City of Westby fence permit
Do you need a fence permit in the City of Westby? Yes. The City of Westby 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 Westby (site plan, aerial photo and filled-in details) in a few minutes. Start with your address.
Quick facts
- Permit required
- Yes source
- Fee
- $50 (fence permit, Sec. 1-3-1 fee schedule) source
- Side and rear yards
- 6 ft or less source
- Front (street) yard
- 3 ft or less in the street yard setback area (front yard fences must be 50% open/see-through) source
- Corner lots
- No fence within the vision clearance triangle: 20 ft from intersecting streets, 15 ft for alleys, 10 ft for driveways source
- Distance from lot line
- Sec. 13-1-202(h): fences may be built alongside lot lines with a minimum 3 ft side and rear yard setback and may not extend into the front setback; street-yard fences must be at least 2 ft from any public right-of-way; at least 6 inches from public sidewalks. (Sec. 13-1-202(g) also says 6 ft fences are permitted on rear and side lot lines; ask the Zoning Administrator which applies.) source
- Good side faces
- Finished side must face the adjoining property (Sec. 13-1-202(l)). source
- Not allowed
- Dangerous fences; barbed wire (industrial areas only, with conditions); electric fences except smooth-wire deer fencing at least 5 ft from a lot line; farm-type woven or chicken wire outside industrial districts unless ornamental; wood-slat or plastic snow fence as a regular residential fence; post-only fences; used/scrap, luminous, smooth or corrugated metal materials. Fences must be painted or stained in neutral colors. source
- How to apply
- In person source
How to file for a fence permit in the City of Westby
Steps based on cityofwestby.org — permit and zoning information
- Call Zoning Administrator Jerry Furlano at (815) 353-3711 (listed on the city site) to get the fence permit application.
- Prepare a site plan showing the fence location and setbacks, plus design details.
- Submit the application with the $50 fence permit fee at City Hall, 200 N Main Street, Westby.
- Wait for the permit before installing.
- Call Diggers Hotline (811) at least 3 business days before digging.
- Paying
- $50 fence permit fee
Who to contact
Jerry Furlano
Zoning Administrator
- Phone
- (815) 353-3711
- Address
- City of Westby, 200 N Main Street, Westby, WI 54667
Contact from cityofwestby.org — building permit information
What to submit
- Fence permit application
- Site plan showing fence location
- Fence design details
- Owner's consent if the land is leased
Other rules to know
- A permit is not needed for painting, maintenance, or replacing fewer than 16 lineal feet within five years.
- Height is measured from the ground on the exterior side; adding fill to gain height is prohibited.
- The owner is responsible for locating the lot line (survey if unclear) and for following covenants/easements.
- Pet enclosures and dog runs also need a fence permit: max 250 sq ft and 6 ft tall, at least 10 ft from side/rear lot lines, not in front of the house.
- Temporary construction, seasonal and snow fences don't need a permit but have time limits (snow fence max 5 months).
- The city's Building Permit Information page lists fences among projects to check with the Zoning Administrator.
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 Westby, WI?
Yes. The City of Westby requires a permit before you build a fence. Temporary construction, seasonal and snow fences don't need a permit but have time limits (snow fence max 5 months).
How tall can a fence be in the City of Westby?
Side and rear yards: 6 ft or less. Front (street) yard: 3 ft or less in the street yard setback area (front yard fences must be 50% open/see-through). Corner lots: No fence within the vision clearance triangle: 20 ft from intersecting streets, 15 ft for alleys, 10 ft for driveways.
How close to the property line can I put a fence in the City of Westby?
Sec. 13-1-202(h): fences may be built alongside lot lines with a minimum 3 ft side and rear yard setback and may not extend into the front setback; street-yard fences must be at least 2 ft from any public right-of-way; at least 6 inches from public sidewalks. (Sec. 13-1-202(g) also says 6 ft fences are permitted on rear and side lot lines; ask the Zoning Administrator which applies.)
Which side of the fence has to face the neighbor in the City of Westby?
Finished side must face the adjoining property (Sec. 13-1-202(l)).
How much is a fence permit in the City of Westby?
$50 (fence permit, Sec. 1-3-1 fee schedule).
How do I apply for a fence permit in the City of Westby?
Call Zoning Administrator Jerry Furlano at (815) 353-3711 (listed on the city site) to get the fence permit application. Prepare a site plan showing the fence location and setbacks, plus design details. Submit the application with the $50 fence permit fee at City Hall, 200 N Main Street, Westby. Wait for the permit before installing. 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 Westby (site plan, aerial photo and filled-in details) in a few minutes.
Who do I contact about a fence permit in the City of Westby?
Jerry Furlano, Zoning Administrator. Phone (815) 353-3711.
Sources
Summarized from the City of Westby's own ordinances, forms and permit pages. Each link opens the original.
Ordinance: Zoning Code Sec. 13-1-202 Fences
Work for the City of Westby? 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.