Village of Rochester fence rules
Do you need a fence permit in the Village of Rochester? No. The Village of Rochester 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 Village of Rochester's rules before you build. Start with your address.
Quick facts
- Permit required
- No (typical residential fence) source
- Side and rear yards
- Six feet in side and rear yards source
- Front (street) yard
- Four feet in street yards source
- Distance from lot line
- Allowed on the property lines of residential properties but cannot cross into an adjacent property; must be set back a minimum of 1 foot from any public right of way. source
- Not allowed
- No residential fence may be in a driveway, drainage, utility, or preservation easement. Non-residential security fences are not allowed in residential districts. source
- How to apply
- Call (262) 534-1183 source
How to build within the rules in the Village of Rochester
Steps based on storage.googleapis.com — Rochester Fencing Brochure rev 2024
- No permit is needed for a residential fence that meets the rules: 4 ft max in street yards, 6 ft max in side and rear yards, at least 1 ft from any public right-of-way, entirely on your own property.
- Check your survey, subdivision plat or title documents for driveway, drainage, utility or preservation easements; no residential fence may go in one.
- In the Historic Preservation District, apply to the Village Clerk for a Certificate of Appropriateness first.
- Questions: Zoning Administration (262) 534-1183.
- Call Diggers Hotline (811) at least 3 business days before digging.
Who to contact
- Phone
- (262) 534-1183
- Hours
- Village Offices Mon-Fri 8:30 am-4:00 pm
- Address
- Village of Rochester, 300 W. Spring Street, PO Box 65, Rochester, WI 53167
Contact from storage.googleapis.com — Rochester Fencing Brochure rev 2024
Other rules to know
- Residential fences and walls are "allowed without a permit on residential properties" if they meet the ordinance requirements.
- Historic Preservation District: you must apply for a Certificate of Appropriateness from the Historic Preservation Committee (through the Village Clerk).
- Retaining walls and non-residential security fences require a zoning permit (security fences max 10 ft; retaining walls max 3 ft per wall).
- To find easements, the Village suggests working with a surveyor, reviewing your subdivision plat, and/or reviewing your title insurance documents.
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 Rochester, WI?
No. The Village of Rochester does not require a permit for a typical residential fence, but height and placement rules still apply.
How tall can a fence be in the Village of Rochester?
Side and rear yards: Six feet in side and rear yards. Front (street) yard: Four feet in street yards.
How close to the property line can I put a fence in the Village of Rochester?
Allowed on the property lines of residential properties but cannot cross into an adjacent property; must be set back a minimum of 1 foot from any public right of way.
Who do I contact about a fence permit in the Village of Rochester?
Zoning Administration. Phone (262) 534-1183.
Sources
Summarized from the Village of Rochester's own ordinances, forms and permit pages. Each link opens the original.
Ordinance: Village of Rochester Code Ch. 35, § 35-180B (residential fences and walls)
Work for the Village of Rochester? 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.