Janesville, WI Fence Regulations: Material Restrictions (2026)

The Janesville Code of General Ordinances devotes Section 42-356(h) to fence materials. Subsection (h)(1) requires that fences in residential districts be manufactured for residential use, bars opaque metal of any kind, and lists aluminum, wrought iron or steel, chainlink, wood and vinyl as approved residential materials. Subsection (h)(4) then lists prohibited fencing materials outright: no fence may be built from used or discarded materials in disrepair such as pallets, tree trunks, tires or junk, and items not manufactured for fencing, like railroad ties, wooden doors or utility poles, cannot be used either.

Chicken wire, deer fence, hog wire and high-tensile agricultural wire strands used for livestock or bird control are barred, though residential lots may use chicken wire up to 24 inches tall solely to enclose a rear-yard food garden. The barbed wire and electric fence rule is absolute for homes: Section 42-356(h)(4)c allows barbed wire only on Industrial-zoned property, or elsewhere at the Building Division Director's discretion, and even then it must sit at least six feet above the ground. On any property used for residential purposes, barbed wire or an electric fence (other than an invisible dog fence) is banned regardless of the zoning district.

Section 42-356(i) separately prohibits an aboveground electric fence or a razor wire fence citywide, along with wire fences with exposed cut ends, fences of only vertical members with no cross-tie support, and fences the Building Division Director finds hazardous to street, sidewalk or neighboring-property users. A fence permit denial or a materials dispute can be appealed to the Zoning Board of Appeals under Section 42-272.