County Building Permits
Door County, WI - 2026 Building Permit Guide
How to apply for a building permit in unincorporated Door County, Wisconsin. Permit authority, application steps, fees, and inspection requirements.
Permit Authority
County zoning and shoreland review for unincorporated areas; building code administration is separate and may be handled by town building inspectors
- Department
- Door County Land Use Services, Zoning
- Address
- Government Center, 421 Nebraska Street, Sturgeon Bay, WI 54235
- Phone
- (920) 746-2323 main zoning line; county main line (920) 743-5511
Online Permit Portal
Platform: City Squared • Account required: Yes • Submission: Online only
Application Process
- Start with county zoning review if the project affects land use, shoreland, floodplain, grading, sanitation, or a new principal structure.
- Submit zoning materials through City Squared.
- Provide supplemental forms and the required project plan set to the county.
- Coordinate with the town building inspector for building code permit requirements before construction
General Requirements
A land use permit is required before development, repair, modification, addition, or change in use in zoned or shoreland areas.
Required Documents
- project scope declaration
- wetland notice and acknowledgement
- impervious surface worksheet
- grade sheet for new principal buildings
- site plan
- floor plans
- elevations
- cross section for new principal buildings
- Permit validity
- Zoning permit valid for one year from issuance.
- Building code
- County zoning page defers building code permitting to the town building inspector; applicable code is local and state code based.
- Contractor requirements
- Contractor or property owner must coordinate with the town building inspector; no county-specific contractor registration rule was found in the zoning page.
Fees
- Minimum permit fee
- $100
- Permit fee formula
- Fee tiers based on footprint size and project type; shoreline, mitigation, impervious surface, variance, amendment, and land division fees are listed.
- Penalty (no permit)
- Double, triple, or quadruple application fee if work starts without permit; enforcement action may also follow.
Fees change. Verify current amounts at the official fee schedule.
Work That Does NOT Require a Permit
Contact the Door County Land Use Services, Zoning to confirm whether your project requires a permit before starting work.
Inspections
How to Schedule
- Coordinate with applicable town building inspector (phone)
Typical inspection sequence: Zoning review first, sanitation review if needed, then building permit and inspections through the town building inspector.
Additional Resources
- Building code: County zoning page defers building code permitting to the town building inspector; applicable code is local and state code based.
- 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 Door County Land Use Services, Zoning before applying.
Frequently Asked Questions
Door County Building Permit FAQ
- Do I need a building permit in unincorporated Door County, WI?
- A land use permit is required before development, repair, modification, addition, or change in use in zoned or shoreland areas.
- How much does a building permit cost in unincorporated Door County, WI?
- The minimum permit fee is $100. Fees are calculated as: Fee tiers based on footprint size and project type; shoreline, mitigation, impervious surface, variance, amendment, and land division fees are listed..
- How do I apply for a building permit in unincorporated Door County, WI?
- 1. Start with county zoning review if the project affects land use, shoreland, floodplain, grading, sanitation, or a new principal structure. 2. Submit zoning materials through City Squared. 3. Provide supplemental forms and the required project plan set to the county. 4. Coordinate with the town building inspector for building code permit requirements before construction
- How do I schedule a building inspection in unincorporated Door County, WI?
- Inspections can be scheduled via: Coordinate with applicable town building inspector.
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