City of Lake Geneva fence permit
Do you need a fence permit in the City of Lake Geneva? Not confirmed. Contact the City of Lake Geneva 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 City of Lake Geneva (site plan, aerial photo and filled-in details) in a few minutes. Start with your address.
Quick facts
- Permit required
- Not confirmed
- Side and rear yards
- 6 ft (residential, outside required front/street yard setbacks) source
- Front (street) yard
- No fence over 36 in. within required street front, street side or street rear yard setbacks (unless by conditional use permit); street-yard fences max 60% opaque source
- Corner lots
- Clear-vision triangle at intersections restricts fencing between 30 in. and 8 ft above a set opacity (Sec. 98-703) source
- Distance from lot line
- At least 2 ft from front or street yard property lines and at least 3 ft from a property line abutting a public alley; fences may sit on side and rear property lines. source
- Good side faces
- Visible supports and other structural components must face the fence owner's property. source
- Not allowed
- Wire mesh and chain-link not permitted in required or provided front or street yards in residential districts. Barbed wire not permitted in nonresidential districts. Snow fences only as temporary fences. source
Still being confirmed with Lake Geneva: Does the City of Lake Geneva require a permit for a residential fence, and what is the fee?
How to file for a fence permit in the City of Lake Geneva
- Call the City of Lake Geneva Building & Zoning office to ask whether your fence needs a permit.
- Call Diggers Hotline (811) at least 3 business days before digging.
Other rules to know
- Sec. 98-720 applies to fencing 30 inches or taller; the section itself states no fence permit or fee.
- City code is on eCode360 (code LA3000); the building permit chapter (Ch. 14) could not be read to confirm whether fences need a permit.
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 Lake Geneva, WI?
Not confirmed. Contact the City of Lake Geneva before you build; the rules below are what we found in the ordinance. City code is on eCode360 (code LA3000); the building permit chapter (Ch. 14) could not be read to confirm whether fences need a permit.
How tall can a fence be in the City of Lake Geneva?
Side and rear yards: 6 ft (residential, outside required front/street yard setbacks). Front (street) yard: No fence over 36 in. within required street front, street side or street rear yard setbacks (unless by conditional use permit); street-yard fences max 60% opaque. Corner lots: Clear-vision triangle at intersections restricts fencing between 30 in. and 8 ft above a set opacity (Sec. 98-703).
How close to the property line can I put a fence in the City of Lake Geneva?
At least 2 ft from front or street yard property lines and at least 3 ft from a property line abutting a public alley; fences may sit on side and rear property lines.
Which side of the fence has to face the neighbor in the City of Lake Geneva?
Visible supports and other structural components must face the fence owner's property.
How do I apply for a fence permit in the City of Lake Geneva?
Call the City of Lake Geneva Building & Zoning office to ask whether your fence needs a permit. 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 Lake Geneva (site plan, aerial photo and filled-in details) in a few minutes.
Sources
Summarized from the City of Lake Geneva's own ordinances, forms and permit pages. Each link opens the original.
Ordinance: Zoning Code Sec. 98-720 Fencing standards
Work for the City of Lake Geneva? 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.