Fence Regulations in Appleton, WI (2026)
4 verified fence regulations for Appleton, Wisconsin, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Height Limits
Appleton limits a residential boundary fence to 6 feet, rising to 12 feet in commercial and industrial districts, under Sec. 23-44(a)(1)a. Any fence, hedge or row planting between the front yard setback line and the lot line is capped at 3 feet, and corner-lot vision triangles add a separate 3-foot cap near intersections.
Appleton Fence Height Limits
Some RestrictionsAppleton Municipal Code § 23-44(a)(1)a
A boundary fence or wall shall not be more than six (6) feet in height in residential districts and not more than twelve (12) feet in commercial and industrial districts, except that hedges may be permitted to grow to their natural height. No boundary fence or wall, including a hedge or row planting, shall be permitted in excess of three (3) feet in height between the front yard setback line an...
Fence Permit Requirements
Appleton charges a permit fee for residential, commercial, and industrial fences under its building permit fee schedule, and Sec. 4-161(a) requires that fee be paid to the Director of Finance before a permit for the work is issued.
Appleton Fence Permit Fee Requirement
Some RestrictionsAppleton Municipal Code § 4-161(a)(9)
(a) Generally. ... Before a permit is issued to a contractor, the owner or his agent for work described in this section, a fee shall be paid to the Director of Finance as follows: ( ... 9) Fences. ... The amount of the permit fee for residential, commercial and industrial fences shall be on file in the office of the City Clerk.
Neighbor Fence Rules
Appleton caps a boundary fence at six feet in residential districts and twelve feet in commercial and industrial districts, dropping to three feet in the front yard setback. Code requires the finished side to face the neighboring property and both owners to keep the fence and surrounding ground maintained on their own side.
Appleton Shared Boundary Fence Rules
Some RestrictionsAppleton Municipal Code § 23-44(a)
a. Boundary fence. A boundary fence or wall shall not be more than six (6) feet in height in residential districts and not more than twelve (12) feet in commercial and industrial districts, except that hedges may be permitted to grow to their natural height. No boundary fence or wall, including a hedge or row planting, shall be permitted in excess of three (3) feet in height between the front y...
Material Restrictions
Appleton bans barbed wire, electric fences and single/double/triple-strand wire fencing citywide except in the AG agricultural and M-1/M-2 industrial districts, under Sec. 23-44(a)(2)a. Galvanized chain link is barred outright from every front yard, and front-yard fences must be wood, brick, vinyl, wrought iron or stone.
Appleton Fence Material Restrictions
Some RestrictionsAppleton Municipal Code § 23-44(a)(2)
Barbed wire fences, electrical fences, and single, double and triple strand fences are prohibited except in the AG agricultural, M-1 and M-2 industrial districts. ... For all zoning districts other than AG, fence material must be either naturally resistant or treated wood board, vinyl, galvanized and/or vinyl coated chain link material, wrought iron, brick, natural stone, masonry, or other mate...
Looking for Outagamie County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Appleton city rules.
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