How much does a Ferndale, MI fence permit cost?

Ferndale, MI charges $50 for a fence permit at the time of issuance.

What does a fence plot plan need to show?

Your property outline, location of the proposed fence, total linear feet, height, material, distance from any street/sidewalk, and (in most cities) the location of your house. Fence Plotter generates this automatically from a satellite image and your fence drawing.

Can I draw my plot plan myself?

Yes — most building departments accept owner-drawn plot plans as long as they're clear, dimensioned, and to scale. Fence Plotter produces a permit-ready plot plan + elevation sketch in two minutes.

Ferndale, MI fence permit site plan

Plan your fence on a satellite map of your Ferndale, MI property and get a permit-ready PDF in 2 minutes. Free, no sign-up.

If Ferndale's form asks for a site plan and this page says plot plan, they are the same drawing for a fence application: a to-scale overhead view of your lot with the property lines, the existing structures and the proposed fence dimensioned on it. A surveyed site plan is the one genuinely different document, and only a licensed surveyor can seal one. What a fence permit site plan has to show.

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What you'll get for Ferndale, MI

✓ Satellite site plan — top-down map of your property with the fence drawn on it, every side dimensioned.
✓ Fence elevation — side view showing height, panel count, and gates.
○ Real lot lines — pending. We use county GIS for this; your county isn't wired up yet so you trace from the satellite image manually.
○ Filled Ferndale, MI permit form — pending. Until then you get the universal plot plan + a checklist of what to handwrite on the city's form.
✓ Ferndale, MI ordinance check — height limits, setbacks, and neighbor-consent rules specific to Ferndale, MI.

Ferndale, MI fence rules

Max height (rear yard): 6'
Min setback from sidewalk/street: 1'
Permit fee: $50 (source)

A Fence Permit is required for any fence or gate on a lot. Fences are not permitted in front yards in residential, mixed-use, or Central Business districts — only decorative fencing up to 36" (3') is allowed there, and it needs no permit.
In residential districts, side and rear yard fences must be at least 3' and no more than 6' tall, and may be fully opaque. The Central Business District caps side and rear fences at 4'; industrial districts at 8'.
Keep the fence inside your own lot lines unless the adjoining owner gives written consent, and at least 1' back from any public sidewalk or right-of-way. It may not block a sidewalk, alley, or other public passage, its gates may not swing over public property, and it may not run side-by-side with an existing fence unless the CED Director waives that for good cause.
In the clear vision area of a corner lot — measured 15' along each street lot line from the intersection — nothing may stand between 30" and 8' tall. Where a driveway meets the right-of-way, the measurement is 7.5' along both the driveway and the street.
Razor wire, barbed wire, spikes, nails, and any other sharp point on the top or sides of a fence are prohibited, as is any electrical current or charge on a fence. Fabric, plastic slats, and tarps may not be hung from a fence.
Fences must use materials meant for a decorative effect — vinyl, split-rail, wood, wrought iron, aluminum, or extruded plastic — and wood must be cedar, redwood, or other treated, decay-resistant wood; powder-coated chain link is encouraged if chain link is proposed. The finished side must face the exterior of the lot.

Do you need a permit? Yes. Installing a fence or gate on any lot requires a Ferndale Fence Permit. The zoning code's one stated exception is decorative fencing up to 36 inches, which is allowed in any yard without a Fence Permit. (source)

Source: https://www.ferndalemi.gov/PDFs/Zoning%20Code%2006232025.pdf

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FAQ

Do I need a permit to build a fence in Ferndale, MI?: Yes. Installing a fence or gate on any lot requires a Ferndale Fence Permit. The zoning code's one stated exception is decorative fencing up to 36 inches, which is allowed in any yard without a Fence Permit.
How tall can my fence be in Ferndale, MI?: Up to 6' in the rear yard.
How much does a Ferndale, MI fence permit cost?: Ferndale, MI charges $50 for a fence permit at the time of issuance.
What does a fence plot plan need to show?: Your property outline, location of the proposed fence, total linear feet, height, material, distance from any street/sidewalk, and (in most cities) the location of your house. Fence Plotter generates this automatically from a satellite image and your fence drawing.
Can I draw my plot plan myself?: Yes — most building departments accept owner-drawn plot plans as long as they're clear, dimensioned, and to scale. Fence Plotter produces a permit-ready plot plan + elevation sketch in two minutes.

Not sure what Ferndale means by “site plan”? See the nine things a plan reviewer checks — the same list whatever city you are applying in.

Do I need a survey?·Free template — which kind?·Do I need a permit?·Why permits get rejected

Fence Plotter is informational only. Always confirm specific requirements with the Ferndale, MI building department before submitting.

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Ferndale, MI fence permit site plan

What you'll get for Ferndale, MI

Ferndale, MI fence rules

FAQ

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