Sauk County, Wisconsin

Town of Greenfield fence permit

Do you need a fence permit in the Town of Greenfield? Not confirmed. Contact the Town of Greenfield before you build; the rules below are what we found in the ordinance.

permit.guide can turn a fence drawn on an aerial photo of your lot into a complete permit application package for the Town of Greenfield (site plan, aerial photo and filled-in details) in a few minutes. Start with your address.

Quick facts

Permit required: Not confirmed source
Front (street) yard: 4 ft in a front yard or in a street side yard of a corner lot source
Corner lots: 2½ ft within a vision clearance triangle; solid fences/walls over 20% opacity in a vision clearance triangle shall not exceed 30 inches source
Distance from lot line: No fence-specific lot-line setback found in the ordinance. The ordinance states no structures are allowed in the road setbacks or road right-of-way (s. 7.098(6)); whether this applies to fences is not stated. source
How to apply: Mail, in person source

Still being confirmed with Greenfield: Does a residential fence 6 ft or under (or 50% open or less) need a Sauk County land use permit?

Plan your fence and build the applicationLook up your address, draw the fence on an aerial photo of your lot, and get a site plan and filled-in application.

How to file for a fence permit in the Town of Greenfield

Steps based on co.sauk.wi.us — 2024 lu permit app fillable

Call Sauk County Land Resources & Environment (608-355-3245) to confirm whether your fence needs a land use permit.
If it does, fill out the Sauk County Land Use Permit application and have the property owner sign it.
Attach a detailed plot plan showing the fence's dimensions and setbacks.
Deliver or mail it with the fee (check payable to Sauk County LRE) to 505 Broadway, Baraboo, WI 53913.
Post the permit card on site before you start.
Call Diggers Hotline (811) at least 3 business days before digging.

Paying: Check payable to Sauk County LRE; fees are nonrefundable and tripled if work starts before a permit is issued
Review time: The zoning administrator notifies the owner within 10 working days if an application is incomplete
Inspections: County staff may inspect; a surveyor's setback/location survey is required when work is within 10 ft of a setback line
Permit good for: 24 months (one 24-month extension possible on written request before expiration)

Who to contact

Phone: 608-355-3245
Address: Sauk County Land Resources & Environment, 505 Broadway, Baraboo, WI 53913

Contact from co.sauk.wi.us — summary of minimum provisions

What to submit

Sauk County Land Use Permit application, signed by the property owner (applications signed by an agent or contractor are returned)
Detailed plot plan showing dimensions and setbacks
Permit fee (checks payable to Sauk County LRE)

Official application form or packet

Other rules to know

The Town of Greenfield follows the Sauk County zoning ordinance, so fence permits come from the county zoning office, not the town.
The County's 'Do I need a permit?' handout says fences are considered structures that need permits, but the zoning ordinance's permit exemptions (s. 7.153(3)) say fences and walls more than 6 ft tall and greater than 50% opacity 'shall be considered a structure', which suggests lower or more open fences may not need a land use permit. Confirm with the Land Resources & Environment Department before building.
Fences and walls are not named on the permit fee sheet; the closest line is 'Decks - Stairways and other land uses/structures: $100.00'. Land use fees are tripled if you start before getting a permit; all application fees are nonrefundable.
A setback/location survey by a professional land surveyor is required if construction is within 10 ft of a setback line.
Shoreland areas: land use permits are required for structures in shoreland protection areas, including in towns without county zoning.
The permit card must be posted on site before starting construction.
Sauk County is working on a comprehensive rewrite of its zoning ordinance (towns held adoption hearings in fall 2026), so these rules may change.
Your town may also require its own building permit; the County says you must receive a Sauk County permit before receiving a building permit from your town.

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 Town of Greenfield, WI?

Not confirmed. Contact the Town of Greenfield before you build; the rules below are what we found in the ordinance. The County's 'Do I need a permit?' handout says fences are considered structures that need permits, but the zoning ordinance's permit exemptions (s. 7.153(3)) say fences and walls more than 6 ft tall and greater than 50% opacity 'shall be considered a structure', which suggests lower or more open fences may not need a land use permit. Confirm with the Land Resources & Environment Department before building.

How tall can a fence be in the Town of Greenfield?

Front (street) yard: 4 ft in a front yard or in a street side yard of a corner lot. Corner lots: 2½ ft within a vision clearance triangle; solid fences/walls over 20% opacity in a vision clearance triangle shall not exceed 30 inches.

How close to the property line can I put a fence in the Town of Greenfield?

No fence-specific lot-line setback found in the ordinance. The ordinance states no structures are allowed in the road setbacks or road right-of-way (s. 7.098(6)); whether this applies to fences is not stated.

How do I apply for a fence permit in the Town of Greenfield?

Call Sauk County Land Resources & Environment (608-355-3245) to confirm whether your fence needs a land use permit. If it does, fill out the Sauk County Land Use Permit application and have the property owner sign it. Attach a detailed plot plan showing the fence's dimensions and setbacks. Deliver or mail it with the fee (check payable to Sauk County LRE) to 505 Broadway, Baraboo, WI 53913. Post the permit card on site before you start. permit.guide can turn a fence drawn on an aerial photo of your lot into a complete permit application package for the Town of Greenfield (site plan, aerial photo and filled-in details) in a few minutes.

Who do I contact about a fence permit in the Town of Greenfield?

Sauk County Land Resources & Environment Department. Phone 608-355-3245.

Sources

Summarized from the Town of Greenfield's own ordinances, forms and permit pages. Each link opens the original.

Ordinance: Sauk County Code Ch. 7 Zoning, s. 7.100(3) (fences and walls) and s. 7.153 (land use permits)

Work for the Town of Greenfield? 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.