Fence Regulations in Burlington, WI (2026)
4 verified fence regulations for Burlington, Wisconsin, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Height Limits
Burlington caps front-yard fences at four feet if they are at least 80% open, or three feet if more solid, while side and rear yard fences can rise to six feet under Zoning Code § 315-51C. Historic district fences need Historic Preservation Commission approval regardless of height.
Fence Height Limits in Burlington, Wisconsin
Some RestrictionsBurlington City Code § 315-51C(1)
Placement on lot. A fence is permitted on or near the property lines in all districts. No fence shall be closer than three feet from the street right-of-way in the front yard, except a protective fence or a fence that is used to screen a parking lot from a residential district. ... Front yard. A fence that consists of at least 80% open space shall not exceed four feet in height. A fence that ha...
Fence Permit Requirements
Anyone building a fence in Burlington must first get a fence permit from the Building Inspector, with a fee set by the City Council, under Zoning Code § 315-51A. The application must include a plat of survey, fence design details, and site drawings.
Fence Permit Requirement in Burlington, WI
Some RestrictionsBurlington City Code § 315-51A
The construction of a fence anywhere within the City of Burlington shall require application for a fence permit from the Building Inspector, the fee for which shall be in an amount set by the City Council. ... All fence materials shall be approved by the Building Inspector, who shall issue a fence permit upon application therefor for fences meeting the requirements of this section. If the Zonin...
Retaining Walls
Burlington's Property Maintenance Code requires every retaining wall in the City to be structurally sound and bars any wall from repeatedly spilling mud, gravel or debris onto a sidewalk, street, alley or neighboring property. The rule sits alongside the fence-maintenance standard in the same subsection of Chapter 181.
Burlington Retaining Wall Maintenance Standard
Light RestrictionsBurlington City Code § 181-4F(2)
Retaining walls. Retaining walls shall be structurally sound. No retaining wall shall be constructed or maintained in such a manner as to cause a repeated spillage of mud, gravel or debris upon any public sidewalk, street, alley or adjoining property.
Material Restrictions
Burlington bans fences that conduct electricity, are designed to shock, use barbed wire, or contain any part meant to harm a person, under Zoning Code § 315-51C(2)(b). Barbed wire is allowed only atop industrial-district fences at least 10 feet up, and invisible pet fences are exempt from the ban.
Barbed Wire and Electric Fence Ban Burlington
Significant RestrictionsBurlington City Code § 315-51C(2)
No fence may be constructed as a fence which conducts electricity, or is designed to electrically shock or which uses barbed wire, or which contains a component designed to cause harm to a person, except as provided below. ... Underground "invisible" pet fences shall be allowed without a permit, but must be installed at least three feet from all property lines. Barbed wire may be used at the to...
Looking for Racine County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Burlington city rules.
Fence Regulations in Racine County →