Brown County, WI — 2026 Building Permit Guide

On this page 6

§ 01

Permit authority

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.

Street address

Northern Building, Room 320, 305 E. Walnut Street, Green Bay, WI 54301

Phone

920-448-6480

County page lists "Click here to email" for Zoning Administrator Matt Heyroth

Coverage

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.

Online portal

Brown County forms download page plus online payment page

Website

Department website

Additional resources

§ 02

When a permit is required

Permit triggers and exempt work for Brown County

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.

Building code: County zoning page is for shoreland, floodplain, wetland, and sanitary code administration rather than a unified county building code department.
Permit validity: Shoreland permits expire two years from issuance under the county draft Chapter 22 language surfaced in county search results.

§ 03

Application process

Application → plan check → issuance → inspection → final

01

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.
02

Pull the county form from the Zoning forms page, such as the shoreland permit application or shoreland floodplain wetland request form.
03

Pay county fees as set in the annual county budget and use the county online payment page if directed.
04

Obtain the county permit before starting development.

Source: 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. ↗

§ 04

Fee schedule

Brown County building permit fees

Fee type

Amount

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.

County provides an online payment page; forms page and PDF applications also allow standard paper filing.

Fees change periodically. Confirm at the official fee schedule ↗ before budgeting.

§ 05

Required inspections

Scheduling and sequence

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.

§ 06

Frequently asked

Common questions about unincorporated Brown County permits

01 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.

02 How much does a building permit cost in unincorporated Brown County, WI? ▸

Building permit fees in unincorporated Brown County, WI are set by the local building department and vary by project type and valuation. Fees are calculated as: Flat county fees for shoreland permits and related zoning permits as set in the annual budget..

03 How do I apply for a building permit in unincorporated Brown County, WI? ▸

To apply for a building permit in unincorporated Brown County, WI, follow these steps: 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.

04 How do I schedule a building inspection in unincorporated Brown County, WI? ▸

Once your permit is issued and work reaches an inspection milestone, you can schedule a building inspection in unincorporated Brown County, WI via: County zoning page lists group text numbers for staff and a POWTS inspection request link..

last verified April 2026 source 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. ↗ entry id permits/wisconsin/brown-wi/unincorporated

Report a correction

Educational reference. Permit rules and fees change — confirm current requirements directly with 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. Jaspector is not legal advice.

Unincorporated Brown County