Commerce Township fence installation

Anchor Fence is a family-owned Michigan fence company with a Redford shop and a North Oakland County location. We build vinyl, wood, chain link, and steel and aluminum fences, plus gates and railings, for Commerce Township homes. The township requires a zoning permit for a fence and limits what can go in a front or corner yard, so the plan matters before the first post is set. We can advise you on what the township requires, we call MISS DIG before we dig, and each installation has a two-year workmanship warranty in writing. Call 248-392-0244 or request a free quote.

White vinyl privacy fence along a suburban backyard

  • Family-owned Michigan fence company

  • Written two-year workmanship warranty

  • Free quote with on-site measuring

  • Posts set for Michigan frost


Vinyl privacy fence along a backyard lawn

A township with a zoning permit and a few strict spots

Commerce Township’s building department handles the zoning permit for fences. The township’s front and corner yards allow only ornamental fences, and lakefront lots have a separate set of limits. The planning happens before the fence is ordered.

Check which jurisdiction you are in

The Village of Wolverine Lake is inside Commerce Township but has its own government. If your address is in the village, its rules are separate from the township’s, so check with the village. When you call 248-392-0244, we will ask for your address first.


Fences for Commerce Township homes

The right fence depends on which yard it goes in. Side and rear yards give you the most choice, while front, corner, and lakefront yards are tightly limited. We walk through each option during the free estimate. See all residential fence options.

Wood privacy fence along a rear yard

Privacy in the side and rear yards

All fence types, including solid ones, are allowed in rear and side yards up to 6 feet. A vinyl privacy fence needs no paint, and a wood privacy fence can be stained. The finished side faces the adjacent lots. Fences cannot go in easements or wetlands.

Black aluminum ornamental fence along a front yard

Ornamental fences for front and corner yards

In a front or corner yard, the township allows ornamental fences only, up to 4 feet, set at least 25 feet back from the front lot line. Ornamental means no more than 50 percent obscuring, so chain link and privacy fences do not qualify. A steel or aluminum fence is a good fit.

Black aluminum ornamental fence along a lawn

Lakefront lots

On waterfront lots, the township allows ornamental fences only, up to 4 feet, at least 25 feet from the water’s edge, and the setback can be larger depending on neighbors. A fence may not run parallel to the water, except a pool enclosure, which is capped at 4 feet. For yards that do not touch the lake, chain link remains a practical option in the back.


Frost-ready posts and a MISS DIG call

A deep footing keeps a fence plumb. Anchor Fence sets posts in concrete deep enough for Michigan frost.

  • We submit the MISS DIG request at least 3 business days before we dig, so public lines are marked ahead of the crew.

  • Replacing a post in the exact same hole without power equipment can be exempt from the call.

  • MISS DIG does not mark private lines. Tell us about sprinklers, pet fences, or yard lighting during the estimate.

Metal fence post set in a fresh concrete footing

A zoning permit is required

The township’s building department issues a zoning permit for fences, and the property owner applies. The township’s 2025 fee ordinance lists a $50 fence application review fee. Ask the building department whether other charges apply. Anchor Fence can advise you on the rules and give you the layout and material details for your application.

  • Rear and side yards: 6 feet maximum, any fence type.

  • Front or corner yard: ornamental only, 4 feet maximum, at least 25 feet from the front lot line.

  • Waterfront: ornamental only, 4 feet maximum, at least 25 feet from the water.

  • No fences in easements or wetlands.

Before you order

Zoning permit paperwork is easier when your lot lines are clear. A mortgage survey helps show where the line runs. If your subdivision has a homeowners association, it may need to approve the fence too.

  • The township building department is closed on Fridays, so plan calls and visits for Monday through Thursday.

  • You or your contractor should confirm the current rules with the building department.


Working with Anchor Fence

Free on-site estimate

We measure your yard, discuss materials, heights, and gates, and give you a written quote with a materials list.

Two-year warranty

Workmanship is covered by a two-year warranty in writing, with the terms on your quote.

Nearby towns

Part of the Union Lake community lies in the township’s northeast corner, and our Union Lake page covers that area. See also our North Oakland County page and Service Areas.


Commerce Township fence questions

Yes. Commerce Township requires a zoning permit for fences, and its building department handles the application. You or your contractor should confirm the requirements with the building department before work starts.

Rear and side yards allow fences up to 6 feet. A front or corner yard fence must be ornamental and no taller than 4 feet, and it must sit at least 25 feet back from the front lot line. Waterfront fences are limited to 4 feet as well.

No. Front and corner yards allow ornamental fences only, and the township defines ornamental as no more than 50 percent obscuring. Chain link and privacy fences do not qualify. They can go in rear and side yards, subject to the 6 foot limit.

Waterfront fences must be ornamental, no taller than 4 feet, and at least 25 feet from the water’s edge, and the setback can be larger depending on the neighbors. A fence cannot run parallel to the water, except for a pool enclosure, which is capped at 4 feet.

Request one online or call 248-392-0244. We measure your yard, talk through your options, and send a written quote with a materials list. We call MISS DIG before we dig.


Get your Commerce Township fence plan in writing

The fence you want, and the fence the township allows in each part of your lot, may not be the same thing. Anchor Fence will measure your yard, explain the zoning rules for the front, back, and water side, and give you a written quote at no cost. Call 248-392-0244 or send the quote form.


Commerce Township Building Department Address & Phone Number:

Commerce Township Fence Ordinances:

For Mortgage Survey Visit:

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