City of Bayfield fence permit
Do you need a fence permit in the City of Bayfield? Yes. The City of Bayfield requires a permit before you build a fence.
buildit.dog can turn a fence drawn on an aerial photo of your lot into a complete permit application package for the City of Bayfield (site plan, aerial photo and filled-in details) in a few minutes. Start with your address.
Quick facts
- Permit required
- Yes source
- Fee
- $30.00 source
- Side and rear yards
- 4 ft maximum; over 4 ft needs a conditional use permit source
- Front (street) yard
- Solid fences not allowed in front or street yards; over 4 ft needs a conditional use permit source
- Distance from lot line
- Application form: front and side yards at least 1 ft from the property line; rear yard at least 5 ft. City code (Chapter 500 fence section): residential fences 'shall not be closer than two feet to any public right-of-way' and are 'permitted on property lines in Residential Districts'. source
- Good side faces
- The finished or decorative side of a fence must face adjoining property. source
- Not allowed
- Fences in a dangerous condition; fences that conduct electricity or shock; barbed wire (except in industrial areas); fences of unsightly or dangerous materials that would be a nuisance. Security fences are not allowed in Residential Districts. Temporary protective fences need no permit but may stay up no more than 45 days. source
- How to apply
- Call 715-779-1201 x111 source
Still being confirmed with Bayfield: How does the City want a completed fence permit application submitted (email, mail or in person) and paid? Who is the City's current Zoning Administrator, and does the 4-6 ft fence policy or the 1 ft/2 ft setback apply?
How to file for a fence permit in the City of Bayfield
Steps based on cityofbayfield.com — fence permit
- Fill out the City of Bayfield fence permit application (name, address, block, lot, zoning district, fence style with drawing or picture, height, color).
- Attach a site plan showing where the fence will go.
- Pay the $30.00 fee and send it to City Hall (the fence form does not say how to submit; the City's general zoning application is accepted by email, mail or in person at 125 S First Street, so call 715-779-5712 to confirm).
- Fences over 4 ft need a conditional use permit first.
- Call Diggers Hotline (811) at least 3 business days before digging.
- Paying
- $30.00 (how to pay the fence fee not stated; the zoning application says payment by check or on the City website)
Who to contact
Billie Hoopman
City Clerk
- Phone
- 715-779-1201 x111
- [email protected]
- Address
- City of Bayfield, 125 South First Street, PO Box 1170, Bayfield, WI 54814
Contact from cityofbayfield.com — clerk
What to submit
- Fence permit application (name, address, phone, block, lot, zoning district)
- Fence style with a drawing or picture
- Fence height and color
- Site plan showing the fence location
Other rules to know
- The application says fences over four feet need a conditional use permit, and refers to a '4-6\' Fence Policy' that was not found online.
- The City's Historic Guidelines are considered before approval; fences inconsistent with the City Historic District Guidelines require Plan Commission approval.
- The code and the application differ on setbacks (2 ft from the public right-of-way vs 1 ft front/side, 5 ft rear); ask the Zoning Administrator which applies.
- Contacts differ between City pages: (715) 779-5712 (main line, on the zoning application) and (715) 779-1201 x111 (City Clerk page). The City's older Clerk/Treasurer/Zoning Administrator page is no longer online, so ask who currently serves as Zoning Administrator.
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 Bayfield, WI?
Yes. The City of Bayfield requires a permit before you build a fence.
How tall can a fence be in the City of Bayfield?
Side and rear yards: 4 ft maximum; over 4 ft needs a conditional use permit. Front (street) yard: Solid fences not allowed in front or street yards; over 4 ft needs a conditional use permit.
How close to the property line can I put a fence in the City of Bayfield?
Application form: front and side yards at least 1 ft from the property line; rear yard at least 5 ft. City code (Chapter 500 fence section): residential fences 'shall not be closer than two feet to any public right-of-way' and are 'permitted on property lines in Residential Districts'.
Which side of the fence has to face the neighbor in the City of Bayfield?
The finished or decorative side of a fence must face adjoining property.
How much is a fence permit in the City of Bayfield?
$30.00.
How do I apply for a fence permit in the City of Bayfield?
Fill out the City of Bayfield fence permit application (name, address, block, lot, zoning district, fence style with drawing or picture, height, color). Attach a site plan showing where the fence will go. Pay the $30.00 fee and send it to City Hall (the fence form does not say how to submit; the City's general zoning application is accepted by email, mail or in person at 125 S First Street, so call 715-779-5712 to confirm). Fences over 4 ft need a conditional use permit first. Call Diggers Hotline (811) at least 3 business days before digging. buildit.dog can turn a fence drawn on an aerial photo of your lot into a complete permit application package for the City of Bayfield (site plan, aerial photo and filled-in details) in a few minutes.
Who do I contact about a fence permit in the City of Bayfield?
Billie Hoopman, City Clerk. Phone 715-779-1201 x111, email [email protected].
Sources
Summarized from the City of Bayfield's own ordinances, forms and permit pages. Each link opens the original.
Ordinance: City of Bayfield Code, Chapter 500 Zoning, fence section (ecode360)
Work for the City of Bayfield? 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.