Town of Norway fence rules
Do you need a fence permit in the Town of Norway? No. The Town of Norway does not require a permit for a typical residential fence, but height and placement rules still apply.
At permit.guide you can draw your fence on an aerial photo of your lot and check it against the Town of Norway's rules before you build. Start with your address.
Quick facts
- Permit required
- No (typical residential fence) source
- Corner lots
- No obstructions, such as structures, parking or vegetation, between 2½ ft and 10 ft above the mean curb grades within the triangle formed by intersecting street or alley right-of-way lines and a line joining points a minimum of 15 ft from their intersection (50 ft where arterial streets meet other arterials or railways) (Sec. 20-1086) source
- Distance from lot line
- Fences are exempt from setbacks "except where regulated by shoreland, floodplain or traffic visibility regulations" (Sec. 20-1115). In shoreland areas fences count as structures and none are permitted in the shore yard setback area (Sec. 20-1045(a)(1)); the county FAQ says the typical minimum shoreland setback is 75 ft from the ordinary high water mark. source
- Not allowed
- Security fences are not permitted in residential districts (elsewhere allowed on property lines up to 10 ft, open type similar to woven wire or wrought iron) (Sec. 20-1114). source
- How to apply
- Mail, in person source
Still being confirmed with Norway: Do the Towns of Burlington, Dover, Norway or Waterford require their own town building permit for a residential fence?
How to build within the rules in the Town of Norway
Steps based on racinecounty.gov — development services faq list
- For an ordinary residential fence in these towns, the county says no zoning permit is needed unless the fence is near a navigable body of water, in a shoreland-wetland or floodplain area, or could block traffic visibility on a corner lot.
- Keep the fence out of the corner vision triangle (nothing between 2½ ft and 10 ft high within 15 ft of where two street right-of-way lines meet).
- Near water or in a floodplain? Call Racine County Development Services at 262-886-8440 before building; no fence is allowed in the shore yard setback area.
- Check with your town building inspector for any local fence rules, as the county FAQ advises.
- Call Diggers Hotline (811) at least 3 business days before digging.
- Paying
- If a county zoning permit is needed: nonrefundable fee paid by cash, credit card, or check payable to Racine County; call for the current fee
Who to contact
- Phone
- 262-886-8440
- [email protected]
- Hours
- Mon-Fri 7 a.m.-12 p.m. and 12:30-4:30 p.m.
- Address
- Racine County Development Services, Ives Grove Office Complex, 14200 Washington Avenue, Sturtevant, WI 53177
Contact from racinecounty.gov — development services
Other rules to know
- The Town of Norway follows the Racine County zoning ordinance, so fence permits come from the county zoning office, not the town.
- Racine County Development Services FAQ: "Non-residential security fences require a permit." Residential fences are only controlled if they obstruct traffic visibility on corner lots, are near a navigable body of water, or are in a shoreland-wetland or floodplain area. The FAQ refers homeowners to the Municipal Building Inspector for local fence rules.
- If your fence is near a lake, river or stream, or in a floodplain, call Development Services (262-886-8440) first: a county zoning permit may be needed and shore yard area fences must be shown on the plot plan or survey.
- None of the towns' building-inspection pages found online names fences. Town of Burlington building inspector: Dave Fliess, cell (414) 882-0916 (Town office 262-763-3070). Town of Waterford Building Inspector: office 262-534-9236, cell 262-424-6957, [email protected] (office hours Monday and Wednesday 8am-10am); the Town says a permit is needed for all new construction, remodeling, siding, roofing, etc. Town of Dover and Town of Norway: no building-inspector page found. The Town of Burlington's ordinances are now on eCode360 (BU6988).
- The Village of Yorkville also uses the Racine County zoning code, administered by the county under contract (see the Village of Yorkville entry).
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 Norway, WI?
No. The Town of Norway does not require a permit for a typical residential fence, but height and placement rules still apply. None of the towns' building-inspection pages found online names fences. Town of Burlington building inspector: Dave Fliess, cell (414) 882-0916 (Town office 262-763-3070). Town of Waterford Building Inspector: office 262-534-9236, cell 262-424-6957, [email protected] (office hours Monday and Wednesday 8am-10am); the Town says a permit is needed for all new construction, remodeling, siding, roofing, etc. Town of Dover and Town of Norway: no building-inspector page found. The Town of Burlington's ordinances are now on eCode360 (BU6988).
How close to the property line can I put a fence in the Town of Norway?
Fences are exempt from setbacks "except where regulated by shoreland, floodplain or traffic visibility regulations" (Sec. 20-1115). In shoreland areas fences count as structures and none are permitted in the shore yard setback area (Sec. 20-1045(a)(1)); the county FAQ says the typical minimum shoreland setback is 75 ft from the ordinary high water mark.
Who do I contact about a fence permit in the Town of Norway?
Racine County Development Services. Phone 262-886-8440, email [email protected].
Sources
Summarized from the Town of Norway's own ordinances, forms and permit pages. Each link opens the original.
Work for the Town of Norway? 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.