Bolthole Index

Lafayette County, Wisconsin

Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Blanchardville, Wisconsin

The Village of Blanchardville, Wisconsin has its own zoning code and requires a building permit from the Village Building Inspector before construction starts12. Septic and well rules are not set by the Village building office; Lafayette County's Land Conservation, Planning and Zoning Department lists sanitary permits for its side of the Village3. We could not confirm who handles septic on the Iowa County side.

At a glance

Building permit
Required from the Village Building Inspector before construction2
Zoning
Village zoning code applies to all land and water within village limits1
Building code
Wisconsin Uniform Dwelling Code and other state codes adopted and enforced by the Village4
Occupancy permit
Required before anyone occupies a building5
Sewer and water
Mandatory hookup where a Village main is available6
Accessory dwelling
One per R-1 parcel7
Septic outside the sewer
Not confirmed for the Village; Lafayette County lists sanitary permits3
RV living on a lot
Not confirmed; Village park camping is by permit in designated campgrounds only8

Who to call

Building permits

Village of Blanchardville (Clerk and Building Inspector/Zoning Administrator)

Village building permits, zoning administration and the Village clerk; the Village contracts building inspection to an outside firm

608.523.4521

clerk@blanchardvillewi.gov

208 Mason Street PO Box 9 Blanchardville, WI 53516

Septic permits

Lafayette County Land Conservation, Planning and Zoning Department

Sanitary permits, soil evaluation review and septic installation inspection for Lafayette County

608-776-3836

700 Main Street, Lower Level, Darlington, WI 53530

Contact details are copied from each office’s official page and were checked against it on October 15, 2026.

Off-grid gear

Going off-grid in Village of Blanchardville means bringing your own water and power. The kit we’d start with:

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Does Blanchardville, Wisconsin have zoning?

Yes. The Village of Blanchardville adopted its own Zoning Code, and it applies to all lands and waters within the Village corporate limits1. Lafayette County's zoning ordinance covers unincorporated land only, so the county's setbacks and lot rules do not govern a parcel inside the Village9.

The Village code includes an R-1 single-family residential district, and one accessory dwelling unit may be built per R-1-zoned parcel, with building, zoning, sewer and permit requirements still applying7. The Village's Building Inspector doubles as its Zoning Administrator10.

We could not confirm minimum lot sizes, setbacks or minimum home sizes for the single-family residential or Agricultural districts. Ask the Village Clerk for the district's bulk standards before you make an offer. Tiny-home and manufactured-home occupancy rules are also unconfirmed, so ask the Zoning Administrator about the specific unit.

Do you need a building permit in Blanchardville, and who issues it?

Yes. No owner or contractor may start construction of a building or mechanical system in the Village without a valid permit from the Municipal Building Inspector2. The Village adopts and enforces the Wisconsin Uniform Dwelling Code, the Commercial Building Code and the Uniform Plumbing Code, among other state chapters4. State law also lists the Village of Blanchardville among the municipalities with delegated authority to issue permits for new one- and two-family dwellings, so you apply to the Village rather than to the state11.

The Village's building inspection is run by Total Inspection Services, which serves as Building Inspector and Zoning Administrator10. Building permit fees are set by the municipality by ordinance12; we could not confirm the Village's current fee schedule, so ask the Clerk.

Owner-builders: Wisconsin lets an owner who will occupy the home take out the construction and erosion-control permits without a certified Dwelling Contractor13. Whether the Village adds its own owner-builder rule is unconfirmed.

How do septic permits work in Blanchardville?

The Village's own code makes sewer the default: when a Village sewer or water main becomes available to a building used for human habitation, the Health Officer notifies the owner in writing, and connection is required6. Where sewer mains are not available, the code says chemical toilets must be used, and a surface privy, cesspool or dry closet needs a permit from the Health Officer14.

