate must swing into your property.
- Bring or mail the application, site plan and $100 fee to the Building Division, 730 Washington Ave, Rm. 103, Racine, WI 53403 (262-636-9171). Don't start before the permit is issued (double fee).
- Call Diggers Hotline (811) at least 3 business days before digging.
- Paying
- $100 per site, with the application
- Inspections
- Re-inspections cost $100 each
- Permit good for
- 18 months from date of issuance (Sec. 18-93)
Who to contact
- Phone
- (262) 636-9171
- Address
- City of Racine Building Division, 730 Washington Ave, Rm. 103, Racine, WI 53403
Contact from media.cityofracinewi.gov — Fence Permit Application 1
What to submit
- Completed Fence Permit Application
- Site plan of the proposed fence location on the lot, with dimensions
- Permit payment
Other rules to know
- Any gate must open into your property (fence permit application).
- Starting without a permit: double permit fee. Re-inspections are $100 each.
- The city posts sample fence site-plan and construction-plan examples on its Building Inspection page.
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 Racine, WI?
Yes. The City of Racine requires a permit before you build a fence.
How tall can a fence be in the City of Racine?
Side and rear yards: 6 ft along a lot line. Front (street) yard: 48 inches in a front yard, if the fence has 25 percent opacity or less. Corner lots: 48 inches in a corner side yard, and not to extend past the front of the house; fences in the vision clearance triangle need Zoning Administrator approval.
How close to the property line can I put a fence in the City of Racine?
Fences may be placed along a lot line (Sec. 114-756); no other lot-line setback is stated.
Which side of the fence has to face the neighbor in the City of Racine?
The finished side (without the visible supporting members) must face away from the fenced property.
How much is a fence permit in the City of Racine?
$100 per site.
How do I apply for a fence permit in the City of Racine?
Download the City of Racine Fence Permit Application from the Building Inspection page. Draw a site plan showing where the fence goes on your lot, with dimensions (the city's Fence Plan Example shows what's expected). Mark the yards (front, side, rear), height, gate and material on the form; any gate must swing into your property. Bring or mail the application, site plan and $100 fee to the Building Division, 730 Washington Ave, Rm. 103, Racine, WI 53403 (262-636-9171). Don't start before the permit is issued (double 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 Racine (site plan, aerial photo and filled-in details) in a few minutes.
Who do I contact about a fence permit in the City of Racine?
Building Division. Phone (262) 636-9171.
Sources
Summarized from the City of Racine's own ordinances, forms and permit pages. Each link opens the original.
Ordinance: Zoning Code Ch. 114, Art. VII, Div. 7 Fences and Walls, Secs. 114-756 to 114-761
Work for the City of Racine? 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.