City of Milton fence permit
Do you need a fence permit in the City of Milton? Yes. The City of Milton 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 Milton (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 in the rear yard source
- Front (street) yard
- 4 ft within the required or provided front yard or street yard (residential districts) source
- Corner lots
- Street yard on a corner lot follows the 4 ft front/street-yard limit; in vision triangles fencing must be no more than 30 percent opaque (2.5-10 ft above street grade) source
- Distance from lot line
- Fences may be located within or on any property line; must meet the visibility standards in §78-06.05. source
- Good side faces
- Visible supports and structural components face the subject property (finished side facing outward). source
- Not allowed
- Rope, string, wire products, netting, cut or broken glass, paper, metal panels, corrugated metal panels, galvanized sheet metal, plywood, pallets, fiberglass or plastic panels; permanent chicken wire or snow fences. Barbed wire only in HI, IOS, IOC, EX and AR districts. source
- How to apply
- Online portal, email, in person source
How to file for a fence permit in the City of Milton
Steps based on milton-wi.gov — Building Inspections Permits
- Check the City's Residential Fence Diagram and the fencing standards (Sec. 78-06.40) for height and placement.
- Submit your application through the GEC online permit portal, by email to Building Inspector Dave Geraths, or drop it off at City Hall, 710 S. Janesville St.
- Wait for zoning administrator review and approval before building.
- Call Diggers Hotline (811) at least 3 business days before digging.
- Review time
- Reviewed and approved by the zoning administrator
- Inspections
- Building inspections are scheduled Monday, Wednesday and Friday
Who to contact
Dave Geraths
Building Inspector (General Engineering)
- Phone
- 608-697-7776
- [email protected]
- Hours
- City Hall Mon-Thu 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m., Fri 8 a.m.-noon
- Address
- Milton City Hall, 710 S. Janesville Street, Milton, WI 53563
Contact from milton-wi.gov — Building Inspections Permits
What to submit
Other rules to know
- Fences are reviewed and approved by the zoning administrator (unless a conditional use permit is required). No permit for temporary fencing.
- Height is measured from the ground immediately under the fence to the top rail.
- Allowed materials include treated or naturally resistant wood, brick/masonry, natural stone, wrought iron, vinyl, galvanized/coated chain link.
- The City's Building Permits page links a Residential Fence Diagram (DocumentCenter/View/1998).
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 Milton, WI?
Yes. The City of Milton requires a permit before you build a fence. Fences are reviewed and approved by the zoning administrator (unless a conditional use permit is required). No permit for temporary fencing.
How tall can a fence be in the City of Milton?
Side and rear yards: 6 ft in the rear yard. Front (street) yard: 4 ft within the required or provided front yard or street yard (residential districts). Corner lots: Street yard on a corner lot follows the 4 ft front/street-yard limit; in vision triangles fencing must be no more than 30 percent opaque (2.5-10 ft above street grade).
How close to the property line can I put a fence in the City of Milton?
Fences may be located within or on any property line; must meet the visibility standards in §78-06.05.
Which side of the fence has to face the neighbor in the City of Milton?
Visible supports and structural components face the subject property (finished side facing outward).
How do I apply for a fence permit in the City of Milton?
Check the City's Residential Fence Diagram and the fencing standards (Sec. 78-06.40) for height and placement. Submit your application through the GEC online permit portal, by email to Building Inspector Dave Geraths, or drop it off at City Hall, 710 S. Janesville St. Wait for zoning administrator review and approval before building. 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 Milton (site plan, aerial photo and filled-in details) in a few minutes.
Who do I contact about a fence permit in the City of Milton?
Dave Geraths, Building Inspector (General Engineering). Phone 608-697-7776, email [email protected].
Sources
Summarized from the City of Milton's own ordinances, forms and permit pages. Each link opens the original.
Ordinance: Zoning Code Sec. 78-06.40 Fencing standards
Work for the City of Milton? 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.