Village of Waukesha fence rules
Do you need a fence permit in the Village of Waukesha? No. The Village of Waukesha 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 Waukesha's rules before you build. Start with your address.
Quick facts
- Permit required
- No (typical residential fence) source
- Side and rear yards
- 6 ft along residential lot lines (10 ft along a lot line next to non-residential zoning, outside the street yard) source
- Front (street) yard
- 4.5 ft in the street yard source
- Corner lots
- Nothing over 3 ft in the corner vision setback unless at least 50% open source
- Distance from lot line
- Fences are allowed along lot lines; no fence-specific setback distance is stated. source
- Good side faces
- Finished aesthetic side faces the adjacent properties. source
- Not allowed
- Electrified fences (except agricultural uses); barbed wire (except for confining livestock or atop non-residential security fences), and never in residentially developed areas. source
- How to apply
- Call 262-542-5030
Still being confirmed with Waukesha: Does the Village of Waukesha still follow the former Town zoning code, under which residential fences need no building permit?
How to build within the rules in the Village of Waukesha
Steps based on cms4files1.revize.com — waukeshazoningcode 1
- No building permit is needed for a residential fence; follow the height limits (4.5 ft street yard, 6 ft along residential lot lines).
- Face the finished side toward the neighbors.
- Questions? Call Village Hall (262-542-5030).
- Call Diggers Hotline (811) at least 3 business days before digging.
Who to contact
- Phone
- 262-542-5030
- Address
- Village Hall, W250 S3567 Center Road, Waukesha, WI 53186
Contact from waukeshacounty.gov — coordinating agencies
Other rules to know
- The zoning code (adopted as the Town of Waukesha code, Title 13, before the Town became the Village of Waukesha) says fences anchored to in-ground supports do not need a building permit but must meet the fence rules.
- Height is measured from the top of the fence to the lot grade.
- Fences must be kept safe and in good repair.
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 Waukesha, WI?
No. The Village of Waukesha 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 Waukesha?
Side and rear yards: 6 ft along residential lot lines (10 ft along a lot line next to non-residential zoning, outside the street yard). Front (street) yard: 4.5 ft in the street yard. Corner lots: Nothing over 3 ft in the corner vision setback unless at least 50% open.
How close to the property line can I put a fence in the Village of Waukesha?
Fences are allowed along lot lines; no fence-specific setback distance is stated.
Which side of the fence has to face the neighbor in the Village of Waukesha?
Finished aesthetic side faces the adjacent properties.
Who do I contact about a fence permit in the Village of Waukesha?
Village Hall. Phone 262-542-5030.
Sources
Summarized from the Village of Waukesha's own ordinances, forms and permit pages. Each link opens the original.
Ordinance: Zoning Code Sec. 13-2-8(b)(3) Fences
Work for the Village of Waukesha? 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.