County Building Permits
Richland County, WI - 2026 Building Permit Guide
How to apply for a building permit in unincorporated Richland County, Wisconsin. Permit authority, application steps, fees, and inspection requirements.
Permit Authority
county zoning, land use, sanitation, floodplain, shoreland/wetland, land division, county addressing, and permit intake for unincorporated county areas and many townships
- Department
- Richland County Zoning and Sanitation Department
- Address
- 181 W Seminary Street, Room 100, Richland Center, WI 53581
- Phone
- 608-647-2447
- zoning@co.richland.wi.us
Online Permit Portal
Platform: Richland County Citizen Portal on Munisight • Account required: Yes • Submission: In-person only
Application Process
- Confirm zoning district, setbacks, floodplain, shoreland, wetland, driveway, and sanitation needs.
- File any required soil test, sanitary permit, driveway approval, and county address sign request before construction.
- Submit the land use permit application with a scaled drawing showing north, distances to road, structures, septic, well, lot lines, and OHWM when applicable.
- County reviews the application and related approvals.
- Permit is issued after approvals are complete.
General Requirements
land use permit is required for most new construction and larger site work; county brochure says a state building permit is required in all townships for new residences or residential additions
Required Documents
- application form, scaled drawing, parcel and owner info, related approvals, and permit-specific support documents
- Building code
- Wisconsin Uniform Dwelling Code for one- and two-family dwellings; county also regulates zoning, sanitation, floodplain, shoreland/wetland, and land division
- Contractor requirements
- plumber submits sanitary permit; driveway approvals may involve township or highway department; UDC building permit comes from the local inspector
Fees
- Minimum permit fee
- land use permits start at $75 for some additions, but most residential land use permits show a minimum of $225.00
- Permit fee formula
- 20 cents per square foot for single-family and multi-family residence land use permits, based on main floor or 1/2 total living space if 3+ floors
- Reinspection fee
- late fee $500 plus original fee; reinspection fee not separately published for land use permits
Fees change. Verify current amounts at the official fee schedule.
Work That Does NOT Require a Permit
- Maintenance including reroofing, residing, window replacement, painting, new furnace, plumbing update, electrical update, and wallpapering
- Structure under 120 square feet without a foundation
Inspections
How to Schedule
- county pages do not publish a standard inspection scheduling window; contact the Zoning and Sanitation Department by pho (online)
- Inspection hours
- office hours 7:30am to 4:30pm or 8:30am to 4:30pm on portal pages, depending on page source
Typical inspection sequence: submit application and required prereqs, county reviews, then inspections as needed
Additional Resources
- Building code: Wisconsin Uniform Dwelling Code for one- and two-family dwellings; county also regulates zoning, sanitation, floodplain, shoreland/wetland, and land division
- Zoning information: View zoning info
- Land use page
- Fees page
- Citizen portal
- 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 Richland County Zoning and Sanitation Department before applying.
Frequently Asked Questions
Richland County Building Permit FAQ
- Do I need a building permit in unincorporated Richland County, WI?
- land use permit is required for most new construction and larger site work; county brochure says a state building permit is required in all townships for new residences or residential additions
- How much does a building permit cost in unincorporated Richland County, WI?
- The minimum permit fee is land use permits start at $75 for some additions, but most residential land use permits show a minimum of $225.00. Fees are calculated as: 20 cents per square foot for single-family and multi-family residence land use permits, based on main floor or 1/2 total living space if 3+ floors.
- How do I apply for a building permit in unincorporated Richland County, WI?
- 1. Confirm zoning district, setbacks, floodplain, shoreland, wetland, driveway, and sanitation needs. 2. File any required soil test, sanitary permit, driveway approval, and county address sign request before construction. 3. Submit the land use permit application with a scaled drawing showing north, distances to road, structures, septic, well, lot lines, and OHWM when applicable. 4. County reviews the application and related approvals. 5. Permit is issued after approvals are complete.
- What work is exempt from building permits in unincorporated Richland County, WI?
- The following work is generally exempt: Maintenance including reroofing, residing, window replacement, painting, new furnace, plumbing update, electrical update, and wallpapering; Structure under 120 square feet without a foundation.
- How do I schedule a building inspection in unincorporated Richland County, WI?
- Inspections can be scheduled via: county pages do not publish a standard inspection scheduling window; contact the Zoning and Sanitation Department by pho.
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