Fence Regulations in Madison, WI (2026)
6 verified fence regulations for Madison, Wisconsin, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Height Limits
Madison fence heights are set by MGO Chapter 28 (zoning). Typical limits: 4 feet in front yards, 6 feet in side and rear yards. Taller fences require a conditional use permit.
Fences: Height Limits
Some RestrictionsPermit Requirements
Madison requires a zoning permit for most new fences to verify height, setbacks, and location. Permits are issued by the Zoning Administrator under MGO Chapter 28. Fees are modest and turnaround is typically quick.
Fences: Permits
Some RestrictionsNeighbor Fence Rules
Wisconsin's partition fence statute (WI Stat 90.03) requires adjoining rural/agricultural landowners to share cost of boundary fences. In urban Madison, the line fence statute rarely applies; disputes are civil matters.
Fences: Neighbor Rules
Some RestrictionsWis. Stat. §§90.02–90.03
90.02 Legal fences; space between ground and bottom. (1) In this section, "high tensile wire" means wire with a tensile strength of 1,235 to 1,450 mega pascals or 179,000 to 210,000 pounds per square inch. (1m) The following and none other are legal and sufficient fences: (a) A fence of strong woven wire not less than 26 inches wide with 3 barbed wires or 3 high tensile wires above. (b) A fence...
Pool Barriers
Madison requires residential pools deeper than 24 inches to be enclosed by a 48-inch or taller barrier with self-closing, self-latching gates, per MGO building code and WI Stat 145.17.
Fences: Pool Fencing
Heavy RestrictionsFence Requirements
Madison enforces a vision triangle at corner lots under MGO Chapter 28. Fences, walls, and landscaping in the triangle must be no taller than about 30 inches to preserve driver sight lines.
Fences: Corner Visibility
Heavy RestrictionsMaterial Restrictions
Madison allows most typical fence materials (wood, vinyl, chain link, ornamental metal, composite) under MGO Chapter 28. Barbed wire and electric fences are restricted in residential zones. Historic districts have material review.
Fences: Materials
Few RestrictionsLooking for Dane County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Madison city rules.
Fence Regulations in Dane County →