County Building Permits
Brown County, WI - 2026 Building Permit Guide
How to apply for a building permit in unincorporated Brown County, Wisconsin. Permit authority, application steps, fees, and inspection requirements.
Permit Authority
Brown County Zoning regulates shoreland, wetland, and floodplain areas in unincorporated Brown County, and the FAQ states the county is not comprehensively zoned countywide. Applicants still need to contact the local town for local zoning and building permit requirements.
- Department
- Brown County Planning and Land Services - Zoning, for county-administered shoreland, wetland, floodplain, and POWTS/sanitary permits; building permits for structures in unincorporated areas are otherwise routed through the local town's building inspector or zoning administrator rather than one countywide building department.
- Address
- Northern Building, Room 320, 305 E. Walnut Street, Green Bay, WI 54301
- Phone
- 920-448-6480
Online Permit Portal
Platform: Brown County forms download page plus online payment page • Account required: No • Submission: In-person only
Application Process
- Confirm whether the parcel is in an unincorporated shoreland, wetland, or floodplain regulated area; Brown County FAQ says those areas are county-regulated in unincorporated Brown County.
- Pull the county form from the Zoning forms page, such as the shoreland permit application or shoreland floodplain wetland request form.
- Pay county fees as set in the annual county budget and use the county online payment page if directed.
- Obtain the county permit before starting development.
General Requirements
A shoreland permit is required before any new development or change in use in regulated shoreland areas; FAQ confirms county regulation of unincorporated shoreland, wetland, and floodplain areas.
Required Documents
- County permit forms, project description, site information, and other supporting materials required by the specific shoreland or floodplain form.
- Permit validity
- Shoreland permits expire two years from issuance under the county draft Chapter 22 language surfaced in county search results.
- Building code
- County zoning page is for shoreland, floodplain, wetland, and sanitary code administration rather than a unified county building code department.
Fees
- Permit fee formula
- Flat county fees for shoreland permits and related zoning permits as set in the annual budget.
- Reinspection fee
- County shoreland form states after-the-fact fees apply if work starts before permit issuance.
- Payment note
- County provides an online payment page; forms page and PDF applications also allow standard paper filing.
Fees change. Verify current amounts at the official fee schedule.
Work That Does NOT Require a Permit
Contact the Brown County Planning and Land Services - Zoning, for county-administered shoreland, wetland, floodplain, and POWTS/sanitary permits; building permits for structures in unincorporated areas are otherwise routed through the local town's building inspector or zoning administrator rather than one countywide building department. to confirm whether your project requires a permit before starting work.
Inspections
How to Schedule
- County zoning page lists group text numbers for staff and a POWTS inspection request link. (online)
- Inspection hours
- Monday-Thursday 7:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.; Friday 7:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
Additional Resources
- Building code: County zoning page is for shoreland, floodplain, wetland, and sanitary code administration rather than a unified county building code department.
- Zoning information: View zoning info
- License lookup guide: Wisconsin Contractor License Requirements
- Contract template: Wisconsin Homeowner-Contractor Agreement
- Wisconsin hub: Wisconsin Contractor License & Permit Hub
Information on this page was last verified: March 2026. Permit rules and fees change — confirm current requirements directly with the Brown County Planning and Land Services - Zoning, for county-administered shoreland, wetland, floodplain, and POWTS/sanitary permits; building permits for structures in unincorporated areas are otherwise routed through the local town's building inspector or zoning administrator rather than one countywide building department. before applying.
Frequently Asked Questions
Brown County Building Permit FAQ
- Do I need a building permit in unincorporated Brown County, WI?
- A shoreland permit is required before any new development or change in use in regulated shoreland areas; FAQ confirms county regulation of unincorporated shoreland, wetland, and floodplain areas.
- How much does a building permit cost in unincorporated Brown County, WI?
- Fees are calculated as: Flat county fees for shoreland permits and related zoning permits as set in the annual budget..
- How do I apply for a building permit in unincorporated Brown County, WI?
- 1. Confirm whether the parcel is in an unincorporated shoreland, wetland, or floodplain regulated area; Brown County FAQ says those areas are county-regulated in unincorporated Brown County. 2. Pull the county form from the Zoning forms page, such as the shoreland permit application or shoreland floodplain wetland request form. 3. Pay county fees as set in the annual county budget and use the county online payment page if directed. 4. Obtain the county permit before starting development.
- How do I schedule a building inspection in unincorporated Brown County, WI?
- Inspections can be scheduled via: County zoning page lists group text numbers for staff and a POWTS inspection request link..
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