City of New Berlin fence rules
Do you need a fence permit in the City of New Berlin? No. The City of New Berlin does not require a permit for a typical residential fence, but height and placement rules still apply.
At permit.guide you can draw your fence on an aerial photo of your lot and check it against the City of New Berlin's rules before you build. Start with your address.
Quick facts
- Permit required
- No (typical residential fence) source
- Side and rear yards
- 74 inches source
- Front (street) yard
- 50 inches in the front yard (over 50 and up to 74 inches needs Department of Community Development review and approval) source
- Corner lots
- 3 ft above mean street grade in the vision clearance triangle source
- Distance from lot line
- Front-yard fences may not be closer to the street than the base setback line. Maintenance-free fences may be on the lot line; fences of other materials at least 2 ft from the property line. Fences must stay out of public easements unless the Plan Commission approves. source
- Good side faces
- A common-lot-line fence with a finished side facing both properties, maintained by both owners under a prior agreement, is allowed with a survey. source
- Not allowed
- No signs or displays on fences; no materials stored between the fence and the lot line; fences may not block or affect existing drainage. source
- How to apply
- Call 262-786-8610 source
How to build within the rules in the City of New Berlin
Steps based on newberlinwi.gov — Fences
- Check the City's Fences handout: fences up to 50 in. in the front yard and 74 in. in side/rear yards that meet the location rules need no permit.
- Going taller in the front yard, or over 74 in.? Visit the Department of Community Development (City Hall, 2nd floor) for review first.
- Keep non-maintenance-free fences at least 2 ft off the property line and out of easements.
- Call Diggers Hotline (811) at least 3 business days before digging.
- Review time
- Only for front-yard fences over 50 in. (DCD) or fences over 74 in. (Plan Commission)
Who to contact
- Phone
- 262-786-8610
- Hours
- Mon-Fri 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
- Address
- Department of Community Development, City Hall (2nd floor), 3805 S. Casper Drive, New Berlin, WI 53151
Contact from newberlinwi.gov — Permits
Other rules to know
- No permit is required for fences that meet the City's fence criteria.
- Front-yard fences over 50 in. (up to 74 in.) need Department of Community Development review; residential fences over 74 in. and non-straight or non-plumb fences need Plan Commission approval.
- Snow fences are allowed from November 1 to April 1.
- Fences on sites with important wildlife habitat may not exceed 4 ft (Sec. 275-54C).
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 New Berlin, WI?
No. The City of New Berlin does not require a permit for a typical residential fence, but height and placement rules still apply. No permit is required for fences that meet the City's fence criteria.
How tall can a fence be in the City of New Berlin?
Side and rear yards: 74 inches. Front (street) yard: 50 inches in the front yard (over 50 and up to 74 inches needs Department of Community Development review and approval). Corner lots: 3 ft above mean street grade in the vision clearance triangle.
How close to the property line can I put a fence in the City of New Berlin?
Front-yard fences may not be closer to the street than the base setback line. Maintenance-free fences may be on the lot line; fences of other materials at least 2 ft from the property line. Fences must stay out of public easements unless the Plan Commission approves.
Which side of the fence has to face the neighbor in the City of New Berlin?
A common-lot-line fence with a finished side facing both properties, maintained by both owners under a prior agreement, is allowed with a survey.
Who do I contact about a fence permit in the City of New Berlin?
Department of Community Development. Phone 262-786-8610.
Sources
Summarized from the City of New Berlin's own ordinances, forms and permit pages. Each link opens the original.
Ordinance: Zoning Code Ch. 275 (fence standards; see also Secs. 275-55 and 275-59)
Work for the City of New Berlin? 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.