Village of Williams Bay fence permit
Do you need a fence permit in the Village of Williams Bay? Not confirmed. Contact the Village of Williams Bay 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 Village of Williams Bay (site plan, aerial photo and filled-in details) in a few minutes. Start with your address.
Quick facts
- Permit required
- Not confirmed source
- Side and rear yards
- 6 ft on residential rear lines source
- Front (street) yard
- 3 ft along front and street side lines (split rail or open picket) source
- Corner lots
- Nothing may block vision between 2.5 and 10 ft above grade in the corner triangle source
- Distance from lot line
- Residential side and rear: 3 ft from the lot line (6 inches if the fence is maintenance-free or the neighbor consents in writing); 2 ft from alleys; 5 ft from front and street side lines. Living fences at least 3 ft from the lot line. source
- Good side faces
- Wood perimeter fences: finish side of the slats faces the neighboring property; visible supports face the owner's property. source
- Not allowed
- Fence types other than split rail, open picket and decorative (3 ft around patios/gardens) need a conditional use permit (Sec. 390-1207). Barbed wire and electrical fences barred on business/industrial lots next to residential property. source
Still being confirmed with Williams Bay: Does the Village of Williams Bay require a zoning permit for a residential fence, and what is the fee?
How to file for a fence permit in the Village of Williams Bay
- Contact the Village Clerk / Zoning Administrator to ask whether your fence needs a zoning permit.
- Call Diggers Hotline (811) at least 3 business days before digging.
Other rules to know
- Shore-yard fences: residential fences 4 ft or less allowed on the property line but not on the shoreline or across the 75-ft shore setback (Village ETZ ordinance).
- Sec. 390-1209 requires a zoning permit from the Zoning Administrator for any 'structure' (applications filed with the Village Clerk); fences are not on the exemption list, but the code text read does not say directly whether a fence needs one.
- Dog runs: max 6 ft; location limits apply (Sec. 390-0809).
- The Village also administers extraterritorial zoning in parts of the Towns of Delavan, Geneva, Linn and Walworth.
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 Williams Bay, WI?
Not confirmed. Contact the Village of Williams Bay before you build; the rules below are what we found in the ordinance.
How tall can a fence be in the Village of Williams Bay?
Side and rear yards: 6 ft on residential rear lines. Front (street) yard: 3 ft along front and street side lines (split rail or open picket). Corner lots: Nothing may block vision between 2.5 and 10 ft above grade in the corner triangle.
How close to the property line can I put a fence in the Village of Williams Bay?
Residential side and rear: 3 ft from the lot line (6 inches if the fence is maintenance-free or the neighbor consents in writing); 2 ft from alleys; 5 ft from front and street side lines. Living fences at least 3 ft from the lot line.
Which side of the fence has to face the neighbor in the Village of Williams Bay?
Wood perimeter fences: finish side of the slats faces the neighboring property; visible supports face the owner's property.
How do I apply for a fence permit in the Village of Williams Bay?
Contact the Village Clerk / Zoning Administrator to ask whether your fence needs a zoning 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 Village of Williams Bay (site plan, aerial photo and filled-in details) in a few minutes.
Sources
Summarized from the Village of Williams Bay's own ordinances, forms and permit pages. Each link opens the original.
Ordinance: Zoning Code Sec. 390-0809 Fencing standards
Work for the Village of Williams Bay? 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.