6 county-level rules, plus city-specific rules for 4 cities in Dane County, Wisconsin.
Verified from official government sources
Dane County Chapter 10 regulates fences in unincorporated areas. Residential-transitional (TR) districts typically follow standard height limits (4 ft front, 6 ft rear/side). Agricultural districts are more permissive.
Fence permits in unincorporated Dane County are generally not required for standard agricultural or residential fences, but Zoning Compliance Review may be needed in some districts.
Wisconsin partition fence law (Wis. Stat. §90.01 et seq.) governs fence disputes between adjacent property owners in agricultural areas of Dane County. Neighbors may be required to share fence costs for boundary fences.
Retaining walls over 4 feet measured from bottom of footing to top of wall require a building permit and engineered plans throughout Dane County under the Wisconsin UDC and DSPS SPS 321. Madison (MGO §29.07), Fitchburg, and Middleton require permits at lower thresholds if surcharged.
Wisconsin UDC SPS 390 and the state-adopted ISPSC require all residential pools and spas to be surrounded by a minimum 48-inch barrier with self-closing, self-latching gates. Madison (MGO §29.07), Fitchburg, Middleton, Verona, Sun Prairie, and Stoughton enforce these barriers at permit inspection.
Dane County municipalities allow wood (cedar, treated pine), vinyl, wrought iron, chain-link, and composite fencing. Madison General Ordinance §28 zoning specifies material rules. Barbed wire prohibited residentially; electric fencing limited to ag zones. Materials must withstand WI freeze-thaw.
4 cities in Dane County have their own fence regulations rules. Each link goes to that city's dedicated page with code citations.
See every category we cover for Dane County — parking, noise, fences, fires, animals, pools, and more.
Dane County Ordinance Hub →