City of Janesville fence permit
Do you need a fence permit in the City of Janesville? Yes. The City of Janesville 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 Janesville (site plan, aerial photo and filled-in details) in a few minutes. Start with your address.
Quick facts
- Permit required
- Yes source
- Side and rear yards
- 6 ft (privacy or semi-transparent) source
- Front (street) yard
- 4 ft in the front yard; front-yard privacy fences no taller than 30 inches source
- Corner lots
- Street side yard: semi-transparent max 6 ft, privacy max 30 inches (except R2); vision triangle rules apply near intersections and driveways source
- Distance from lot line
- No setback from property lines is required, but all parts of the fence, including footings, must be on your property. Not allowed in the city terrace or public right-of-way. source
- Good side faces
- Posts must face into the yard where the fence is installed (finished side faces the neighbor). source
- Not allowed
- Opaque metals, snow fence, wire fence of 13 gauge or less thickness, pallets, tree trunks, railroad ties, wood doors, utility poles, and barbed, electric, razor wire or agricultural fencing. source
- How to apply
- Mail, in person source
How to file for a fence permit in the City of Janesville
Steps based on janesvillewi.gov — 638750400168930000
- Fill out the City's Residential Building Permit Application (fence section: material, height, lot type).
- Draw a site plan showing property lines, adjoining streets, existing structures and where the fence will go.
- Bring or mail it to the Building Division, 18 N. Jackson St., 3rd floor, Janesville (608-755-3060) and pay the permit fee.
- Call Diggers Hotline (811) at least 3 business days before digging.
- Paying
- Permit fee due with the application (amount not published in the fence brochure)
Who to contact
- Phone
- 608-755-3060
- Hours
- Mon-Thu 8:00 a.m.-4:30 p.m.; Fri 8:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.
- Address
- Building Division, Department of Public Works, 18 N. Jackson St., 3rd floor (P.O. Box 5005), Janesville, WI 53547-5005
Contact from janesvillewi.gov — 638750400168930000
What to submit
- Residential Building Permit Application (fence section asks for material, height and lot type)
- Site plan showing property lines, adjoining streets, existing structures and the proposed fence location (aerials available from the City's GIS 'Public Site')
Other rules to know
- A permit is required to install, repair or replace any fence longer than 16 feet.
- No permit for decorative fences 2 ft or less in height, underground pet fences, temporary public-safety fences or chicken runs.
- Courthouse Hill Historic District fences also need Planning Division approval (608-755-3085).
- Pool fences follow a separate brochure, 'Residential Swimming Pools, Hot Tubs/Spas'.
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 Janesville, WI?
Yes. The City of Janesville requires a permit before you build a fence. No permit for decorative fences 2 ft or less in height, underground pet fences, temporary public-safety fences or chicken runs.
How tall can a fence be in the City of Janesville?
Side and rear yards: 6 ft (privacy or semi-transparent). Front (street) yard: 4 ft in the front yard; front-yard privacy fences no taller than 30 inches. Corner lots: Street side yard: semi-transparent max 6 ft, privacy max 30 inches (except R2); vision triangle rules apply near intersections and driveways.
How close to the property line can I put a fence in the City of Janesville?
No setback from property lines is required, but all parts of the fence, including footings, must be on your property. Not allowed in the city terrace or public right-of-way.
Which side of the fence has to face the neighbor in the City of Janesville?
Posts must face into the yard where the fence is installed (finished side faces the neighbor).
How do I apply for a fence permit in the City of Janesville?
Fill out the City's Residential Building Permit Application (fence section: material, height, lot type). Draw a site plan showing property lines, adjoining streets, existing structures and where the fence will go. Bring or mail it to the Building Division, 18 N. Jackson St., 3rd floor, Janesville (608-755-3060) and pay the permit fee. 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 Janesville (site plan, aerial photo and filled-in details) in a few minutes.
Who do I contact about a fence permit in the City of Janesville?
Building Division. Phone 608-755-3060.
Sources
Summarized from the City of Janesville's own ordinances, forms and permit pages. Each link opens the original.
Work for the City of Janesville? 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.