Town of Farmington fence rules
Do you need a fence permit in the Town of Farmington? No. The Town of Farmington 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 Town of Farmington's rules before you build. Start with your address.
Quick facts
- Permit required
- No (typical residential fence) source
- Front (street) yard
- Fences located within a highway setback must be less than four (4) feet in height (Sec. 2.8(5)(c)) source
- Corner lots
- In the visual clearance triangle, no object or structure over two (2) feet in height is allowed if it obstructs the view; posts or fences a maximum of thirty percent (30%) solid and less than three (3) feet in height are excluded (Sec. 2.7(4)(d)) source
- Distance from lot line
- Fences are exempt from all highway, railroad and lot line setbacks (Sec. 2.8(5)(c)), but those inside a highway setback must be under 4 ft tall. source
- How to apply
- Call 715-258-6255 source
Still being confirmed with Farmington: Is a fence still exempt from a County Land Use Permit under the 2025 Ch. 34, and does a fence in a shoreland area need a Shoreland Permit?
How to build within the rules in the Town of Farmington
Steps based on energyzoning.org — Zoning ordinance (archived copy)
- No County Land Use Permit is needed for a fence in these towns (Sec. 2.2(2)(c)(10)).
- Keep fences near road intersections less than 3 ft tall and no more than 30% solid within the vision triangle.
- Inside a highway setback, keep the fence under 4 ft tall.
- Near a lake, river or stream? Call Waupaca County Planning & Zoning (715-258-6255) to ask whether a Shoreland Permit is needed.
- Call Diggers Hotline (811) at least 3 business days before digging.
Who to contact
Jason Snyder
Zoning Administrator, Waupaca County Planning & Zoning
- Phone
- 715-258-6255
- Hours
- 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM, Monday through Friday
- Address
- Waupaca County Planning & Zoning, 811 Harding St., Waupaca, WI 54981
Contact from public4.co.waupaca.wi.us — CountyDirectory
Other rules to know
- The Town of Farmington follows the Waupaca County zoning ordinance, so fence permits come from the county zoning office, not the town.
- County Zoning Ordinance Ch. 34, Sec. 2.2(2)(c)(10) lists "Fences" among the items that do not need a Land Use Permit, "however, must be in accordance with Sec. 2.7(4)(d) and Sec. 2.8(5)(c)."
- The county issues Land Use Permits for these 19 towns; the Towns of Dupont, Fremont and Harrison issue their own outside shoreland areas. The county issues Shoreland Permits in every town.
- Rules quoted are from the May 2022 version of Ch. 34 (archived on energyzoning.org); the county now posts a 2025 version that could not be opened.
- The county office takes cash, check or credit card and never asks for zoning fees by wire transfer.
- The County Building Inspection page lists fences under "Other projects that do not need a Building Permit" and advises checking with your local community about any local requirements (it serves the Towns of Dupont, Farmington, Helvetia, Iola, Lind, Matteson, Scandinavia, Union, Waupaca and Wyoming).
- Each town's clerk and building inspector are listed in the Waupaca County Directory (Dec. 22, 2025).
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 Farmington, WI?
No. The Town of Farmington 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 Town of Farmington?
Front (street) yard: Fences located within a highway setback must be less than four (4) feet in height (Sec. 2.8(5)(c)). Corner lots: In the visual clearance triangle, no object or structure over two (2) feet in height is allowed if it obstructs the view; posts or fences a maximum of thirty percent (30%) solid and less than three (3) feet in height are excluded (Sec. 2.7(4)(d)).
How close to the property line can I put a fence in the Town of Farmington?
Fences are exempt from all highway, railroad and lot line setbacks (Sec. 2.8(5)(c)), but those inside a highway setback must be under 4 ft tall.
Who do I contact about a fence permit in the Town of Farmington?
Jason Snyder, Zoning Administrator, Waupaca County Planning & Zoning. Phone 715-258-6255.
Sources
Summarized from the Town of Farmington's own ordinances, forms and permit pages. Each link opens the original.
Ordinance: Waupaca County Zoning Ordinance Ch. 34, Sec. 2.2(2)(c)(10), 2.7(4)(d), 2.8(5)(c)
Work for the Town of Farmington? 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.