Town of Manitowish Waters fence permit
Do you need a fence permit in the Town of Manitowish Waters? Yes. The Town of Manitowish Waters 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 Manitowish Waters (site plan, aerial photo and filled-in details) in a few minutes. Start with your address.
Quick facts
- Permit required
- Yes source
- Fee
- Per the Town Board fee schedule (amount not confirmed) source
- Side and rear yards
- Up to 6.0 ft with a zoning permit; over 6.0 ft and less than 15.0 ft from the property boundary line needs a conditional use permit; over 12.0 ft always needs a conditional use permit source
- Front (street) yard
- Up to 6.0 ft with a zoning permit; over 6.0 ft between a building setback line and the property line needs a conditional use permit source
- Corner lots
- Within visual clearance setback lines only open fences through which there shall be clear vision (Sec. 3.4) source
- Distance from lot line
- No fences between 0 and 75 feet from the shoreline (measured from the ordinary high water mark). Side yard setbacks are measured from the property boundary line; for lots abutting roads, setbacks per local, county or state regulations. source
- Good side faces
- The decorative face of any fence shall face outward. source
- Not allowed
- No fences within 75 feet of the shoreline. source
- How to apply
- In person source
How to file for a fence permit in the Town of Manitowish Waters
Steps based on mwtown.gov — building permits applications
- Get the Zoning/Land Use Permit Application and Project Sketch Attachment from the Town's Permits & Applications page.
- Draw the fence on a scale sketch of your lot with distances to the street and lot lines; keep it at least 75 ft from the shoreline.
- File it with the Manitowish Waters Zoning office / Zoning Administrator (715-543-2855) and pay the fee from the Town fee schedule.
- Call Diggers Hotline (811) at least 3 business days before digging.
- Paying
- Fee per Town Board fee schedule
- Inspections
- Zoning staff may enter the property during regular business hours to inspect
- Permit good for
- Expires one year from issuance if substantial construction is not started
Who to contact
Tom Thiessen
Zoning Administrator (Deputy: Vince Hoehn)
- Phone
- 715-543-2855
- Hours
- Office 9:00 am-12:00 noon; field 12:30-4:00 pm (schedule may change)
- Address
- Manitowish Waters Zoning office, Town Hall, PO Box 267, Manitowish Waters, WI 54545
Contact from mwtown.gov — building permits applications
What to submit
- Town Zoning/Land Use Permit Application, signed by the owner(s) (and agent if any)
- Zoning Permit Project Sketch Attachment / scale drawing of the lot with dimensions and distances from the street and lot lines
- Owner name and address, fire number and legal description of the parcel
Other rules to know
- Sec. 5.9(A)(2)(a): a zoning permit is required for all permanent fences not needing a conditional use permit.
- No permit for a see-through garden-protection fence (wire mesh or chain link) intended to prevent animal damage to a garden (Sec. 5.9(B)(4)).
- Fence height is measured from the ground surface to the top of the fence along its length.
- Permit expires one year from issuance if substantial construction is not started (Sec. 10.4).
- Vilas County Zoning (715-479-3620) still handles county shoreland zoning in this town; ask whether a county permit is also needed near a lake or river.
- Town Clerk: 715-543-8400 ([email protected])
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 Manitowish Waters, WI?
Yes. The Town of Manitowish Waters requires a permit before you build a fence. No permit for a see-through garden-protection fence (wire mesh or chain link) intended to prevent animal damage to a garden (Sec. 5.9(B)(4)).
How tall can a fence be in the Town of Manitowish Waters?
Side and rear yards: Up to 6.0 ft with a zoning permit; over 6.0 ft and less than 15.0 ft from the property boundary line needs a conditional use permit; over 12.0 ft always needs a conditional use permit. Front (street) yard: Up to 6.0 ft with a zoning permit; over 6.0 ft between a building setback line and the property line needs a conditional use permit. Corner lots: Within visual clearance setback lines only open fences through which there shall be clear vision (Sec. 3.4).
How close to the property line can I put a fence in the Town of Manitowish Waters?
No fences between 0 and 75 feet from the shoreline (measured from the ordinary high water mark). Side yard setbacks are measured from the property boundary line; for lots abutting roads, setbacks per local, county or state regulations.
Which side of the fence has to face the neighbor in the Town of Manitowish Waters?
The decorative face of any fence shall face outward.
How much is a fence permit in the Town of Manitowish Waters?
Per the Town Board fee schedule (amount not confirmed).
How do I apply for a fence permit in the Town of Manitowish Waters?
Get the Zoning/Land Use Permit Application and Project Sketch Attachment from the Town's Permits & Applications page. Draw the fence on a scale sketch of your lot with distances to the street and lot lines; keep it at least 75 ft from the shoreline. File it with the Manitowish Waters Zoning office / Zoning Administrator (715-543-2855) and pay the fee from the Town fee schedule. 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 Manitowish Waters (site plan, aerial photo and filled-in details) in a few minutes.
Who do I contact about a fence permit in the Town of Manitowish Waters?
Tom Thiessen, Zoning Administrator (Deputy: Vince Hoehn). Phone 715-543-2855.
Sources
Summarized from the Town of Manitowish Waters's own ordinances, forms and permit pages. Each link opens the original.
Ordinance: Town of Manitowish Waters Zoning Ordinance 2007-1 (as amended January 2024) Sec. 5.9 Fences
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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.