Village of Birchwood fence permit
Do you need a fence permit in the Village of Birchwood? Yes. The Village of Birchwood 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 Village of Birchwood (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 ft source
- Front (street) yard
- 4 ft in the front yard or at intersections source
- Corner lots
- 4 ft at intersections source
- Distance from lot line
- Residential fences no closer than 3 ft to the lot line (closer requires a survey and written neighbor agreement); no closer than 5 ft to the street right-of-way or alley. source
- Good side faces
- If the fencing has one finished or decorative side, it must face the adjacent property. source
- Not allowed
- Snow fencing, pallets, chicken wire, woven wire, barbed wire, razor wire, cattle panels and electric wire are prohibited residential fence materials (some allowed for livestock in agricultural and rural development districts with village approval). Deer fencing up to 10 ft allowed in residential districts. source
- How to apply
- Call 715-764-2948 source
How to file for a fence permit in the Village of Birchwood
Steps based on zoneomics.com — Municipal code: chapter 6
- Get a fence permit application from the Village Clerk (101 N. Main Street, Birchwood; 715-354-3300; Mon-Thu 8 am to 4 pm).
- Plan the fence at least 3 ft from the lot line and 5 ft from the street right-of-way or alley.
- The building inspector must approve the permit before you build; the permit is valid for one year.
- Contact Joe Atwood, Building Inspector/Zoning Administrator, 715-764-2948, for building permits and zoning applications.
- Call Diggers Hotline (811) at least 3 business days before digging.
- Review time
- Building inspector approval before construction
- Permit good for
- One year
Who to contact
Joe Atwood
Building Inspector / Zoning Administrator
- Phone
- 715-764-2948
- [email protected]
- Hours
- Village Clerk/Treasurer office Mon-Thu 8 am to 4 pm
- Address
- Village of Birchwood, 101 N. Main Street, PO Box 6, Birchwood, WI 54817
Contact from birchwoodvillage.wi.gov
What to submit
- Fence permit application from the Village Clerk
- Survey and written neighbor agreement if the fence will be closer than 3 ft to the lot line
Other rules to know
- Per Sec. 28-652(i), permits must be approved by the building inspector before construction and are valid for one year; painting, maintenance and minor repairs need no permit.
- The Village posted a 'Notice of Adopted Ordinance Amendments (1-2026 thru 5-2026)' that was not read, so the fence section may have changed. The Village fee schedule and Land Use Application (Word files) could not be read.
- Same-name trap: the Town of Birchwood is a separate municipality.
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 Village of Birchwood, WI?
Yes. The Village of Birchwood requires a permit before you build a fence. Per Sec. 28-652(i), permits must be approved by the building inspector before construction and are valid for one year; painting, maintenance and minor repairs need no permit.
How tall can a fence be in the Village of Birchwood?
Side and rear yards: 6 ft. Front (street) yard: 4 ft in the front yard or at intersections. Corner lots: 4 ft at intersections.
How close to the property line can I put a fence in the Village of Birchwood?
Residential fences no closer than 3 ft to the lot line (closer requires a survey and written neighbor agreement); no closer than 5 ft to the street right-of-way or alley.
Which side of the fence has to face the neighbor in the Village of Birchwood?
If the fencing has one finished or decorative side, it must face the adjacent property.
How do I apply for a fence permit in the Village of Birchwood?
Get a fence permit application from the Village Clerk (101 N. Main Street, Birchwood; 715-354-3300; Mon-Thu 8 am to 4 pm). Plan the fence at least 3 ft from the lot line and 5 ft from the street right-of-way or alley. The building inspector must approve the permit before you build; the permit is valid for one year. Contact Joe Atwood, Building Inspector/Zoning Administrator, 715-764-2948, for building permits and zoning applications. 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 Village of Birchwood (site plan, aerial photo and filled-in details) in a few minutes.
Who do I contact about a fence permit in the Village of Birchwood?
Joe Atwood, Building Inspector / Zoning Administrator. Phone 715-764-2948, email [email protected].
Sources
Summarized from the Village of Birchwood's own ordinances, forms and permit pages. Each link opens the original.
Ordinance: Village of Birchwood Zoning Code Sec. 28-652 Fences
Work for the Village of Birchwood? 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.