City of Niagara fence permit
Do you need a fence permit in the City of Niagara? Yes. The City of Niagara 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 Niagara (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 rate that lists fences; fees subject to change) source
- Front (street) yard
- 42 inches above grade in the front setback or any street yard source
- Distance from lot line
- Boundary fences: two to three feet off the property line, provided the owner is able to maintain both sides of the fence; not closer than two feet to any right-of-way. source
- Good side faces
- The finished side or decorative side of a fence shall face adjoining property. source
- Not allowed
- Fences in a dangerous condition, fences that conduct electricity or are designed to electrically shock, and fences that use barbed wire (barbed wire only on security fences, mounted 10 ft above ground and projecting toward the fenced property). No fences of unsightly or dangerous materials. Fences separating residential lots from commercial/industrial districts must be solid; cyclone-style or wire fences not permitted there. source
- How to apply
- Call 715-548-1058 source
Still being confirmed with Niagara: What is the maximum fence height in side and rear yards, and is there a fence permit application form?
How to file for a fence permit in the City of Niagara
Steps based on zoneomics.com — Municipal code: chapter 11
- Contact the City's Zoning and Permit Administrator, Bob Grandaw (715-548-1058, [email protected]), for a fence permit.
- Plan to set the fence 2 to 3 ft off the property line (so you can maintain both sides), at least 2 ft from any right-of-way, and no taller than 42 inches in the front setback or any street yard.
- Face the finished or decorative side toward the neighbor; no barbed wire or electric fencing.
- Pay the permit fee ($50 residential rate, subject to change).
- Call Diggers Hotline (811) at least 3 business days before digging.
- Paying
- $50 residential rate (subject to change)
Who to contact
Bob Grandaw
Zoning and Permit Administrator
- Phone
- 715-548-1058
- [email protected]
Contact from cityofniagara.org — permits
Other rules to know
- Code Sec. 13.08.1330(4): "All fences must comply with the above regulations unless a variance has been granted" ... "Permits are granted through the Zoning Administrator."
- The code section gives no maximum height for boundary fences in side or rear yards; security fences may be up to 10 ft and must be open type, two-thirds open to vision.
- Hedges follow the same height and setback rules as fences and may not be in the right-of-way (terrace).
- City Clerk: Audrey Fredrick, 1029 Roosevelt Rd, PO 24, Niagara, 715-251-3235 (absentee voting notice).
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 Niagara, WI?
Yes. The City of Niagara requires a permit before you build a fence.
How tall can a fence be in the City of Niagara?
Front (street) yard: 42 inches above grade in the front setback or any street yard.
How close to the property line can I put a fence in the City of Niagara?
Boundary fences: two to three feet off the property line, provided the owner is able to maintain both sides of the fence; not closer than two feet to any right-of-way.
Which side of the fence has to face the neighbor in the City of Niagara?
The finished side or decorative side of a fence shall face adjoining property.
How much is a fence permit in the City of Niagara?
$50 (residential rate that lists fences; fees subject to change).
How do I apply for a fence permit in the City of Niagara?
Contact the City's Zoning and Permit Administrator, Bob Grandaw (715-548-1058, [email protected]), for a fence permit. Plan to set the fence 2 to 3 ft off the property line (so you can maintain both sides), at least 2 ft from any right-of-way, and no taller than 42 inches in the front setback or any street yard. Face the finished or decorative side toward the neighbor; no barbed wire or electric fencing. Pay the permit fee ($50 residential rate, subject to change). 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 Niagara (site plan, aerial photo and filled-in details) in a few minutes.
Who do I contact about a fence permit in the City of Niagara?
Bob Grandaw, Zoning and Permit Administrator. Phone 715-548-1058, email [email protected].
Sources
Summarized from the City of Niagara's own ordinances, forms and permit pages. Each link opens the original.
Ordinance: Niagara City Code Sec. 13.08.1330 Fences and Hedges
Work for the City of Niagara? 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.