How Neenah Handles Fence Regulations: A Practical Guide
Neenah maintains 98 local ordinances across all categories, and 3 of those deal specifically with fence regulations. Here is a breakdown of what the city actually requires, what is prohibited, and where Neenah falls on the strict-to-permissive spectrum compared to other cities.
Fence Permit Requirements
Before building, enlarging, or altering a fence in Neenah, owners must get a permit from the Building Inspector and submit a sketch or design for approval.
Key details: Permit issuer: Building Inspector. Required for: New, enlarged, or altered fences. Design review: Sketch/design submitted for approval. Nonconforming repairs: Permit above 10% replacement. Appeals go to: Zoning Board of Appeals.
Building or altering a fence without a permit is unlawful under § 21-32, and the City doubles the fee for work started before the permit issues.
Material Restrictions
Neenah bans electrically charged and barbed wire fencing on ordinary lots, plus junk materials like aluminum siding, vehicle parts, chicken wire, and tarps used as fencing.
Key details: Barbed/electric wire: Banned on ordinary lots. Also banned: Aluminum siding, vehicle parts, chicken wire. Chain link: Rough edge must face down. Industrial exception: Barbed wire allowed 7+ ft up.
Installing banned fencing materials is a Code violation; § 1-20(c) sets forfeitures of $10 to $500 for a first offense and $25 to $1,000 for repeat violations, plus court costs.
Height Limits
Fences in the City of Neenah are regulated by the city Building Code under the authority delegated to Wisconsin cities by Wis. Stat. Sec. 62.23. The Community Development Department's Fences and Similar Structures handout (211 Walnut Street, Neenah, WI 54956) sets the operative dimensional standards: fences in side or rear yards may not exceed 6 feet, fences in the actual front yard or actual shore yard may not exceed 3 feet, and chain link fences open to vision 75% or more in the front yard may be increased to 4 feet. Side yard boundary fences up to 6 feet may extend forward up to but not further than the actual front or actual shore yard setback. A building permit and site plan are required from the Building Inspector before a fence is built, enlarged, or altered.
Key details: Side And Rear: Side and rear yard fences may not exceed 6 feet in height. Actual Front Yard: Actual front yard and actual shore yard fences may not exceed 3. Chain Link Fences: Chain link fences open to vision 75% or more may be 4. Side Yard Boundary: Side yard boundary fences up to 6 feet may extend to the. Electrically Charged And: Electrically charged and barbed wire fences are not allowed unless specifically permitted.
Building, enlarging, or altering a fence without first obtaining a permit from the Neenah Building Inspector is a violation of the city Building Code. Typical enforcement under Wis. Stat. Sec. 62.23(8) and Sec. 66.0114 and the Neenah municipal-code penalty structure includes stop-work orders, orders to lower or remove an over-height fence, orders to remove prohibited materials such as barbed wire or chicken wire, citations, and daily forfeitures until the violation is corrected. Fences that encroach onto a neighboring lot or into the public right-of-way must be relocated at the owner's expense.
The Bottom Line
Neenah's fence regulations rules are a mixed bag. Some areas are strict, others are relaxed, and the details matter. The best approach is to check the specific rule that applies to your situation rather than assuming Neenah is broadly strict or permissive.
Keep in mind that Neenah can amend these rules at any council meeting. For the most current version of any rule mentioned here, check the specific ordinance page, where we track updates as they happen.