City of Beloit fence permit
Do you need a fence permit in the City of Beloit? Yes. The City of Beloit 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 Beloit (site plan, aerial photo and filled-in details) in a few minutes. Start with your address.
Quick facts
- Permit required
- Yes source
- Fee
- $25 fence permit (plus a $50 permit application filing fee listed directly below it; fee doubles if work starts before approval) source
- Side and rear yards
- 8 ft in the rear setback source
- Front (street) yard
- 4 ft in the front or street-side setback (residential) source
- Corner lots
- Street-side setback 4 ft; front and street-side fences must meet the Section 8-400 vision triangle (no obstructions 30 in.-10 ft above curb grade) source
- Distance from lot line
- At least 18 inches from a public sidewalk. No part may extend over a property line, right-of-way or public land without a recorded easement. source
- Good side faces
- Finished side faces the adjacent property or public right-of-way; posts on the inside unless the fence looks the same on both sides. source
- Not allowed
- Aboveground electric fences, razor wire, barbed wire on residential property, wire or chain-link with exposed cut ends at the top, used/discarded materials, materials not made for fencing (railroad ties, utility poles), agricultural wire (chicken wire, deer fence, hog wire, high-tensile), and snow fence (except temporary). Chain-link not allowed in front/street-side yards unless it has manufacturer-applied decorative coloring; front/street-side fences must be at least 50% open. source
- How to apply
- In person source
Still being confirmed with Beloit: What is the Planning and Building Services phone number, and can fence applications be filed online or by email?
How to file for a fence permit in the City of Beloit
Steps based on zoneomics.com — Municipal code: chapter 8
- Prepare a site plan or survey showing property lines, buildings and where the fence will go, with setbacks.
- Renting? Get the owner's written consent.
- Apply to the Division of Planning and Building Services at City Hall, 100 State Street, Beloit, and pay the fence permit fee. Don't start before approval (fee doubles).
- Build with the finished side facing out, and finish within one year.
- Call Diggers Hotline (811) at least 3 business days before digging.
- Paying
- $25 fence permit; $50 application filing fee listed with it
- Permit good for
- Fence must be completed within one year of permit issuance
What to submit
- Fence permit application
- Site plan or survey showing property lines, buildings, and the proposed fence location and setbacks
- Owner's written consent if the property is rented or leased
Other rules to know
- No permit for painting, maintenance or repair of an existing fence, decorative fences up to 2 ft, underground electric fences, or temporary fences (generally up to 45 days).
- Dog enclosures need a permit (max 250 sq ft and 6 ft high, behind and beside the house).
- Historic districts and landmarks also need a Certificate of Appropriateness.
- Fence must be completed within one year of permit issuance.
- Height is measured from finished grade on the exterior side; fill added only to raise fence height is prohibited.
- A compliant fence built without a permit can stay only if a permit is obtained at triple the regular fee.
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 Beloit, WI?
Yes. The City of Beloit requires a permit before you build a fence. No permit for painting, maintenance or repair of an existing fence, decorative fences up to 2 ft, underground electric fences, or temporary fences (generally up to 45 days).
How tall can a fence be in the City of Beloit?
Side and rear yards: 8 ft in the rear setback. Front (street) yard: 4 ft in the front or street-side setback (residential). Corner lots: Street-side setback 4 ft; front and street-side fences must meet the Section 8-400 vision triangle (no obstructions 30 in.-10 ft above curb grade).
How close to the property line can I put a fence in the City of Beloit?
At least 18 inches from a public sidewalk. No part may extend over a property line, right-of-way or public land without a recorded easement.
Which side of the fence has to face the neighbor in the City of Beloit?
Finished side faces the adjacent property or public right-of-way; posts on the inside unless the fence looks the same on both sides.
How much is a fence permit in the City of Beloit?
$25 fence permit (plus a $50 permit application filing fee listed directly below it; fee doubles if work starts before approval).
How do I apply for a fence permit in the City of Beloit?
Prepare a site plan or survey showing property lines, buildings and where the fence will go, with setbacks. Renting? Get the owner's written consent. Apply to the Division of Planning and Building Services at City Hall, 100 State Street, Beloit, and pay the fence permit fee. Don't start before approval (fee doubles). Build with the finished side facing out, and finish within one year. 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 Beloit (site plan, aerial photo and filled-in details) in a few minutes.
Sources
Summarized from the City of Beloit's own ordinances, forms and permit pages. Each link opens the original.
Ordinance: Zoning Ordinance §8-300 Fences and Walls
Work for the City of Beloit? 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.