Town of Wescott fence permit
Do you need a fence permit in the Town of Wescott? Yes. The Town of Wescott 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 Wescott (site plan, aerial photo and filled-in details) in a few minutes. Start with your address.
Quick facts
- Permit required
- Yes source
- Side and rear yards
- 6 feet maximum source
- Front (street) yard
- Only an open fence of 2 1/2 feet within the first 15 feet back from a public right-of-way source
- Corner lots
- Any segment of a fence located in a vision triangle shall be an open fence, 2 1/2 feet maximum height from preconstruction grade source
- Distance from lot line
- Fences requiring a land use permit must be set off two feet from adjoining property lines (§ 285-35S). No fences on any public right-of-way. source
- Good side faces
- The finished side faces the adjacent property; the side with protruding studs or posts faces the lot that erected the fence (§ 285-35D). source
- Not allowed
- Barbed-wire, electrical, razor-type, and single-, double- or triple-strand fences except in the Agricultural/Woodlands/Open Space or Industrial districts. Cloth, canvas or similar materials. source
- How to apply
- Call 715-526-9853 source
Still being confirmed with Wescott: What is the land use permit fee for a residential fence, and who is the current Zoning Administrator?
How to file for a fence permit in the Town of Wescott
- Call the Town of Wescott (715-526-9853) for the Zoning Administrator and a land use permit application.
- Plan the fence at least 2 ft off the property lines, finished side out, 6 ft max in side and rear yards.
- Submit the application with the fee from the Town's zoning permit fee schedule and wait for the permit before building.
- Call Diggers Hotline (811) at least 3 business days before digging.
Who to contact
- Phone
- 715-526-9853
- Address
- Town of Wescott, N5794 Old Keshena Road, Shawano, WI 54166 (mail: PO Box 536, Shawano, WI 54166)
Contact from townofwescott.com — zoning administrator jobe description and application
What to submit
- Town land use (zoning) permit application
Other rules to know
- § 285-35R: "A land use permit shall be required for the erection of any fence except for those used for agricultural purposes."
- Approved materials outside the Agricultural/Woodlands/Open Space district: treated wood, vinyl, chain-link, wrought iron, brick, stone or masonry; front yards: only wood, brick, vinyl or stone.
- Fences must be kept in good repair; support posts must be inside the fence area or hidden from view. The Zoning Administrator may order a fence removed if it impedes drainage.
- Rules quoted are from Chapter 285 as amended through 4-25-2018 (archived on energyzoning.org); the Town's eCode360 code was updated 3-14-2024.
- Shoreland construction also needs a Shawano County land use permit (§ 285-96).
- The Town posted a Zoning Administrator job opening in Oct. 2025; fees are set by the Town's Plan Commission/Zoning Permit Fee Schedule (2017).
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 Wescott, WI?
Yes. The Town of Wescott requires a permit before you build a fence.
How tall can a fence be in the Town of Wescott?
Side and rear yards: 6 feet maximum. Front (street) yard: Only an open fence of 2 1/2 feet within the first 15 feet back from a public right-of-way. Corner lots: Any segment of a fence located in a vision triangle shall be an open fence, 2 1/2 feet maximum height from preconstruction grade.
How close to the property line can I put a fence in the Town of Wescott?
Fences requiring a land use permit must be set off two feet from adjoining property lines (§ 285-35S). No fences on any public right-of-way.
Which side of the fence has to face the neighbor in the Town of Wescott?
The finished side faces the adjacent property; the side with protruding studs or posts faces the lot that erected the fence (§ 285-35D).
How do I apply for a fence permit in the Town of Wescott?
Call the Town of Wescott (715-526-9853) for the Zoning Administrator and a land use permit application. Plan the fence at least 2 ft off the property lines, finished side out, 6 ft max in side and rear yards. Submit the application with the fee from the Town's zoning permit fee schedule and wait for the permit before building. 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 Town of Wescott (site plan, aerial photo and filled-in details) in a few minutes.
Who do I contact about a fence permit in the Town of Wescott?
Zoning Administrator (Zoning & Code Enforcement Coordinator), Town of Wescott. Phone 715-526-9853.
Sources
Summarized from the Town of Wescott's own ordinances, forms and permit pages. Each link opens the original.
Ordinance: Town of Wescott Code Ch. 285 Zoning, § 285-35 Fences
Work for the Town of Wescott? 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.