Town of Grand Rapids fence permit
Do you need a fence permit in the Town of Grand Rapids? Yes. The Town of Grand Rapids 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 Town of Grand Rapids (site plan, aerial photo and filled-in details) in a few minutes. Start with your address.
Quick facts
- Permit required
- Yes source
- Side and rear yards
- 6 ft from finished grade to top source
- Front (street) yard
- 2½ ft within the setback area of any lot or side yard fronting a street (open fences such as chain link or split-rail allowed if they don't block the vision triangle) source
- Corner lots
- Nothing over 2½ ft in the clear vision triangle (15 ft along lot lines at intersections under 35 mph) source
- Distance from lot line
- Except in the Agricultural District, no part of a fence closer than 12 inches to the lot line; on the line only by written mutual agreement of the neighbors. No fence in the road right-of-way without Town Board approval. source
- Good side faces
- If the sides differ, the more attractive side must face the adjacent property. source
- Not allowed
- Barbed wire, spike or picket fences (except those with round tops); barbed wire allowed in Agricultural and Manufacturing zones. source
- How to apply
- In person source
How to file for a fence permit in the Town of Grand Rapids
Steps based on cdn.townweb.com — Building Permit Application FINAL 1
- Fill out the Town Building Permit Application (Town website or municipal building).
- Keep the fence at least 12 inches off the lot line, or get your neighbor's written agreement to build on it.
- Submit the application to Zoning Administrator Saydee Eichhorn (715-424-1821).
- Pay the permit fee after the application is reviewed.
- Near a lake or stream? Ask Wood County Planning & Zoning (715-421-8466) about a Shoreland Permit.
- Call Diggers Hotline (811) at least 3 business days before digging.
- Paying
- Permit fee is paid after review of the application
- Inspections
- Applicant must contact the inspector for required inspections
Who to contact
Saydee Eichhorn
Zoning Administrator
- Phone
- 715-424-1821
- Address
- Town of Grand Rapids, 2410 48th St S, Wisconsin Rapids, WI 54494
Contact from grandrapidswi.zoninghub.com — procedure
What to submit
- Town Building Permit Application
- Written agreement with the neighbor if building on the lot line
Other rules to know
- A permit is required for all fences and walls including dog runs; no permit for agricultural wire fences or open wire fences built solely to keep out animals (Ord. 52, § 52.3(J)(4)(f)).
- Kennels and dog runs must be at least 9 ft from any lot line.
- Within 1,000 ft of a lake or 300 ft of a navigable stream, a Wood County Shoreland Permit is also needed (715-421-8466).
- The Town's online permit center lists a $50 Zoning Permit fee; the building permit fee is set after review of the application.
- The Town posted proposed zoning changes on 10/8/2025; the fence section reads the same in that draft.
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 Grand Rapids, WI?
Yes. The Town of Grand Rapids requires a permit before you build a fence. A permit is required for all fences and walls including dog runs; no permit for agricultural wire fences or open wire fences built solely to keep out animals (Ord. 52, § 52.3(J)(4)(f)).
How tall can a fence be in the Town of Grand Rapids?
Side and rear yards: 6 ft from finished grade to top. Front (street) yard: 2½ ft within the setback area of any lot or side yard fronting a street (open fences such as chain link or split-rail allowed if they don't block the vision triangle). Corner lots: Nothing over 2½ ft in the clear vision triangle (15 ft along lot lines at intersections under 35 mph).
How close to the property line can I put a fence in the Town of Grand Rapids?
Except in the Agricultural District, no part of a fence closer than 12 inches to the lot line; on the line only by written mutual agreement of the neighbors. No fence in the road right-of-way without Town Board approval.
Which side of the fence has to face the neighbor in the Town of Grand Rapids?
If the sides differ, the more attractive side must face the adjacent property.
How do I apply for a fence permit in the Town of Grand Rapids?
Fill out the Town Building Permit Application (Town website or municipal building). Keep the fence at least 12 inches off the lot line, or get your neighbor's written agreement to build on it. Submit the application to Zoning Administrator Saydee Eichhorn (715-424-1821). Pay the permit fee after the application is reviewed. Near a lake or stream? Ask Wood County Planning & Zoning (715-421-8466) about a Shoreland Permit. permit.guide can turn a fence drawn on an aerial photo of your lot into a complete permit application package for the Town of Grand Rapids (site plan, aerial photo and filled-in details) in a few minutes.
Who do I contact about a fence permit in the Town of Grand Rapids?
Saydee Eichhorn, Zoning Administrator. Phone 715-424-1821.
Sources
Summarized from the Town of Grand Rapids's own ordinances, forms and permit pages. Each link opens the original.
Ordinance: Town Zoning Ordinance No. 52, § 52.3(J)(4) Fences
Work for the Town of Grand Rapids? 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.