County Building Permits
Dunn County, WI - 2026 Building Permit Guide
How to apply for a building permit in unincorporated Dunn County, Wisconsin. Permit authority, application steps, fees, and inspection requirements.
Permit Authority
County zoning authority for unincorporated areas and most towns; county shoreland, floodplain, land division, and sanitary ordinances also apply to towns.
- Department
- Dunn County Planning and Land Use (Zoning Division)
- Address
- 3001 US Hwy 12 East, Suite 240A, Menomonie, WI 54751
- Phone
- 715-231-6520
- pandz@dunncountywi.gov
Application Process
- Start by confirming zoning district and setbacks with the county office
- Prepare a completed application, plot plan, building plans, and any other required documents
- County staff review the submittal and perform on-site inspection before issuing permit
- A sanitary permit is first if the building is for human occupancy
- Zoning permit is then issued after sanitary review, setbacks, easements, and site plan compliance are confirmed
General Requirements
Most new construction, renovations, additions, and changes in land use
Required Documents
- completed application
- plot plan
- building plans
- sanitary permit if required
- site plan showing setbacks
- site plan showing septic
- site plan showing well
- site plan showing easements
- site plan showing driveways
- site plan showing waterways
- Building code
- UDC applies for township building inspections
- Contractor requirements
- Sanitary permits are issued to a Wisconsin licensed plumber; UDC inspector handles dwelling code inspections.
Fees
- Permit fee formula
- Public 2020 sheet showed general zoning permits, accessory structures, site inspections, renewals, and after-the-fact permit types; 2025/2026 packet snippets show updated fees by structure/use type.
- Reinspection fee
- Additional site inspections may incur extra fees
- Penalty (no permit)
- Public 2020 sheet indicated after-the-fact permits at 2x fee.
Fees change. Verify current amounts at the official fee schedule.
Work That Does NOT Require a Permit
Contact the Dunn County Planning and Land Use (Zoning Division) to confirm whether your project requires a permit before starting work.
Inspections
How to Schedule
- 715-231-6520 (phone)
- pandz@dunncountywi.gov (email)
- Inspection hours
- Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM (county office)
Typical inspection sequence: Sanitary permit if needed, then zoning review and site inspection, then township/UDC building permit.
County fee sheet indicated additional site inspections can trigger extra fees.
Additional Resources
- Building code: UDC applies for township building inspections
- 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 Dunn County Planning and Land Use (Zoning Division) before applying.
Frequently Asked Questions
Dunn County Building Permit FAQ
- Do I need a building permit in unincorporated Dunn County, WI?
- Most new construction, renovations, additions, and changes in land use
- How much does a building permit cost in unincorporated Dunn County, WI?
- Fees are calculated as: Public 2020 sheet showed general zoning permits, accessory structures, site inspections, renewals, and after-the-fact permit types; 2025/2026 packet snippets show updated fees by structure/use type..
- How do I apply for a building permit in unincorporated Dunn County, WI?
- 1. Start by confirming zoning district and setbacks with the county office 2. Prepare a completed application, plot plan, building plans, and any other required documents 3. County staff review the submittal and perform on-site inspection before issuing permit 4. A sanitary permit is first if the building is for human occupancy 5. Zoning permit is then issued after sanitary review, setbacks, easements, and site plan compliance are confirmed
- How do I schedule a building inspection in unincorporated Dunn County, WI?
- Inspections can be scheduled via: 715-231-6520, pandz@dunncountywi.gov.
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