City of Superior fence permit
Do you need a fence permit in the City of Superior? Yes. The City of Superior 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 Superior (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
- 8 ft source
- Front (street) yard
- 4 ft (front yard, and side yard along a street forward of the house's rear wall) source
- Corner lots
- 3 ft within 20 ft of the street-intersection corner (chain link with 2-inch or larger mesh may reach 4 ft); 3 ft within 5 ft of a driveway/alley street access (same chain link exception) source
- Distance from lot line
- At least 5 ft from an alley line (snow removal); at least 1 ft from a city sidewalk or sidewalk right-of-way; between dwellings no fence within 5 ft of either home (the last 5 ft may approach and attach to the house; does not apply to detached garages). Where adjoining lots have different limits, the stricter applies. source
- Good side faces
- Wood and manufactured fences should face outward, toward neighboring properties. Wood that is not pressure treated must be stained or painted unless naturally weather resistant (cedar, redwood). source
- Not allowed
- Barbed wire and electric fences in residential districts; fences, trees or hedges that obstruct motorists' vision; non-fencing materials (pallets, vehicle parts, doors, bed springs) without written approval from the planning director. source
- How to apply
- Online portal, email source
How to file for a fence permit in the City of Superior
Steps based on superiorwi.gov — Building Permits
- Check the City's Fence Brochure for heights, setbacks and prohibited materials.
- Locate your property corners and underground utilities.
- Apply for a building permit through the City's Self Service Portal (the Building Permits page also says plans may be emailed to [email protected]; plans must be digital).
- Allow 10 business days for review and approval after all required information is submitted. No inspection is required for fences.
- Call Diggers Hotline (811) at least 3 business days before digging.
- Review time
- 10 business days after all required information is submitted
- Inspections
- Not required for fences
Who to contact
Building Inspection Division
Building Department / permit technicians
- Phone
- 715-395-7288
- [email protected]
- Address
- City of Superior Building Inspection, 1316 N 14th Street, Superior, WI 54880
Contact from superiorwi.gov — Residential Accessory Structures
What to submit
- Building permit application (Self Service Portal)
Other rules to know
- The Fence Brochure lists the permit rule: building a fence without a City building permit is prohibited. The City FAQ lists 'All accessory buildings and residential fences' as needing a permit.
- Inspections are not required for fences (Residential Accessory Structures page).
- Locate your property corners and underground utilities before building; leave room for maintenance access; a neglected fence can be declared a public nuisance. Violations carry a fine of at least $100 plus assessments and court costs.
- Fee: the only fence fee found was $30.00 ('Fence Permit') on a residential permit fee schedule adopted 10-16-12; the City's current fee schedule (linked from its FAQ) could not be opened, so no fee is stated here.
- Not to be confused with Superior, Colorado: a 'Fence Policy' PDF on content.govdelivery.com/COSUPERIOR is for Superior, CO and was NOT used.
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 Superior, WI?
Yes. The City of Superior requires a permit before you build a fence.
How tall can a fence be in the City of Superior?
Side and rear yards: 8 ft. Front (street) yard: 4 ft (front yard, and side yard along a street forward of the house's rear wall). Corner lots: 3 ft within 20 ft of the street-intersection corner (chain link with 2-inch or larger mesh may reach 4 ft); 3 ft within 5 ft of a driveway/alley street access (same chain link exception).
How close to the property line can I put a fence in the City of Superior?
At least 5 ft from an alley line (snow removal); at least 1 ft from a city sidewalk or sidewalk right-of-way; between dwellings no fence within 5 ft of either home (the last 5 ft may approach and attach to the house; does not apply to detached garages). Where adjoining lots have different limits, the stricter applies.
Which side of the fence has to face the neighbor in the City of Superior?
Wood and manufactured fences should face outward, toward neighboring properties. Wood that is not pressure treated must be stained or painted unless naturally weather resistant (cedar, redwood).
How do I apply for a fence permit in the City of Superior?
Check the City's Fence Brochure for heights, setbacks and prohibited materials. Locate your property corners and underground utilities. Apply for a building permit through the City's Self Service Portal (the Building Permits page also says plans may be emailed to [email protected]; plans must be digital). Allow 10 business days for review and approval after all required information is submitted. No inspection is required for fences. 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 Superior (site plan, aerial photo and filled-in details) in a few minutes.
Who do I contact about a fence permit in the City of Superior?
Building Inspection Division, Building Department / permit technicians. Phone 715-395-7288, email [email protected].
Sources
Summarized from the City of Superior's own ordinances, forms and permit pages. Each link opens the original.
Work for the City of Superior? 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.