City of Richland Center fence permit
Do you need a fence permit in the City of Richland Center? Yes. The City of Richland Center 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 Richland Center (site plan, aerial photo and filled-in details) in a few minutes. Start with your address.
Quick facts
- Permit required
- Yes source
- Fee
- $35 source
- Side and rear yards
- Up to 6 ft (corner lot: up to 6 ft if more than 20 ft from the right-of-way, up to 30 inches within 20 ft) source
- Front (street) yard
- Front yard: fences over 30 inches require a conditional use permit source
- Corner lots
- Corner-lot side yard: up to 6 ft if more than 20 ft from the right-of-way; within 20 ft up to 30 inches, or up to 48 inches with a conditional use permit. No fences in the traffic visibility triangle (33 ft along the curb lines from the intersection). source
- Distance from lot line
- No separate lot-line setback stated; height limits change at 20 ft from the public street right-of-way. No fences within the traffic visibility triangle (33 ft along the curb lines of two intersecting streets, or along the paved roadway edges if there is no curb). source
- Not allowed
- Barbed wire is prohibited in the City unless the fence borders a legally operating farm for agricultural purposes (and must be removed if the farm stops operating). In C-G, IND or IP districts barbed wire may top a chain link or solid fence with a conditional use permit, at least 6 ft above ground. source
- How to apply
- Email, mail, in person source
How to file for a fence permit in the City of Richland Center
Steps based on richlandcenterwi.gov — 2699
- Read the City's Fence Permit Guidelines for height and placement rules.
- Fill out the Zoning Permit Application, checking 'Fence', and attach a site plan showing the fence's dimensions and setbacks.
- Email it to [email protected], mail it, or drop it off at the City Clerk's Office, 450 S Main Street, Richland Center (Mon-Fri 8:00 AM-4:30 PM).
- Pay the $35 fee online through allpaid (processing fee added; put the permit type in the description) or deliver/mail payment to 450 S Main Street.
- Do not start work until the zoning permit is issued.
- Call Diggers Hotline (811) at least 3 business days before digging.
- Paying
- $35; online via allpaid (processing fee) or in person/by mail at 450 S Main Street. Double fees if work starts without a permit.
- Inspections
- No building inspection for fences
Who to contact
Matt Williams
Zoning Administrator
- Phone
- 608-647-3466
- [email protected]
- Hours
- Mon-Fri 8:00 AM-4:30 PM
- Address
- City of Richland Center, Zoning Office, 450 S Main Street, Richland Center, WI 53581
Contact from pdfs.co.richland.wi.us — officialDirectory
What to submit
- Zoning Permit Application (check 'Fence' as the project classification)
- Site plan showing dimensions, setbacks and distances from existing structures
Other rules to know
- Industrial (IND) district: fences up to 8 ft if more than 20 ft from the right-of-way.
- Work started without required permits is subject to double fees.
- The City's permit table says fences need a zoning permit but no building inspection.
- The County's 2026 Official Directory (rev. 03/03/2026) lists Matt Williams as Zoning Administrator; the City has also posted a Zoning Administrator job opening, so the contact may change.
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 Richland Center, WI?
Yes. The City of Richland Center requires a permit before you build a fence.
How tall can a fence be in the City of Richland Center?
Side and rear yards: Up to 6 ft (corner lot: up to 6 ft if more than 20 ft from the right-of-way, up to 30 inches within 20 ft). Front (street) yard: Front yard: fences over 30 inches require a conditional use permit. Corner lots: Corner-lot side yard: up to 6 ft if more than 20 ft from the right-of-way; within 20 ft up to 30 inches, or up to 48 inches with a conditional use permit. No fences in the traffic visibility triangle (33 ft along the curb lines from the intersection)..
How close to the property line can I put a fence in the City of Richland Center?
No separate lot-line setback stated; height limits change at 20 ft from the public street right-of-way. No fences within the traffic visibility triangle (33 ft along the curb lines of two intersecting streets, or along the paved roadway edges if there is no curb).
How much is a fence permit in the City of Richland Center?
$35.
How do I apply for a fence permit in the City of Richland Center?
Read the City's Fence Permit Guidelines for height and placement rules. Fill out the Zoning Permit Application, checking 'Fence', and attach a site plan showing the fence's dimensions and setbacks. Email it to [email protected], mail it, or drop it off at the City Clerk's Office, 450 S Main Street, Richland Center (Mon-Fri 8:00 AM-4:30 PM). Pay the $35 fee online through allpaid (processing fee added; put the permit type in the description) or deliver/mail payment to 450 S Main Street. Do not start work until the zoning permit is issued. permit.guide can turn a fence drawn on an aerial photo of your lot into a complete permit application package for the City of Richland Center (site plan, aerial photo and filled-in details) in a few minutes.
Who do I contact about a fence permit in the City of Richland Center?
Matt Williams, Zoning Administrator. Phone 608-647-3466, email [email protected].
Sources
Summarized from the City of Richland Center's own ordinances, forms and permit pages. Each link opens the original.
Ordinance: City of Richland Center Ord. Chapter 400 Zoning
- pdfs.co.richland.wi.us — officialDirectory
- richlandcenterwi.gov — 4718
- richlandcenterwi.gov — fence permit guidelines
- richlandcenterwi.gov — 2696
- richlandcenterwi.gov — 2699
- richlandcenterwi.gov — 86
- richlandcenterwi.gov — 2697
- richlandcenterwi.gov — zoning permit application
- richlandcenterwi.gov — zoning administrator
Work for the City of Richland Center? 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.