City of River Falls fence permit
Do you need a fence permit in the City of River Falls? Yes. The City of River Falls 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 River Falls (site plan, aerial photo and filled-in details) in a few minutes. Start with your address.
Quick facts
- Permit required
- Yes source
- Fee
- $50 source
- Side and rear yards
- 6 ft in a residential zone (yard not abutting a street); 10 ft nonresidential source
- Front (street) yard
- 3 ft in a residential zone (yard abutting a street); 6 ft in a nonresidential zone source
- Corner lots
- Must leave the vision clearance triangle required by Sec. 17.08.030 source
- Distance from lot line
- Fences may go up to the property line. A fence abutting a street must be set back at least 3 ft from the property line, and enough to keep the vision clearance triangle. Keep 3 ft clear around fire hydrants and utility boxes (info sheet). Posts may rise 12 in. above the fence body. Not allowed in FEMA floodways; fences in easements need extra review. source
- Good side faces
- Posts and lateral supports must not be on the side facing an adjacent property or public right-of-way, unless the fence is exposed on both sides. source
- Not allowed
- Chain link in a front yard; snow fencing; plywood; above-ground electric fencing. Barbed, razor or concertina wire only with a special use permit and not next to a residential zone. Wood must be cedar, redwood or other decay-resistant wood. source
- How to apply
- In person source
How to file for a fence permit in the City of River Falls
Steps based on rfmu.org — Forms and Permits
- Fill out the City of River Falls Fence Permit Application (owner and applicant signatures, height, material, location).
- Attach a site plan showing the house, lot lines, existing structures and where the fence will go, plus a photo or spec sheet of the material.
- Check the lot for easements; fences are not permitted in easements without extra review.
- Submit it with the $50 fee (check to City of River Falls, or cash) to Community Development at City Hall, 222 Lewis Street, or call 715-426-3427 first.
- Call Diggers Hotline (811) at least 3 business days before digging.
- Paying
- $50, check payable to City of River Falls or cash
Who to contact
- Phone
- 715-426-3427
- Address
- River Falls City Hall, 222 Lewis Street, River Falls, WI 54022
Contact from rfmu.org — 1933
What to submit
- Fence permit application
- Site plan showing the fence location and measurements, property lines and existing structures
- Photo or manufacturer spec sheet of the fence material
- $50 fee
Other rules to know
- Decorative fences do not need a permit (Sec. 17.08.070(C)). The permit and location/height/material rules do not apply in the A (agricultural) district.
- Exceptions: a residential fence in a side or rear yard abutting a nonresidential zone may be 8 ft; a residential fence in a side/rear yard that abuts a street may be 6 ft if set back 3 ft with approved landscaping on the street side.
- Fences must be kept in good repair on both sides. A fence fully enclosing a side or rear yard with no other pedestrian access needs a gate (proposed ADU amendment to 17.08.070 on the Jan 2026 agenda; check whether adopted).
- The city's Forms & Permits page tells applicants to email the application, fee and site plan but lists two different staff email addresses; fee may be paid by check to City of River Falls or cash.
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 River Falls, WI?
Yes. The City of River Falls requires a permit before you build a fence. Decorative fences do not need a permit (Sec. 17.08.070(C)). The permit and location/height/material rules do not apply in the A (agricultural) district.
How tall can a fence be in the City of River Falls?
Side and rear yards: 6 ft in a residential zone (yard not abutting a street); 10 ft nonresidential. Front (street) yard: 3 ft in a residential zone (yard abutting a street); 6 ft in a nonresidential zone. Corner lots: Must leave the vision clearance triangle required by Sec. 17.08.030.
How close to the property line can I put a fence in the City of River Falls?
Fences may go up to the property line. A fence abutting a street must be set back at least 3 ft from the property line, and enough to keep the vision clearance triangle. Keep 3 ft clear around fire hydrants and utility boxes (info sheet). Posts may rise 12 in. above the fence body. Not allowed in FEMA floodways; fences in easements need extra review.
Which side of the fence has to face the neighbor in the City of River Falls?
Posts and lateral supports must not be on the side facing an adjacent property or public right-of-way, unless the fence is exposed on both sides.
How much is a fence permit in the City of River Falls?
$50.
How do I apply for a fence permit in the City of River Falls?
Fill out the City of River Falls Fence Permit Application (owner and applicant signatures, height, material, location). Attach a site plan showing the house, lot lines, existing structures and where the fence will go, plus a photo or spec sheet of the material. Check the lot for easements; fences are not permitted in easements without extra review. Submit it with the $50 fee (check to City of River Falls, or cash) to Community Development at City Hall, 222 Lewis Street, or call 715-426-3427 first. 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 River Falls (site plan, aerial photo and filled-in details) in a few minutes.
Who do I contact about a fence permit in the City of River Falls?
Community Development - Building Inspections. Phone 715-426-3427.
Sources
Summarized from the City of River Falls's own ordinances, forms and permit pages. Each link opens the original.
Ordinance: Municipal Code §17.08.070 Fences
Work for the City of River Falls? 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.