City of Hartford fence permit
Do you need a fence permit in the City of Hartford? Yes. The City of Hartford 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 Hartford (site plan, aerial photo and filled-in details) in a few minutes. Start with your address.
Quick facts
- Permit required
- Yes
- Fee
- $75 minimum + $20 processing + $10 technology
- Side and rear yards
- 6 ft
- Front (street) yard
- 4 ft decorative semi-open, 1 ft back from the street line (6 ft semi-open if it meets the building setback)
- Corner lots
- Nothing between 2.5 and 7 ft high in the vision triangle
- Distance from lot line
- Inside your lot lines; street-yard fences 1 ft back from the street line.
- Good side faces
- Finished side faces the neighbors.
- Not allowed
- Electric, barbed wire, spikes, glass, protruding nails or other sharp materials.
- How to apply
- Online portal, email, in person
How to file for a fence permit in the City of Hartford
- Check subdivision/HOA restrictions and easements that may apply to fences.
- Fill out the Residential Building Permit Application and sign the Fence Information Page.
- Draw a site plan to scale showing all structures, streets, easements, the fence length and its distances to buildings and lot lines. You can use an existing survey, aerial image or the City GIS map (to check for a survey on file, call 262-673-8272).
- Add a rendering showing the fence material, height and color.
- If you're installing it yourself, sign the Cautionary Statement to Owners.
- Submit everything online through the City of Hartford iWorQ permit portal.
- Pay the fees: permit fee ($75 minimum) plus a $20 processing fee and $10 technology fee. Starting work without a permit triples the fees.
- Wait for the permit; review can take up to 10 business days. The permit must be issued before you start.
- Call Diggers Hotline (811) at least 3 business days before digging.
- After installation, call 262-673-8277 to schedule the required final inspection, which closes the permit.
- Paying
- $75 minimum permit fee + $20 processing + $10 technology; triple fees if work starts without a permit
- Review time
- Up to 10 business days after a complete application
- Inspections
- Final inspection after installation; call 262-673-8277
Who to contact
Building Inspection
City of Hartford
- Phone
- 262-673-8277
- Address
- City Hall, 109 N Main St, Hartford, WI 53027
What to submit
- Residential Building Permit Application
- Scaled site plan with fence length and distances to lot lines and buildings
- Fence rendering (material, height, color)
- Signed Fence Information Page
- Cautionary Statement to Owners (if you install it yourself)
Other rules to know
- Review takes up to 10 business days.
- Closed fences over a drainage swale must sit 4 in. above grade.
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 Hartford, WI?
Yes. The City of Hartford requires a permit before you build a fence.
How tall can a fence be in the City of Hartford?
Side and rear yards: 6 ft. Front (street) yard: 4 ft decorative semi-open, 1 ft back from the street line (6 ft semi-open if it meets the building setback). Corner lots: Nothing between 2.5 and 7 ft high in the vision triangle.
How close to the property line can I put a fence in the City of Hartford?
Inside your lot lines; street-yard fences 1 ft back from the street line.
Which side of the fence has to face the neighbor in the City of Hartford?
Finished side faces the neighbors.
How much is a fence permit in the City of Hartford?
$75 minimum + $20 processing + $10 technology.
How do I apply for a fence permit in the City of Hartford?
Check subdivision/HOA restrictions and easements that may apply to fences. Fill out the Residential Building Permit Application and sign the Fence Information Page. Draw a site plan to scale showing all structures, streets, easements, the fence length and its distances to buildings and lot lines. You can use an existing survey, aerial image or the City GIS map (to check for a survey on file, call 262-673-8272). Add a rendering showing the fence material, height and color. If you're installing it yourself, sign the Cautionary Statement to Owners. permit.guide can turn a fence drawn on an aerial photo of your lot into a complete permit application package for the City of Hartford (site plan, aerial photo and filled-in details) in a few minutes.
Who do I contact about a fence permit in the City of Hartford?
Building Inspection, City of Hartford. Phone 262-673-8277.
Sources
Summarized from the City of Hartford's own ordinances, forms and permit pages. Each link opens the original.
Work for the City of Hartford? 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.