Town of Hughes fence permit

How to file for a fence permit in the Town of Hughes

Steps based on townofbarneswi.gov — planning zoning

1. Call Bayfield County Planning and Zoning at 715-373-6138 and ask whether your fence needs a land use permit (fences are not named in the ordinance; shoreland lots are stricter).
2. Ask for the form and any setback or height limits that apply to your lot, then follow what the office tells you.
3. Call Diggers Hotline (811) at least 3 business days before digging.

Other rules to know

• The Town of Hughes follows the Bayfield County zoning ordinance, so fence permits come from the county zoning office, not the town.
• No fence rule or fence permit was found in the Bayfield County zoning ordinance text (2023 archived copy). It requires a land use permit for 'any new residence, any building or structure erected, relocated, rebuilt or structurally altered' (Sec. 13-1-21(b)(1)) but does not name fences. In the shoreland, 'No fences shall be allowed in the shoreland vegetation protection area' (Sec. 13-1-23(a)(2), ordinary high-water mark to 35 feet inland), fences count as accessory structures in the shoreland (Sec. 13-1-4(a)(1)), and a permit is required for 'any and all structures' within the shoreland (Sec. 13-1-21(b)(7)). The exemption for non-habitable structures under 200 square feet (Sec. 13-1-21(b)(4)) is not stated to cover or exclude fences.
• The County is rewriting its zoning ordinance (public information session April 29, 2026; the Town of Port Wing posted 'New Bayfield County Zoning Code' on 04/20/2026). The new text was not read, so the rules above may change.
• Same-name trap: Bayfield County also has a Town of Washburn and a City of Washburn (separate), and Washburn County is a different county.

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

Sources

Summarized from the Town of Hughes's own ordinances, forms and permit pages. Each link opens the original.

Ordinance: Bayfield County Code Title 13, Chapter 1 (Zoning), Sec. 13-1-21 Land use permits (2023 archived copy)

1. energyzoning.org — Zoning ordinance (archived copy)
2. bayfield.extension.wisc.edu — Comprehensive Plan 10. Implementation DRAFT WEB 202311090921533813
3. portwing.gov — bayfield county zoning districts and the town of port wing
4. portwing.gov — 04 20 2026 new bayfield county zoning code
5. townofbarneswi.gov — planning zoning
6. townofbayfieldwi.gov — reminder public information session on bayfield county zoning code updates today
7. readkong.com — official directory of bayfield county 2022 official 9262822
8. townofcable.com — TYPE D POLLING PLACES ALL MUNCIPALITIES AND WARDS April 2026.docx
9. portwing.gov — TYPE E Spring 2025 ABSENTEE BALLOT ALL MUNICIPALITIES
10. townofwashburn.wi.gov — ordinances
11. townofwashburn.wi.gov — uniform dwelling code ordinance 2023 2