City of Gillett, WI Chapter 11 Fences

[HISTORY: Adopted by the Common Council of the City of Gillett as § 7.14 of the former Municipal Code. Amendments noted where applicable.]

§ 11-1 Permit required; certified survey map.

A. No person, firm or corporation shall, after the effective date of this chapter, erect, construct, enlarge, alter or repair any fence exceeding three feet in height on any premises without first obtaining a permit from the City Building Inspector. A sketch or design of the proposed fence shall be submitted to the Building Inspector before construction shall begin. The fee for the permit shall be as set by the Common Council.[1]

[1] Editor's Note: The current Fee Schedule is on file in City offices..

B. If any fence is to be put on a lot line, a certified survey map shall be kept on file at City Hall. The survey shall be conducted by a certified surveyor, and all costs incurred shall be the responsibility of the party erecting said fence. A fence on a lot line must be set back 24 inches from all lot lines.

[Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. III)]

§ 11-2 Height restrictions.

A. Fences, screens or other similar structures on premises zoned as commercial and industrial shall not exceed nine feet in height.

B. Fences, screens or other similar structures for safety during construction or erected on a premises used for public outdoor assembly shall not exceed nine feet in height, except that the Building Inspector may permit a fence exceeding nine feet in height in specific locations on a premises used for public outdoor assembly .

§ 11-3 Maintenance.

Fence owners shall be responsible for maintenance and upkeep of the fence. Both sides of fence must be maintained equally.

§ 11-4 Fences on residential premises.

A. Fences erected on residential premises shall be limited to six feet in height when located along lot lines other than lot lines listed under Subsection B.

B. Fences erected on residential premises may not exceed three feet in height when located from street right-of-way to front of house. On a corner lot, a fence may not exceed three feet in height from both street rights-of-way to front of house. Fences perpendicular to lot lines may be six feet in height.

C. No fence shall be constructed or erected on residential premises in the City of Gillett exceeding six feet in height.

D. The good side of the fence must face the outside.

E. No fence shall be constructed nearer than two feet to any alley.

F. It shall be unlawful to use barbed wire or electric wire to construct any fence or part of a fence in a residentially zoned area. Utility snow fences may be used only during the winter months. Such fences shall be removed at the end of each winter season.

§ 11-5 Variance.

A. A variance from the requirements as set forth in § 11-4B and C above may be granted by the Building Inspector upon written agreement of all adjoining property owners and submitting application to and receiving the approval of the Planning Committee.

B. A person denied a fence permit under this chapter shall have the right to seek a review of said decision by the Zoning Board of Appeals pursuant to Chapter 21, Zoning, Article VI, Zoning Board of Appeals, of this Code.

§ 11-6 Existing fences.

Any fence which exists at the time of the passage of this chapter but does not conform to the provisions thereof shall not be altered, enlarged or repaired without making the entire fence conform to the provisions of this chapter.

§ 11-7 Violations and penalties.

Any person, firm or corporation violating any of the provisions of this chapter shall be subject to a fine as provided in Chapter 1, Article II of this Code, together with the cost of prosecution, and in default of the payment of such fine and costs shall be subject to imprisonment in the county jail for a period of not more than 20 days.