City of Oshkosh fence permit
Do you need a fence permit in the City of Oshkosh? Yes. The City of Oshkosh 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 City of Oshkosh (site plan, aerial photo and filled-in details) in a few minutes. Start with your address.
Quick facts
- Permit required
- Yes
- Fee
- See the City fee schedule
- Side and rear yards
- 6 ft (8 ft in some districts)
- Front (street) yard
- 4 ft (no chain link in front or street yards)
- Corner lots
- Keep a 10 ft vision triangle at alleys and driveways clear between 2.5 and 8 ft high
- Distance from lot line
- May sit on the property line but not over it.
- Good side faces
- Posts and supports face your property.
- Not allowed
- Permanent chicken wire or snow fence. Allowed: treated or rot-resistant wood, masonry, stone, wrought iron, vinyl, 9-gauge chain link with top rail.
- How to apply
- In person
How to file for a fence permit in the City of Oshkosh
- Draw a site plan at 1 inch = 20 ft or larger showing existing buildings, lot lines, the fence location and dimensions, setbacks and easements, plus the fence materials and height. Blank site plan sheets are sold at the Planning Services counter.
- Apply at least 2 weeks before you want to start.
- Bring it to Planning Services, City Hall Room 204, 215 Church Ave (Mon to Fri, 8 am to 4:30 pm). Questions: 920-236-5059.
- Pay the permit fee from the City fee schedule.
- Call Diggers Hotline (811) at least 3 business days before digging.
- Paying
- Per the City fee schedule, at Planning Services
- Review time
- Apply about 2 weeks before you want to start
Who to contact
Planning Services
City of Oshkosh
- Phone
- 920-236-5059
- Hours
- Mon to Fri, 8 am to 4:30 pm
- Address
- Planning Services, City Hall Room 204, 215 Church Ave, Oshkosh, WI 54901
What to submit
- Site plan at 1 inch = 20 ft or larger showing buildings, lot lines, fence location and dimensions, setbacks and easements
- Materials and height
Other rules to know
- Apply about 2 weeks before you want to start.
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 City of Oshkosh, WI?
Yes. The City of Oshkosh requires a permit before you build a fence.
How tall can a fence be in the City of Oshkosh?
Side and rear yards: 6 ft (8 ft in some districts). Front (street) yard: 4 ft (no chain link in front or street yards). Corner lots: Keep a 10 ft vision triangle at alleys and driveways clear between 2.5 and 8 ft high.
How close to the property line can I put a fence in the City of Oshkosh?
May sit on the property line but not over it.
Which side of the fence has to face the neighbor in the City of Oshkosh?
Posts and supports face your property.
How much is a fence permit in the City of Oshkosh?
See the City fee schedule.
How do I apply for a fence permit in the City of Oshkosh?
Draw a site plan at 1 inch = 20 ft or larger showing existing buildings, lot lines, the fence location and dimensions, setbacks and easements, plus the fence materials and height. Blank site plan sheets are sold at the Planning Services counter. Apply at least 2 weeks before you want to start. Bring it to Planning Services, City Hall Room 204, 215 Church Ave (Mon to Fri, 8 am to 4:30 pm). Questions: 920-236-5059. Pay the permit fee from the City fee schedule. 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 City of Oshkosh (site plan, aerial photo and filled-in details) in a few minutes.
Who do I contact about a fence permit in the City of Oshkosh?
Planning Services, City of Oshkosh. Phone 920-236-5059.
Sources
Summarized from the City of Oshkosh's own ordinances, forms and permit pages. Each link opens the original.
Work for the City of Oshkosh? 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.