Town of Brookfield fence permit
Do you need a fence permit in the Town of Brookfield? Yes. The Town of Brookfield 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 Town of Brookfield (site plan, aerial photo and filled-in details) in a few minutes. Start with your address.
Quick facts
- Permit required
- Yes source
- Fee
- $75 (additional consultation fees may apply) source
- Side and rear yards
- Open fences 4 ft; solid fences 6 ft source
- Front (street) yard
- Fences may not extend into the street yard (exception: corner/double-frontage lots, at least 5 ft from the street right-of-way, landscaped street side, Zoning Administrator approval). Ornamental fences up to 3 ft allowed in street yards. source
- Corner lots
- Must meet traffic visibility rules in Sec. 17.06 source
- Distance from lot line
- Open and solid fences may go up to the lot line, but a solid fence closer than 3 ft to a property line needs a Conditional Use Permit. A professional survey is required for any fence within 5 ft of a property line. source
- Good side faces
- Finished side faces the neighboring property; posts face your property. source
- Not allowed
- Barbed wire, razor wire, corrugated metal, chicken wire, T-posts and U-posts, and electric fences. In residential districts chain link (and barbed wire) only with a conditional use permit. source
- How to apply
- Call 262-796-3760 source
How to file for a fence permit in the Town of Brookfield
Steps based on townofbrookfieldwi.gov — Fence permit app
- Download the Fence Permit application from the Town's Permit Forms page.
- Draw a site plan with distances from the lot lines; get a professional survey if the fence is within 5 ft of a line.
- Attach a picture of the fence and the signed Professional Services Agreement, plus a self-addressed stamped envelope (or ask for an emailed permit).
- Turn it in to the Development Services Department at Town Hall with the $75 fee.
- Solid fence within 3 ft of the line, or chain link? You need a Conditional Use Permit first.
- Call Diggers Hotline (811) at least 3 business days before digging.
- Paying
- $75 plus any consultant review costs; no refunds
- Review time
- Zoning Administrator may approve administratively
- Inspections
- Have the permit number and address ready when requesting inspections
- Permit good for
- 90 days
Who to contact
Rebekah Leto
Town Planner
- Phone
- 262-796-3760
- Hours
- Tue and Thu 8:30am-12:30pm, appointments preferred
- Address
- Development Services, Town Hall, 645 N Janacek Road, Brookfield, WI 53045
Contact from townofbrookfieldwi.gov — Fence permit app
What to submit
- Fence permit application (fence type, proposed height, total length, estimated cost)
- Site plan showing fence location and distances from the rear, street and side lot lines
- Professional property survey if the fence is within 5 ft of a property line (stake property corners)
- Picture or rendering of the proposed fence
- Signed Professional Services Agreement
- Self-addressed stamped envelope for permit return (or check the box to have the permit emailed)
Other rules to know
- Rules apply to fences built after January 1, 2024.
- Exempt: temporary construction/excavation fencing, invisible pet fencing, and decorative/garden/pet kennel fences not in the front yard, at least 5 ft from all property lines and no taller than 6 ft.
- No refunds on permits.
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 Town of Brookfield, WI?
Yes. The Town of Brookfield requires a permit before you build a fence.
How tall can a fence be in the Town of Brookfield?
Side and rear yards: Open fences 4 ft; solid fences 6 ft. Front (street) yard: Fences may not extend into the street yard (exception: corner/double-frontage lots, at least 5 ft from the street right-of-way, landscaped street side, Zoning Administrator approval). Ornamental fences up to 3 ft allowed in street yards.. Corner lots: Must meet traffic visibility rules in Sec. 17.06.
How close to the property line can I put a fence in the Town of Brookfield?
Open and solid fences may go up to the lot line, but a solid fence closer than 3 ft to a property line needs a Conditional Use Permit. A professional survey is required for any fence within 5 ft of a property line.
Which side of the fence has to face the neighbor in the Town of Brookfield?
Finished side faces the neighboring property; posts face your property.
How much is a fence permit in the Town of Brookfield?
$75 (additional consultation fees may apply).
How do I apply for a fence permit in the Town of Brookfield?
Download the Fence Permit application from the Town's Permit Forms page. Draw a site plan with distances from the lot lines; get a professional survey if the fence is within 5 ft of a line. Attach a picture of the fence and the signed Professional Services Agreement, plus a self-addressed stamped envelope (or ask for an emailed permit). Turn it in to the Development Services Department at Town Hall with the $75 fee. Solid fence within 3 ft of the line, or chain link? You need a Conditional Use Permit first. permit.guide can turn a fence drawn on an aerial photo of your lot into a complete permit application package for the Town of Brookfield (site plan, aerial photo and filled-in details) in a few minutes.
Who do I contact about a fence permit in the Town of Brookfield?
Rebekah Leto, Town Planner. Phone 262-796-3760.
Sources
Summarized from the Town of Brookfield's own ordinances, forms and permit pages. Each link opens the original.
Ordinance: Zoning Code Sec. 17.02(14)(g)(11) Fences
Work for the Town of Brookfield? 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.