County Building Permits
Iowa County, WI - 2026 Building Permit Guide
How to apply for a building permit in unincorporated Iowa County, Wisconsin. Permit authority, application steps, fees, and inspection requirements.
Permit Authority
County zoning does not have jurisdiction in cities and villages. County zoning applies in the unincorporated county and in towns that adopted county zoning.
- Department
- Iowa County Office of Planning and Development
- Address
- 222 N. Iowa St., Dodgeville, WI 53533
- Phone
- (608) 935-0398 general, (608) 935-0333 director, (608) 935-0330 sanitarian/assistant zoning
Online Permit Portal
Platform: PDF forms and downloadable application packet • Account required: No • Submission: In-person only
Application Process
General Requirements
County zoning permits are used for county-regulated land use, shoreland, floodplain, sign, wind, sanitary, mining, and related county permits.
Required Documents
- Application packet, site information, zoning district, setbacks, project details, and supporting plans as applicable.
- Building code
- Wisconsin code framework applies. For one- and two-family dwellings, the statewide UDC is the baseline; county pages also reference county zoning and state standards.
- Owner-builder
- For sanitary and zoning work, forms and state rules may require contractor and qualifier data where applicable.
- Contractor requirements
- County forms reference state license and certificate information for construction and plumbing-related work when applicable.
Fees
- Minimum permit fee
- $75 for some zoning repairs or alterations with no measurable footprint; $150 minimum for many footprint-based zoning permits under 1000 sq ft or other categories
- Plan check fee
- County fee sheet shows zoning hearing filing fee $750, conditional use permit $750, board of adjustment hearing fee $750, preliminary plat review $500 plus $50 per lot, certified survey map review $150 plus $50 per lot
- Reinspection fee
- County fee sheet shows after-the-fact manure permit fee at 3 times fee; other penalty style charges appear in sanitary and manure lines, but no general building reinspection fee was located
Fees change. Verify current amounts at the official fee schedule.
Work That Does NOT Require a Permit
- Portable animal structures with footprint up to 300 sq ft are listed as no permit required.
- County fee sheet suggests some work under 100 sq ft may not need a permit if non residential.
Inspections
How to Schedule
- Inspection hours
- County office hours are 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.
Typical inspection sequence: Review, permit issuance, then inspections as required by the permit type.
Additional Resources
- Building code: Wisconsin code framework applies. For one- and two-family dwellings, the statewide UDC is the baseline; county pages also reference county zoning and state standards.
- Zoning information: View zoning info
- Forms URL
- Ordinances URL
- 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 Iowa County Office of Planning and Development before applying.
Frequently Asked Questions
Iowa County Building Permit FAQ
- Do I need a building permit in unincorporated Iowa County, WI?
- County zoning permits are used for county-regulated land use, shoreland, floodplain, sign, wind, sanitary, mining, and related county permits.
- How much does a building permit cost in unincorporated Iowa County, WI?
- The minimum permit fee is $75 for some zoning repairs or alterations with no measurable footprint; $150 minimum for many footprint-based zoning permits under 1000 sq ft or other categories. Plan check fee: County fee sheet shows zoning hearing filing fee $750, conditional use permit $750, board of adjustment hearing fee $750, preliminary plat review $500 plus $50 per lot, certified survey map review $150 plus $50 per lot.
- What work is exempt from building permits in unincorporated Iowa County, WI?
- The following work is generally exempt: Portable animal structures with footprint up to 300 sq ft are listed as no permit required.; County fee sheet suggests some work under 100 sq ft may not need a permit if non residential..
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