Village of Merton fence permit
Do you need a fence permit in the Village of Merton? Not confirmed. Contact the Village of Merton 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 Merton (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
- Open fences 4 ft within 20 ft of the property line, 5 ft beyond 20 ft (at least 40% open); solid fences 5 ft, at least 20 ft from the property line and 50 ft from street-side lines; dog runs 6 ft / 480 sq ft source
- Front (street) yard
- Ornamental fences only (3 ft max, more than 60% open); on street yards not on the primary access street, open or solid fences only if at least 50 ft from the street line source
- Corner lots
- No fence may substantially block visibility between 2.5 and 10 ft high in the vision triangle source
- Distance from lot line
- Ornamental fences may be on lot lines. Solid fences and dog runs at least 20 ft from the property line and 50 ft from street-side lines. No fences in the road right-of-way. source
- Good side faces
- Finished or decorated side faces the right-of-way or neighboring properties. source
- Not allowed
- Fences in the road right-of-way; hardware cloth, chicken wire and chain link in open fences (chain link allowed for dog runs); solid fences outside the rear yard. source
- How to apply
- Call 262-844-1594 source
Still being confirmed with Merton: Does the Village of Merton require a zoning or building permit for a residential fence?
How to file for a fence permit in the Village of Merton
Steps based on zoneomics.com — Municipal code: chapter 4
- Call the building inspector's office (262-538-0820) or Building Inspector Bryan Oelhafen (262-844-1594) to ask whether your fence needs a zoning or building permit.
- Plan the fence within the Sec. 250-37C limits (most fences only in the rear yard).
- Call Diggers Hotline (811) at least 3 business days before digging.
Who to contact
Bryan Oelhafen
Building Inspector
- Phone
- 262-844-1594
- [email protected]
- Hours
- Inspection Department Mon, Tue, Thu, Fri 1:00-5:00 p.m.
- Address
- Village Hall, W282 N6996 Main St., Merton, WI 53056
Contact from villageofmerton.gov — building inspection
Other rules to know
- The Village fence section does not state a fence permit requirement; the zoning code requires building and zoning permits for structures generally. Pool fences need a zoning permit.
- The Plan Commission may allow a fence not otherwise permitted after a public hearing, only with exceptional circumstances (Sec. 250-37C(10)).
- The Village Building Inspection page lists items needing permits (sheds, garages, additions, decks, pools, signs, etc.) and does not mention fences.
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 Merton, WI?
Not confirmed. Contact the Village of Merton before you build; the rules below are what we found in the ordinance.
How tall can a fence be in the Village of Merton?
Side and rear yards: Open fences 4 ft within 20 ft of the property line, 5 ft beyond 20 ft (at least 40% open); solid fences 5 ft, at least 20 ft from the property line and 50 ft from street-side lines; dog runs 6 ft / 480 sq ft. Front (street) yard: Ornamental fences only (3 ft max, more than 60% open); on street yards not on the primary access street, open or solid fences only if at least 50 ft from the street line. Corner lots: No fence may substantially block visibility between 2.5 and 10 ft high in the vision triangle.
How close to the property line can I put a fence in the Village of Merton?
Ornamental fences may be on lot lines. Solid fences and dog runs at least 20 ft from the property line and 50 ft from street-side lines. No fences in the road right-of-way.
Which side of the fence has to face the neighbor in the Village of Merton?
Finished or decorated side faces the right-of-way or neighboring properties.
How do I apply for a fence permit in the Village of Merton?
Call the building inspector's office (262-538-0820) or Building Inspector Bryan Oelhafen (262-844-1594) to ask whether your fence needs a zoning or building permit. Plan the fence within the Sec. 250-37C limits (most fences only in the rear yard). 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 Merton (site plan, aerial photo and filled-in details) in a few minutes.
Who do I contact about a fence permit in the Village of Merton?
Bryan Oelhafen, Building Inspector. Phone 262-844-1594, email [email protected].
Sources
Summarized from the Village of Merton's own ordinances, forms and permit pages. Each link opens the original.
Ordinance: Zoning Code Sec. 250-37C Fences
Work for the Village of Merton? 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.