Village of Sister Bay fence permit
Do you need a fence permit in the Village of Sister Bay? Yes. The Village of Sister Bay 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 Village of Sister Bay (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 source
- Front (street) yard
- 4 ft for fences paralleling a street (up to 6 ft if within the building envelope, excluding the front yard); permit-required fences may not go beyond the front of any building or into the street yard unless ornamental or approved by the Plan Commission source
- Corner lots
- Zoning Administrator decides corner-lot fence locations (appeal to Plan Commission); no fence may obstruct the vision clearance triangle source
- Distance from lot line
- May go up to the lot line in side and rear yards, but not over side or rear property lines or into a public right-of-way. Planted fences must be set back so growth won't cross the line. source
- Good side faces
- Finished or decorative side faces the neighbor or street; posts on the applicant's side. source
- Not allowed
- Chain link fences in residential districts; electric fences except in the CS-1 District (underground electric fences allowed everywhere); fences that endanger life or safety or create a traffic hazard. Snow fences allowed Nov 1 to Apr 1 without a permit. source
- How to apply
- Call 920-854-4118 source
How to file for a fence permit in the Village of Sister Bay
Steps based on storage.googleapis.com — CURRENT VERSION OF ZONING CODE 04 21 2026 (Through Ord. 2026 003)
- Call the Zoning Administrator (920-854-4118) before you start.
- Fill out the Village Zoning Permit Application (Applications & Forms page).
- Plan a fence of 6 ft or less in side/rear yards and 4 ft along a street, with the finished side out and no chain link.
- Return the application as the Zoning Administrator directs (Village office: 2383 Maple Drive, P.O. Box 769) and pay the zoning permit fee.
- Call Diggers Hotline (811) at least 3 business days before digging.
Who to contact
- Phone
- 920-854-4118
- [email protected]
- Hours
- Mon-Thu 8 AM-4 PM; Fri 8 AM-noon
- Address
- Village of Sister Bay, 2383 Maple Drive (mail: P.O. Box 769), Sister Bay, WI 54234
Contact from sisterbaywi.gov — planning zoning
Other rules to know
- Zoning Code §66.0502(3): a zoning permit is required before building a fence, except ornamental fences, snow fences and fences built by utilities.
- §66.0303(11): fences up to 6 feet in height are excluded from structure setback and dimensional requirements; fences are also an exception to the 50-ft water setback (§66.0304(2)(c)).
- The 2026 fee schedule lists "Zoning Permit Accessory Use Structure $100" and "Standard Zoning Permit $500" but does not name fences; ask which applies.
- The Zoning Administrator asks to be contacted before starting any project, however small. The Zoning Permit Application is posted in the Village's Applications & Forms section.
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 Village of Sister Bay, WI?
Yes. The Village of Sister Bay requires a permit before you build a fence.
How tall can a fence be in the Village of Sister Bay?
Side and rear yards: 6 ft. Front (street) yard: 4 ft for fences paralleling a street (up to 6 ft if within the building envelope, excluding the front yard); permit-required fences may not go beyond the front of any building or into the street yard unless ornamental or approved by the Plan Commission. Corner lots: Zoning Administrator decides corner-lot fence locations (appeal to Plan Commission); no fence may obstruct the vision clearance triangle.
How close to the property line can I put a fence in the Village of Sister Bay?
May go up to the lot line in side and rear yards, but not over side or rear property lines or into a public right-of-way. Planted fences must be set back so growth won't cross the line.
Which side of the fence has to face the neighbor in the Village of Sister Bay?
Finished or decorative side faces the neighbor or street; posts on the applicant's side.
How do I apply for a fence permit in the Village of Sister Bay?
Call the Zoning Administrator (920-854-4118) before you start. Fill out the Village Zoning Permit Application (Applications & Forms page). Plan a fence of 6 ft or less in side/rear yards and 4 ft along a street, with the finished side out and no chain link. Return the application as the Zoning Administrator directs (Village office: 2383 Maple Drive, P.O. Box 769) and pay the zoning permit fee. 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 Village of Sister Bay (site plan, aerial photo and filled-in details) in a few minutes.
Who do I contact about a fence permit in the Village of Sister Bay?
Zoning Administrator / Code Enforcement Officer. Phone 920-854-4118, email [email protected].
Sources
Summarized from the Village of Sister Bay's own ordinances, forms and permit pages. Each link opens the original.
Ordinance: Village of Sister Bay Zoning Code Ch. 66 §66.0502 Fences
Work for the Village of Sister Bay? 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.