Vilas County, Wisconsin

City of Eagle River fence permit

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

Quick facts

Permit required: Yes source
Fee: $75 ("Fences, Porches and Decks $75", 2025 schedule); permit fees are waived for projects that cost less than $2,000.00 source
Side and rear yards: 6 ft ("no fence, landscape wall or decorative post will exceed six feet") source
Front (street) yard: No greater than four feet within a required front setback of any residential property source
Corner lots: Within the visibility triangle on properties adjoining State or U.S. Highways, fences and other obstructions are restricted to no taller than 30 inches (Sec. 106-263); fences shall not block any sight lines or obstruct views related to the navigation of streets or sidewalks source
Distance from lot line: No fence, landscape wall or decorative post closer than two feet to the front yard property line. Fences may be located on any property line abutting a side or rear yard. Fences on rear yards adjacent to an alleyway need to be ten feet from the alleyway pavement. source
Good side faces: Erected so visible supports and other structural components face toward the subject property (Sec. 106-274(6)). source
Not allowed: Above-ground electrically charged / electrified fences in and/or adjoining all residential zoning districts; barbed wire fencing when adjoining a residential property (barbed wire allowed on nonresidential security fences at 5.5 ft (66 in) or higher). Residential fence materials include wood, stone, brick, wrought iron, chain link and wire mesh. source
How to apply: Call 715-479-8682 ext. 227 source

Still being confirmed with Eagle River: Can fence zoning permit applications be emailed to the Zoning Administrator, and is the fence fee still $75 under the 2026 fee schedule?

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 you can send to City of Eagle River.

How to file for a fence permit in the City of Eagle River

Steps based on eagleriverwi.gov — Zoning Permit Application Revised 2024.12.10 FILLABLE PDF

Fill out the City of Eagle River Zoning Permit Application (fillable PDF on the City's Zoning & Administration page), showing the fence location and setbacks.
Contact City & Zoning Administrator Robin Ginner (715-479-8682 ext. 227) to submit it; pay the $75 fee by cash or check (waived if the project costs under $2,000).
Wait for the zoning permit before building.
Call Diggers Hotline (811) at least 3 business days before digging.

Paying: Cash or check (fee field on application)
Inspections: By accepting the permit the applicant allows the Administrator access to the property for compliance inspections
Permit good for: Two years from the date of issue

Who to contact

Robin Ginner
City & Zoning Administrator

Phone: 715-479-8682 ext. 227
Email: [email protected]
Address: City Hall, 525 E. Maple Street (PO Box 1269), Eagle River, WI 54521

Contact from eagleriverwi.gov — zoning administration

What to submit

City of Eagle River Zoning Permit Application (fillable PDF): applicant info, purpose, project cost, size of structure, contractor, zoning district and setbacks

Official application form or packet

Other rules to know

Sec. 106-274 fence standards apply to fences equal to or exceeding 30 inches in height.
Temporary fencing such as snow fencing and construction-site fencing is exempt from the fence standards (Sec. 106-274(3)).
Sec. 106-111(d): "Zoning permits are required for construction that would impact the setbacks, types of use and fencing."
No structure or improvement may be built on city-owned property, utility easements or highway right-of-way without written permission from the City Council or its designee (permit application).
Zoning permits are valid for two years from the date of issue (Sec. 106-112(c)).
A 2026 zoning fee schedule (effective 1/1/2026) is linked from the City's Zoning page but could not be opened; the $75 fence fee is from the schedule effective January 1, 2025.
The Aug. 7, 2025 ordinance amendment moved the barbed-wire-adjoining-residential rule to Sec. 106-274(2) and added the electrified-fence prohibition to 106-274(1).
City Clerk/Deputy Treasurer Becky Bolte: 715-479-8682 ext. 224

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 Eagle River, WI?

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

How tall can a fence be in the City of Eagle River?

Side and rear yards: 6 ft ("no fence, landscape wall or decorative post will exceed six feet"). Front (street) yard: No greater than four feet within a required front setback of any residential property. Corner lots: Within the visibility triangle on properties adjoining State or U.S. Highways, fences and other obstructions are restricted to no taller than 30 inches (Sec. 106-263); fences shall not block any sight lines or obstruct views related to the navigation of streets or sidewalks.

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

No fence, landscape wall or decorative post closer than two feet to the front yard property line. Fences may be located on any property line abutting a side or rear yard. Fences on rear yards adjacent to an alleyway need to be ten feet from the alleyway pavement.

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

Erected so visible supports and other structural components face toward the subject property (Sec. 106-274(6)).

How much is a fence permit in the City of Eagle River?

$75 ("Fences, Porches and Decks $75", 2025 schedule); permit fees are waived for projects that cost less than $2,000.00.

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

Fill out the City of Eagle River Zoning Permit Application (fillable PDF on the City's Zoning & Administration page), showing the fence location and setbacks. Contact City & Zoning Administrator Robin Ginner (715-479-8682 ext. 227) to submit it; pay the $75 fee by cash or check (waived if the project costs under $2,000). Wait for the zoning 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 City of Eagle River (site plan, aerial photo and filled-in details) in a few minutes.

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

Robin Ginner, City & Zoning Administrator. Phone 715-479-8682 ext. 227, email [email protected].

Sources

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

Ordinance: City Zoning Code Ch. 106, Sec. 106-274 Fences (also Sec. 106-111(d), 106-263)

Work for the City of Eagle River? 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.