City of Shawano fence permit
Do you need a fence permit in the City of Shawano? Yes. The City of Shawano 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 Shawano (site plan, aerial photo and filled-in details) in a few minutes. Start with your address.
Quick facts
- Permit required
- Yes source
- Fee
- $40.00 source
- Side and rear yards
- 6 feet source
- Front (street) yard
- Four feet when located within the required front or provided yard, whichever is closer to the street (residential districts) source
- Corner lots
- Street-side yard: 6 feet allowed; fences must meet the visibility standards in § 10-103 source
- Distance from lot line
- In the provided front yard, street-side yard or abutting an alley, no fence or decorative post shall be located closer than three feet of the right-of-way line. Fences may sit on any property line abutting a side or rear yard and within easements (subject to the easement). source
- Good side faces
- Fences shall be erected so as to locate visible supports and other structural components toward the subject property. source
- Not allowed
- Wire mesh and chain-link not permitted in the required or provided front yard in residential districts (except parks, schools, airports). Barbed or razor wire only on top of security fencing at least 6-1/2 ft up. Corrugated or solid metal fences only in LI, GI and ME districts. source
- How to apply
- Mail, in person source
How to file for a fence permit in the City of Shawano
Steps based on cityofshawano.com — 90
- Find your property lines (the owner's responsibility).
- Fill out the City's Application to Erect Fence: height, length, type, placement and cost.
- Return it with the $40.00 fee to the Zoning Administrator/Building Inspector, 127 S. Sawyer Street, Shawano (715-526-6150). Fences over 20 ft long are reviewed by the Zoning Administrator.
- Wait for the permit before starting; triple fees are due if work starts before the permit is issued.
- Call Diggers Hotline (811) at least 3 business days before digging.
- Paying
- $40.00 permit fee with the application; triple fees if work starts before the permit is issued
- Review time
- Zoning Administrator review for fences over 20 ft long
- Permit good for
- Permit expires one year from the date of issuance
Who to contact
- Phone
- 715-526-6150
- Address
- City of Shawano Zoning Admin./Building Insp., 127 S. Sawyer Street, Shawano, WI 54166
Contact from cityofshawano.com — 548
What to submit
- City of Shawano Application to Erect Fence (height, length, type of fence, placement on property, installer, cost)
Other rules to know
- § 10-108 (amended 7-10-2024 and 9-10-2025): fences over 20 feet in length shall be reviewed and approved by the Zoning Administrator and need a building permit; the Administrator may instead require Plan Commission site plan review or a conditional use permit. The rules apply to fences 36 inches tall or more.
- Residential front-yard fences must be no more than 50% opaque (e.g. picket or rail designs). Residential materials: treated wood, brick, stone, masonry, wrought iron, vinyl, or coated chain-link (at least 9 gauge, with a top rail).
- Decorative posts spaced at least 24 inches apart may rise 8 inches above the maximum (not in front yards).
- Temporary fencing (e.g. snow fence Nov. 1 to Apr. 1, construction protection) needs no permit.
- It is the property owner's responsibility to find the property lines.
- The fence application form found is undated; confirm the $40 fee is current.
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 Shawano, WI?
Yes. The City of Shawano requires a permit before you build a fence. Temporary fencing (e.g. snow fence Nov. 1 to Apr. 1, construction protection) needs no permit.
How tall can a fence be in the City of Shawano?
Side and rear yards: 6 feet. Front (street) yard: Four feet when located within the required front or provided yard, whichever is closer to the street (residential districts). Corner lots: Street-side yard: 6 feet allowed; fences must meet the visibility standards in § 10-103.
How close to the property line can I put a fence in the City of Shawano?
In the provided front yard, street-side yard or abutting an alley, no fence or decorative post shall be located closer than three feet of the right-of-way line. Fences may sit on any property line abutting a side or rear yard and within easements (subject to the easement).
Which side of the fence has to face the neighbor in the City of Shawano?
Fences shall be erected so as to locate visible supports and other structural components toward the subject property.
How much is a fence permit in the City of Shawano?
$40.00.
How do I apply for a fence permit in the City of Shawano?
Find your property lines (the owner's responsibility). Fill out the City's Application to Erect Fence: height, length, type, placement and cost. Return it with the $40.00 fee to the Zoning Administrator/Building Inspector, 127 S. Sawyer Street, Shawano (715-526-6150). Fences over 20 ft long are reviewed by the Zoning Administrator. Wait for the permit before starting; triple fees are due if work starts before the permit is issued. 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 Shawano (site plan, aerial photo and filled-in details) in a few minutes.
Who do I contact about a fence permit in the City of Shawano?
Zoning Administrator / Building Inspector. Phone 715-526-6150.
Sources
Summarized from the City of Shawano's own ordinances, forms and permit pages. Each link opens the original.
Ordinance: City of Shawano Zoning Code § 10-108 Fencing standards
Work for the City of Shawano? 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.