Chippewa County, WI — 2026 Building Permit Guide

On this page 6

§ 01

Permit authority

Chippewa County Department of Planning and Zoning

Street address

711 N Bridge Street, Room 9, Chippewa Falls, WI 54729

Phone

715-726-7940

Coverage

County zoning, shoreland zoning, floodplain, UDC for one- and two-family dwellings, POWTS, wells, addresses, and related county land-use approvals in the unincorporated county area and other county-administered areas as applicable

Online portal

Catalis / Chippewa County Public Portal

Catalis

Website

Department website

§ 02

When a permit is required

Permit triggers and exempt work for Chippewa County

County zoning application required for buildings and structures under county zoning, shoreland zoning, and floodplain ordinances. County ordinance requires a state uniform building permit for any one-family or two-family dwelling before construction.

Note: The county UDC checklist and zoning materials focus on permit-triggering work rather than publishing a concise exemption table.

Required documents

Site plan
Floor plan
Side views/building elevations
Applicable fee
Project-specific addenda. For UDC dwellings, three full sets of house plans, energy worksheets, erosion control/plot plan, and related attachments are required.

Building code: Wisconsin Uniform Dwelling Code, Wisconsin Admin Code SPS 320-325, adopted by reference in county ordinance for one- and two-family dwellings.
Permit validity: The county zoning permit is subject to county review timing and return rules; expiration duration was not cleanly captured in the source extract.
Owner-builder: The county UDC checklist includes a Wisconsin Uniform Building Permit Application through DSPS for new dwellings and requires contractor names, license numbers, phone numbers, and mailing addresses for all contractors and subcontractors. Non-owner applicants for dwellings must provide a Certificate of Financial Responsibility.
Contractor requirements: State contractor licensing and DSPS submission requirements apply for UDC dwellings.

§ 03

Application process

Application → plan check → issuance → inspection → final

01

Identify the permit type and whether county zoning, shoreland, floodplain, sanitary, or UDC approval applies.
02

For online types, create a Catalis account, confirm the email, and sign in to the public portal.
03

For paper permit types, use the county application packet and submit the completed form with site plan, floor plan, and elevations where required.
04

County staff review the package. Missing information must be corrected within 7 days or the submission is returned and fees are refunded minus a $70 service charge.
05

Once approved, the county issues the permit or forwards the application to the building inspector or related reviewer as required.

Source: Chippewa County Department of Planning and Zoning ↗

§ 04

Fee schedule

Chippewa County building permit fees

Fee type

Amount

Plan check fee

UDC dwelling base fee starts at $725.00 per county checklist; county fee schedule lists UDC dwelling fees of $1,295.00 for a new custom/stick-built single-family dwelling up to 4,000 sq ft and $1,365.00 for a new custom/stick-built two-family dwelling up to 4,000 sq ft

Permit fee formula

Mixed flat-fee schedule by permit type and size category

Reinspection fee

Return inspection $100; site not staked triggers a $100 re-inspection fee

Penalty (no permit)

After-the-fact fee is 5 times the original fee

Zoning permit refund prior to permit issuance is original fee minus $70.

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

§ 05

Required inspections

Scheduling and sequence

Inspection hours: County on-site inspection note says inspections may occur Monday through Friday, 8:00 am to 4:30 pm, during the life of the permit

Typical sequence: County zoning / shoreland / floodplain review, then UDC or related approvals, then inspections and final sign-off

Re-inspection fee charged if the site is not flagged; return inspection fee is $100

§ 06

Frequently asked

Common questions about unincorporated Chippewa County permits

01 Do I need a building permit in unincorporated Chippewa County, WI? ▸

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

Building permit fees in unincorporated Chippewa County, WI are set by the local building department and vary by project type and valuation. Fees are calculated as: Mixed flat-fee schedule by permit type and size category. Plan check fee: UDC dwelling base fee starts at $725.00 per county checklist; county fee schedule lists UDC dwelling fees of $1,295.00 for a new custom/stick-built single-family dwelling up to 4,000 sq ft and $1,365.00 for a new custom/stick-built two-family dwelling up to 4,000 sq ft.

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

To apply for a building permit in unincorporated Chippewa County, WI, follow these steps: 1. Identify the permit type and whether county zoning, shoreland, floodplain, sanitary, or UDC approval applies. 2. For online types, create a Catalis account, confirm the email, and sign in to the public portal. 3. For paper permit types, use the county application packet and submit the completed form with site plan, floor plan, and elevations where required. 4. County staff review the package. Missing information must be corrected within 7 days or the submission is returned and fees are refunded minus a $70 service charge. 5. Once approved, the county issues the permit or forwards the application to the building inspector or related reviewer as required.

last verified April 2026 source Chippewa County Department of Planning and Zoning ↗ entry id permits/wisconsin/chippewa/unincorporated

Report a correction

Educational reference. Permit rules and fees change — confirm current requirements directly with Chippewa County Department of Planning and Zoning before applying. Jaspector is not legal advice.

Unincorporated Chippewa County