Town of Elderon fence permit
Do you need a fence permit in the Town of Elderon? Yes. The Town of Elderon 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 Town of Elderon (site plan, aerial photo and filled-in details) in a few minutes. Start with your address.
Quick facts
- Permit required
- Yes source
- Fee
- $50 (Residential Fences) source
- Side and rear yards
- 6 ft along a lot line in residential districts source
- Front (street) yard
- 4 ft within the road setback or corner side yard source
- Corner lots
- 4 ft in the corner side yard; in a corner clear vision area (Sec. 17.202.09) the fence must be at least 50% open to light and air source
- Distance from lot line
- Not within 2 ft of the public right-of-way; must be completely within the lot it serves and may not unreasonably obstruct adjacent parcels or driveways (the County may require a setback from a driveway or property line). source
- Good side faces
- If a fence has one finished or decorative side, it must face outward toward adjacent parcels or the street. source
- Not allowed
- Barbed wire and similar hazardous materials in residential districts (except agricultural uses). Within 200 ft of a residential district, materials are limited to durable options such as treated or durable wood, brick, masonry, vinyl, vinyl-coated chain link and metal bars up to 1 1/2 in. diameter. source
- How to apply
- Email, mail, in person source
How to file for a fence permit in the Town of Elderon
Steps based on marathoncounty.gov — 638259648564900000
- Fence 100 linear feet or less? It is a minor structure and needs no county zoning permit (it must still meet the fence rules).
- Otherwise fill out the Marathon County Zoning Permit Application and draw a complete site plan with distances to property lines, roads, septic system and other structures.
- Have the property owner and the person doing the work sign it.
- Email it to [email protected], mail it to Marathon County CPZ, 1100 Lake View Drive, Suite 400, Wausau, WI 54403, or call 715-261-6000 for an appointment.
- Pay the $50 residential fence fee (checks payable to Marathon County) before the permit is issued, and post the permit on the property.
- Call Diggers Hotline (811) at least 3 business days before digging.
- Paying
- $50, paid before permit issuance; checks payable to Marathon County
- Review time
- Issued within 20 working days of a complete application and payment (Sec. 17.802.03)
- Inspections
- County staff may inspect the site; after a final site inspection you receive a letter closing the permit
- Permit good for
- Void if work has not started within 6 months (one 6-month extension possible); must be completed within 2 years
Who to contact
- Phone
- 715-261-6000
- [email protected]
- Hours
- Monday-Thursday 7:30 am-4:30 pm; Friday 7:30 am-noon (appointments preferred)
- Address
- Marathon County Conservation, Planning & Zoning, 1100 Lake View Drive, Suite 400 (Door 23), Wausau, WI 54403
Contact from marathoncounty.gov — applications permits forms
What to submit
- Marathon County Zoning Permit Application (property owner and person responsible for the work must both sign)
- Complete site plan showing setback distances from property lines and roads (right-of-way or centerline), septic tanks/drain fields, other structures and unique site features
- Proposed start and completion dates
Other rules to know
- The Town of Elderon follows the Marathon County zoning ordinance, so fence permits come from the county zoning office, not the town.
- Fences of 100 linear feet or less are 'minor structures' that do not need a county zoning permit (Chapter 17 definition of Structure, Minor); longer fences need a zoning permit (Sec. 17.802.01).
- Covered towns: the County's town officials page lists 'Zoning: Marathon County' for Easton, Eau Pleine, Green Valley, Hewitt, McMillan and Rib Falls; Easton and Eau Pleine's own websites say zoning permits come from Marathon County; energyzoning.org lists Frankfort and Guenther as county-zoned; the County zoning code is published for Holton, Hull, Reid and Wien; and County Environmental Resources Committee agendas (2020-2024) list Chapter 17 rezonings or text amendments for Elderon, Frankfort, Hull, Knowlton, Marathon, McMillan, Plover, Reid, Spencer and Wien. No single official county list of participating towns was found, so confirm with CPZ (715-261-6000).
- Some covered towns also have a local deputy zoning administrator or zoning contact: Guenther - Cedric Burroughs, 715-693-6451; Elderon - Don Genrich, 715-573-0784; Plover - Scott McRae (Building Inspector / Deputy Zoning Admin), 715-581-4515.
- Marathon County Shoreland, Shoreland-Wetland & Floodplain zoning (Chapter 22) applies county-wide in unincorporated areas, including towns with their own zoning.
