Village of Summit fence rules
Do you need a fence permit in the Village of Summit? No. The Village of Summit 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 Village of Summit's rules before you build. Start with your address.
Quick facts
- Permit required
- No (typical residential fence) source
- Side and rear yards
- 6 ft source
- Front (street) yard
- 4 ft maximum recommended in the front yard source
- Distance from lot line
- Recommended at least 3 ft off property lines; setbacks and all zoning district standards must be met. source
- Good side faces
- For wood fences, the good side faces the neighboring property. source
- Not allowed
- No fence may exceed 6 ft. source
- How to apply
- Call 262-490-4141 source
How to build within the rules in the Village of Summit
Steps based on villageofsummitwi.gov — building inspector
- Fences up to 6 ft (4 ft in the front yard) need no Village permit; keep them about 3 ft off the property lines and meet district setbacks.
- Planning anything else? Call Building Inspector Mike Sindorf (262-490-4141) first.
- Call Diggers Hotline (811) at least 3 business days before digging.
Who to contact
Mike Sindorf
Building Inspector (Municipal Inspectors, LLC)
- Phone
- 262-490-4141
- Hours
- Phone Mon-Fri 7:00 am-4:00 pm; walk-in usually Tue-Thu 2:00-3:00 pm or by appointment
- Address
- Village Hall, 37100 Delafield Road, Summit, WI 53066 (Mon-Fri 8:00 am-4:00 pm)
Contact from villageofsummitwi.gov — building inspector
Other rules to know
- The Building Inspector page says a permit is required only if the fence will be over 6 ft tall, but also says no fence may exceed 6 ft; confirm before building anything taller.
- Shoreland/wetland lots may face additional zoning requirements and fees.
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 Summit, WI?
No. The Village of Summit does not require a permit for a typical residential fence, but height and placement rules still apply.
How tall can a fence be in the Village of Summit?
Side and rear yards: 6 ft. Front (street) yard: 4 ft maximum recommended in the front yard.
How close to the property line can I put a fence in the Village of Summit?
Recommended at least 3 ft off property lines; setbacks and all zoning district standards must be met.
Which side of the fence has to face the neighbor in the Village of Summit?
For wood fences, the good side faces the neighboring property.
Who do I contact about a fence permit in the Village of Summit?
Mike Sindorf, Building Inspector (Municipal Inspectors, LLC). Phone 262-490-4141.
Sources
Summarized from the Village of Summit's own ordinances, forms and permit pages. Each link opens the original.
Work for the Village of Summit? 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.