City of Evansville fence permit
Do you need a fence permit in the City of Evansville? Yes. The City of Evansville 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 Evansville (site plan, aerial photo and filled-in details) in a few minutes. Start with your address.
Quick facts
- Permit required
- Yes source
- Fee
- $50 (permit fee printed on the 2024 Building Permit Application) source
- Side and rear yards
- 6 ft max source
- Front (street) yard
- 3 ft max in front/street side yard, 50% opacity required source
- Corner lots
- 3 ft max in the street side yard source
- Distance from lot line
- Fence must be on the owner's side of the property line; not closer than 2 ft to the front lot line or a boundary adjoining a pedestrian walkway; not in a drainage easement (structures prohibited within easements). source
- Good side faces
- Nondecorative posts and supports must be oriented inward to the lot on which the fence is located. source
- Not allowed
- Electrically-charged fencing (except agricultural districts to retain animals) and barbed wire (except agricultural districts and, under conditions, above a 6-ft chain-link fence in industrial districts). source
- How to apply
- Email source
How to file for a fence permit in the City of Evansville
Steps based on evansvillewi.gov — building permits
- Fill out the Building Permit - Minor Alterations form.
- Draw a plot plan showing lot lines, streets, sidewalks, easements, buildings and the fence location with setbacks.
- In the Historic Overlay District? Get a Certificate of Appropriateness first.
- Email the application to [email protected] (or fax 608-882-2282). Checks are payable to the City of Evansville. Allow 3-7 business days.
- Call Diggers Hotline (811) at least 3 business days before digging.
- Paying
- Check payable to the City of Evansville; fee calculated from the City fee schedule
- Review time
- Allow 3 to 7 business days
- Inspections
- Fences are not on the list of work requiring a GEC inspection
Who to contact
Colette Spranger
Community Development Director
- Phone
- 608-882-2263
- [email protected]
- Hours
- City Hall Mon-Fri 7:30 a.m.-4:00 p.m.
- Address
- Evansville City Hall, 31 S Madison St., P.O. Box 529, Evansville, WI 53536
Contact from evansvillewi.gov — planning zoning and inspections
What to submit
- Building Permit (Minor Alterations) application
- Plot plan showing lot lines, streets, sidewalks and easements, buildings, the proposed fence, its dimensions and setback distances (Rock County Land Records property lines can be used as the base)
Other rules to know
- Fences are treated as minor alterations processed by City Hall staff (no GEC inspection).
- Properties in the Historic Overlay District need a Certificate of Appropriateness from the Historic Preservation Commission before the permit is issued.
- Fence height limits come from Exhibit 2 of Sec. 130-540.
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 Evansville, WI?
Yes. The City of Evansville requires a permit before you build a fence.
How tall can a fence be in the City of Evansville?
Side and rear yards: 6 ft max. Front (street) yard: 3 ft max in front/street side yard, 50% opacity required. Corner lots: 3 ft max in the street side yard.
How close to the property line can I put a fence in the City of Evansville?
Fence must be on the owner's side of the property line; not closer than 2 ft to the front lot line or a boundary adjoining a pedestrian walkway; not in a drainage easement (structures prohibited within easements).
Which side of the fence has to face the neighbor in the City of Evansville?
Nondecorative posts and supports must be oriented inward to the lot on which the fence is located.
How much is a fence permit in the City of Evansville?
$50 (permit fee printed on the 2024 Building Permit Application).
How do I apply for a fence permit in the City of Evansville?
Fill out the Building Permit - Minor Alterations form. Draw a plot plan showing lot lines, streets, sidewalks, easements, buildings and the fence location with setbacks. In the Historic Overlay District? Get a Certificate of Appropriateness first. Email the application to [email protected] (or fax 608-882-2282). Checks are payable to the City of Evansville. Allow 3-7 business days. 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 Evansville (site plan, aerial photo and filled-in details) in a few minutes.
Who do I contact about a fence permit in the City of Evansville?
Colette Spranger, Community Development Director. Phone 608-882-2263, email [email protected].
Sources
Summarized from the City of Evansville's own ordinances, forms and permit pages. Each link opens the original.
Ordinance: Zoning Code Sec. 130-540 Fences
Work for the City of Evansville? 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.