Marinette County, Wisconsin

City of Marinette fence permit

Q: Who do I contact about a fence permit in the City of Marinette?

Curt Demlow, Building Inspector. Phone 715-732-5128, email cdemlow@marinette.wi.us.

Do you need a fence permit in the City of Marinette? Yes. The City of Marinette 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 Marinette (site plan, aerial photo and filled-in details) in a few minutes. Start with your address.

Quick facts

Permit required: Yes source
Fee: $40 zoning permit (residential fence; no building permit) source
Side and rear yards: 6 ft source
Front (street) yard: 3 ft in the front yard (decorative fence not exceeding 36 inches in the front setback area) source
Corner lots: On a corner lot no fence, hedges and vegetation allowed in the setback area of a corner lot; corner lots may need a vision triangle setback source
Distance from lot line: Side yard fences can be placed up to the lot line (not into the front setback area). Code: no fence nearer than 4 feet to any rear property line or any property line adjacent to an alley. source
Good side faces: The most aesthetic side of the fence has to face out. source
Not allowed: Fences that conduct electricity or are designed to electrically shock, or that use barbed wire (barbed wire allowed only in industrial districts). Allowed materials listed by the City: wood, wrought iron, stone, chain link, brick, decorative concrete block. source
How to apply: In person source

Plan your fence and build the applicationLook up your address, draw the fence on an aerial photo of your lot, and get a site plan and filled-in application.

How to file for a fence permit in the City of Marinette

Steps based on marinette.wi.us — Fence Requirements

Download the City's building permit application (or pick one up at City Hall) - fences use it for the $40 zoning permit.
Draw where the fence will go in relation to your lot lines and buildings.
Keep it 6 ft or lower in side and rear yards and 3 ft in the front yard; check corner-lot vision rules and keep 4 ft off any alley line.
Apply in person at Marinette City Hall, 1905 Hall Avenue (Mon-Fri 7:30 am-4 pm). Questions: Building Inspector Curt Demlow, 715-732-5128.
Call Diggers Hotline (811) at least 3 business days before digging.

Paying: $40 zoning permit fee

Who to contact

Curt Demlow
Building Inspector

Phone: 715-732-5128
Email: [email protected]
Hours: Monday-Wednesday 8:00 am-4:00 pm; Thursday-Friday by appointment only
Address: Marinette City Hall, 1905 Hall Avenue, Marinette, WI 54143

Contact from marinette.wi.us — Building Inspection

What to submit

Building/zoning permit application
A drawing showing where the fence will be installed in relation to lot lines and buildings

Official application form or packet

Other rules to know

"All fences, new or replacement, require a zoning permit." (When a Residential Permit is Required page); code §465-324: "A zoning permit is required to construct a new or replacement fence."
The City's Fence Requirements page says side yard fences can go up to the lot line; the zoning code (§465-326A, as shown on the Zoneomics mirror) says no fence nearer than four feet to any rear property line. Ask the Building Inspector which applies to your lot.
Fence sections §465-325 and §465-326 were amended 6-3-2025 (Ord. No. 2542) and §465-326 again 4-8-2026 (Ord. No. 2549), per the Zoneomics mirror of Chapter 465.
Pools require a fence with specific design specifications.
The Fence Requirements page lists Building Inspector Curt Demlow at (715) 923-0720; the Building Inspection page lists 715-732-5128.

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 Marinette, WI?

Yes. The City of Marinette requires a permit before you build a fence.

How tall can a fence be in the City of Marinette?

Side and rear yards: 6 ft. Front (street) yard: 3 ft in the front yard (decorative fence not exceeding 36 inches in the front setback area). Corner lots: On a corner lot no fence, hedges and vegetation allowed in the setback area of a corner lot; corner lots may need a vision triangle setback.

How close to the property line can I put a fence in the City of Marinette?

Side yard fences can be placed up to the lot line (not into the front setback area). Code: no fence nearer than 4 feet to any rear property line or any property line adjacent to an alley.

Which side of the fence has to face the neighbor in the City of Marinette?

The most aesthetic side of the fence has to face out.

How much is a fence permit in the City of Marinette?

$40 zoning permit (residential fence; no building permit).

How do I apply for a fence permit in the City of Marinette?

Download the City's building permit application (or pick one up at City Hall) - fences use it for the $40 zoning permit. Draw where the fence will go in relation to your lot lines and buildings. Keep it 6 ft or lower in side and rear yards and 3 ft in the front yard; check corner-lot vision rules and keep 4 ft off any alley line. Apply in person at Marinette City Hall, 1905 Hall Avenue (Mon-Fri 7:30 am-4 pm). Questions: Building Inspector Curt Demlow, 715-732-5128. 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 Marinette (site plan, aerial photo and filled-in details) in a few minutes.

Who do I contact about a fence permit in the City of Marinette?

Curt Demlow, Building Inspector. Phone 715-732-5128, email [email protected].

Sources

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

Ordinance: City of Marinette Zoning Code Ch. 465, Article XXXVII Fences, Retaining Walls and Hedges (§§465-323 to 465-331)

Work for the City of Marinette? 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.