Village of Fontana-on-Geneva Lake fence permit
Do you need a fence permit in the Village of Fontana-on-Geneva Lake? Yes. The Village of Fontana-on-Geneva Lake 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 Village of Fontana-on-Geneva Lake (site plan, aerial photo and filled-in details) in a few minutes. Start with your address.
Quick facts
- Permit required
- Yes source
- Fee
- $85.00 (Fence, Zoning & Land Division section of the 2026 Village fee schedule) source
- Side and rear yards
- 6 ft maximum (rear yards of double-frontage lots at least 40% open) source
- Front (street) yard
- 4 ft within the setback area (taller only by conditional use permit); front/street side yard fences at least 40% open source
- Distance from lot line
- At least 4 ft from the front property line or street right-of-way; not within the minimum shoreyard setback; may sit on property lines abutting side or rear yard setbacks. source
- Good side faces
- Visible supports and other structural components must face the fence owner's property. source
- Not allowed
- Barbed wire; electrified fences. Acceptable materials: wood, stone, brick, wrought iron and chain link. Snow fencing only Nov 1-Apr 1. source
- How to apply
- Call (262) 275-6136 source
Still being confirmed with Fontana-on-Geneva Lake: Can fence zoning permit applications be emailed, or must they be dropped off at Village Hall?
How to file for a fence permit in the Village of Fontana-on-Geneva Lake
- Download the Village Zoning Permit Application from the Village's Applications page.
- Plan the fence to meet Sec. 18-166: 6 ft max, 4 ft max and at least 40% open near the street, at least 4 ft back from the front property line.
- Call Village Hall at (262) 275-6136 to confirm how to submit, then file the application with the $85.00 fence fee.
- Wait for the zoning administrator's written decision (within 30 days).
- Call Diggers Hotline (811) at least 3 business days before digging.
- Paying
- $85.00 fence fee (2026)
- Review time
- Zoning administrator decides in writing within 30 days
Who to contact
Julie Olson
Deputy Clerk/Treasurer (Village Hall)
- Phone
- (262) 275-6136
- [email protected]
- Hours
- Mon, Tue, Wed, Fri 8am-4pm; Thu 8am-12pm
- Address
- Village Hall, 175 Valley View Drive, PO Box 200, Fontana, WI 53125
Contact from vi.fontana.wi.gov — applications
What to submit
Other rules to know
- Temporary fencing needs case-by-case approval by the building inspector, max 180 consecutive days per calendar year.
- Zoning permits are granted or denied by the zoning administrator in writing within 30 days of application (Sec. 18-249(c)).
- The Village also administers extraterritorial zoning in parts of the surrounding towns (non-shoreland areas); those properties go to the Village, not Walworth County.
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 Village of Fontana-on-Geneva Lake, WI?
Yes. The Village of Fontana-on-Geneva Lake requires a permit before you build a fence.
How tall can a fence be in the Village of Fontana-on-Geneva Lake?
Side and rear yards: 6 ft maximum (rear yards of double-frontage lots at least 40% open). Front (street) yard: 4 ft within the setback area (taller only by conditional use permit); front/street side yard fences at least 40% open.
How close to the property line can I put a fence in the Village of Fontana-on-Geneva Lake?
At least 4 ft from the front property line or street right-of-way; not within the minimum shoreyard setback; may sit on property lines abutting side or rear yard setbacks.
Which side of the fence has to face the neighbor in the Village of Fontana-on-Geneva Lake?
Visible supports and other structural components must face the fence owner's property.
How much is a fence permit in the Village of Fontana-on-Geneva Lake?
$85.00 (Fence, Zoning & Land Division section of the 2026 Village fee schedule).
How do I apply for a fence permit in the Village of Fontana-on-Geneva Lake?
Download the Village Zoning Permit Application from the Village's Applications page. Plan the fence to meet Sec. 18-166: 6 ft max, 4 ft max and at least 40% open near the street, at least 4 ft back from the front property line. Call Village Hall at (262) 275-6136 to confirm how to submit, then file the application with the $85.00 fence fee. Wait for the zoning administrator's written decision (within 30 days). 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 Village of Fontana-on-Geneva Lake (site plan, aerial photo and filled-in details) in a few minutes.
Who do I contact about a fence permit in the Village of Fontana-on-Geneva Lake?
Julie Olson, Deputy Clerk/Treasurer (Village Hall). Phone (262) 275-6136, email [email protected].
Sources
Summarized from the Village of Fontana-on-Geneva Lake's own ordinances, forms and permit pages. Each link opens the original.
Ordinance: Zoning Code Sec. 18-166 Fencing standards
Work for the Village of Fontana-on-Geneva Lake? 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.