- Fences must not obstruct surface water flow or damage underground utilities, and must be maintained (damaged parts repaired, replaced or removed); a maintenance access agreement with the neighbor is encouraged.
- Fee schedule (approved 4/4/2023): Residential Fences $50. Starting work without a required permit can mean a double fee (Sec. 17.801.06.C).
- Town clerks (2025-2026 Marathon County Directory of Public Officials, area code 715): Easton - Sherry Weinkauf, 573-1372; Eau Pleine - Heather Kops, 897-2781; Elderon - Mary Ostrowski, 454-6845; Frankfort - Kari Emmerich-Roeper, 297-0645; Green Valley - Dana Solinsky, 693-3625; Guenther - Shannon Brandt, 498-5478; Hewitt - John Kreager, 581-2775; Holton - Taylor Ensign, 316-2040; Hull - Jenny Reynolds, 223-5881; Knowlton - Alan Fochs, 693-9512; Marathon - Kelley Blume, 443-3082; McMillan - John Cokl, 389-1338; Plover - Valerie Parker, 581-4603; Reid - Kaitlin Kopplin, 370-7379; Rib Falls - Alysia Seliger, 551-8118; Spencer - Dennis Gonnering, 659-4054; Wien - Diane Drinsinger, 212-9269.
- Building (UDC) permits are separate and come from each town's building inspector, not the 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
Do I need a permit to build a fence in the Town of Elderon, WI?
Yes. The Town of Elderon requires a permit before you build a fence.
How tall can a fence be in the Town of Elderon?
Side and rear yards: 6 ft along a lot line in residential districts. Front (street) yard: 4 ft within the road setback or corner side yard. Corner lots: 4 ft in the corner side yard; in a corner clear vision area (Sec. 17.202.09) the fence must be at least 50% open to light and air.
How close to the property line can I put a fence in the Town of Elderon?
Not within 2 ft of the public right-of-way; must be completely within the lot it serves and may not unreasonably obstruct adjacent parcels or driveways (the County may require a setback from a driveway or property line).
Which side of the fence has to face the neighbor in the Town of Elderon?
If a fence has one finished or decorative side, it must face outward toward adjacent parcels or the street.
How much is a fence permit in the Town of Elderon?
$50 (Residential Fences).
How do I apply for a fence permit in the Town of Elderon?
Fence 100 linear feet or less? It is a minor structure and needs no county zoning permit (it must still meet the fence rules). Otherwise fill out the Marathon County Zoning Permit Application and draw a complete site plan with distances to property lines, roads, septic system and other structures. Have the property owner and the person doing the work sign it. Email it to [email protected], mail it to Marathon County CPZ, 1100 Lake View Drive, Suite 400, Wausau, WI 54403, or call 715-261-6000 for an appointment. Pay the $50 residential fence fee (checks payable to Marathon County) before the permit is issued, and post the permit on the property. buildit.dog can turn a fence drawn on an aerial photo of your lot into a complete permit application package for the Town of Elderon (site plan, aerial photo and filled-in details) in a few minutes.
Who do I contact about a fence permit in the Town of Elderon?
Marathon County Conservation, Planning & Zoning (CPZ). Phone 715-261-6000, email [email protected].
Sources
Summarized from the Town of Elderon's own ordinances, forms and permit pages. Each link opens the original.
- zoneomics.com — Municipal code: chapter 4
- zoneomics.com — Municipal code: chapter 9
- zoneomics.com — Municipal code: chapter 8
- zoneomics.com — Municipal code: chapter 1
- marathoncounty.gov — 638257938300530000
- marathoncounty.gov — 638259648564900000
- marathoncounty.gov — applications permits forms
- marathoncounty.gov — 638259648553830000
- marathoncounty.gov — zoning
- eastonmcwi.gov — ordinances
- townofeaupleinemc.org — building/zoning permits
- energyzoning.org — Zoning ordinance (archived copy)
- energyzoning.org — Zoning ordinance (archived copy)
- marathoncounty.gov — 638255207994470000
- marathoncounty.gov — 638261478474970000
- marathoncounty.gov — 638471278107570000
- marathoncounty.gov — 638622657035230000
- marathoncounty.gov — towns
- marathon.prod-as.govaccess.org — 638877351069670000
Work for the Town of Elderon? 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.