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County building permits

Unincorporated Burnett County

How to apply for a building permit in unincorporated Burnett County, Wisconsin. Permit authority, application steps, fees, and inspection requirements.

Last verified
April 2026
On this page 6
§ 01

Permit authority

Burnett County Land Services, Zoning Division

Street address
Burnett County Government Center, 7410 County Road K, Suite 120, Siren, WI 54872
Coverage
Unincorporated Burnett County, including county land use, sanitary, shoreland, floodplain, wetland, subdivision, setback, and related permits
§ 02

When a permit is required

Permit triggers and exempt work for Burnett County

Burnett County issues land use permits for structures, additions, accessory structures, boathouses, fill/grading, solar panels, signs, towers, camping units, driveways, and related work in unincorporated areas.

Note: County pages reviewed did not publish a clean countywide exempt-work list. Some activities may still require review depending on shoreland, floodplain, or zoning context.

Required documents
  • Completed land use application
  • Plot plan or survey-style drawing
  • Maps and plans
  • For commercial/industrial work, construction plans showing interior layout, exterior profiles, and exterior heights
Building code
County zoning pages cite state-mandated floodplain, wetland, shoreland, and subdivision regulations. UDC authority for dwellings is through the town's UDC inspection agency, not the county.
Permit validity
Land use permit expires one year from issuance. One extension may be granted if applied for before expiration.
Owner-builder
Land use application may be submitted by owner. UDC requirements still apply for dwellings and bunkhouses, and the county application directs the owner to contact the town UDC inspector before any dwelling, dwelling addition, manufactured home, manufactured home addition, or bunkhouse work starts.
Contractor requirements
The county form asks for contractor and sewer installer information, but no county-wide contractor registration rule was found on the county pages reviewed. For UDC work, separate inspector and code rules apply.

Source: Burnett County Land Services, Zoning Division ↗

§ 03

Application process

Application → plan check → issuance → inspection → final

  1. 01
    Start with the appropriate application form from the county forms page.
  2. 02
    Prepare plot plan, maps, and supporting documents required by the land use application.
  3. 03
    Submit the completed application, maps, plans, and fee to Burnett County Land Services.
  4. 04
    County staff performs an onsite visit to verify site conditions.
  5. 05
    If the application is complete and compliant, Land Services approves and issues the permit.

Source: Burnett County Land Services, Zoning Division ↗

§ 04

Fee schedule

Burnett County building permit fees

Fee type
Amount
01
Permit fee formula
Fee is permit-type specific, not a single formula schedule.
02
Reinspection fee
$100 sanitary re-inspection
03
Penalty (no permit)
After-the-fact permits may cost up to three times the normal fee; installation of sanitary system without permit may cost double fee; construction started without permit may cost up to triple fee.

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

§ 05

Required inspections

Scheduling and sequence

How to schedule
  • County staff site visit during review (site_visit)
Inspection hours
Monday through Friday, 8:30 am to 4:30 pm

Typical sequence: County staff performs an onsite visit during permit review. For UDC dwellings, the applicant must contact the town UDC inspector before construction.

Source: Burnett County Land Services, Zoning Division ↗

§ 06

Frequently asked

Common questions about unincorporated Burnett County permits

01 Do I need a building permit in unincorporated Burnett County, WI?
Burnett County issues land use permits for structures, additions, accessory structures, boathouses, fill/grading, solar panels, signs, towers, camping units, driveways, and related work in unincorporated areas.
02 How much does a building permit cost in unincorporated Burnett County, WI?
Building permit fees in unincorporated Burnett County, WI are set by the local building department and vary by project type and valuation. Fees are calculated as: Fee is permit-type specific, not a single formula schedule..
03 How do I apply for a building permit in unincorporated Burnett County, WI?
To apply for a building permit in unincorporated Burnett County, WI, follow these steps: 1. Start with the appropriate application form from the county forms page. 2. Prepare plot plan, maps, and supporting documents required by the land use application. 3. Submit the completed application, maps, plans, and fee to Burnett County Land Services. 4. County staff performs an onsite visit to verify site conditions. 5. If the application is complete and compliant, Land Services approves and issues the permit.
04 How do I schedule a building inspection in unincorporated Burnett County, WI?
Once your permit is issued and work reaches an inspection milestone, you can schedule a building inspection in unincorporated Burnett County, WI via: County staff site visit during review.
last verified April 2026 source Burnett County Land Services, Zoning Division ↗ entry id permits/wisconsin/burnett/unincorporated

Educational reference. Permit rules and fees change — confirm current requirements directly with Burnett County Land Services, Zoning Division before applying. Jaspector is not legal advice.