A lot with no sewer main would need a private onsite system. Wisconsin requires a sanitary permit before a building permit can be issued for a new dwelling on a private onsite system15. Lafayette County's Land Conservation, Planning and Zoning Department lists sanitary permits, soil evaluation review and septic installation inspection3.

The Village spans Lafayette and Iowa Counties10, and we could not confirm who issues sanitary permits for the Iowa County portion or inside the incorporated Village. Call the Village Clerk first, then the county that covers your parcel.

Can you live in an RV or tiny home in Blanchardville?

We could not confirm a rule for living in an RV or tiny home on a private lot inside the Village. The rules we did find cover Village parks: overnight camping in tents, shacks or trailers is limited to designated campgrounds by permit, and the McKellar Park Campground is the Village's campground8. That is a park rule, not an answer for your own lot.

A permanent dwelling is a different question: occupancy of any building requires an occupancy permit from the Building Inspector5. Ask the Zoning Administrator in writing before you park or place any unit you plan to sleep in.

Building a home in Blanchardville: the steps, in order

  1. Ask the Village Clerk or Zoning Administrator which zoning district the parcel is in and what it allows110.
  2. Confirm sewer and water: check whether a Village main is adjacent, since connection can be mandatory6.
  3. If there is no sewer, get a sanitary permit before the building permit15; Lafayette County's department handles sanitary permits on its side3.
  4. Submit a building permit application with building plans and a scaled plot plan16.
  5. Build, and request each inspection: footing, foundation, rough work, insulation and final17.
  6. Get the occupancy permit before anyone moves in5.

A permit stays valid for two years, and extensions need Building Inspector approval and fees16.

What stays with Lafayette County, and what to check before you buy

Wells, floodplain rules and land outside Village limits follow different offices. Wisconsin requires advance notice to the DNR before a new private well is built; the notification fee is $50.5018. We could not confirm whether the Village adds its own well requirement6. Lafayette County's floodplain permit rules apply to development in the county's floodplain districts19.

For land outside the Village, see the Lafayette County page. Lafayette County's effective property tax rate is 1.6%20. Property inside the Village may have a different tax bill, so ask the Clerk.

Watch-outs

  • The Village lies in both Lafayette and Iowa Counties, so the office that issues septic and sanitary permits depends on which side your parcel is on, and we could not confirm that for the Iowa County side10.
  • Lafayette County's zoning ordinance applies only to unincorporated land, not to parcels inside Village limits9.
  • The Village requires an occupancy permit before anyone occupies a building, even after the final inspection5.

Sources

  1. Article I: Introduction - Village of Blanchardville, WI (Village of Blanchardville), quoted and re-checked
  2. Chapter 125: Building Construction - Village of Blanchardville, WI (Village of Blanchardville), quoted and re-checked
  3. Lafayette County Land Conservation, Planning and Zoning Department (lafayettecountywi.org)
  4. Chapter 125: Building Construction - Village of Blanchardville, WI (Village of Blanchardville), quoted and re-checked
  5. Chapter 125: Building Construction - Village of Blanchardville, WI (Village of Blanchardville), quoted and re-checked
  6. Article I: Sewer and Water Connections - Village of Blanchardville, WI (Village of Blanchardville), quoted and re-checked
  7. Article VI: Zoning Districts - Village of Blanchardville, WI (Village of Blanchardville), quoted and re-checked
  8. Chapter 314: Parks - Village of Blanchardville, WI (Village of Blanchardville), quoted and re-checked
  9. Chapter 6-1 Lafayette County Comprehensive Zoning Ordinance, quoted and re-checked
  10. Village of Blanchardville (Clerk and Building Inspector/Zoning Administrator) (blanchardvillewi.gov)
  11. UDC (Uniform Dwelling Code / One- and Two-Family Dwellings) - DSPS, quoted and re-checked
  12. Wisconsin Administrative Code SPS 302.34 (Wisconsin statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  13. Wisconsin’s Uniform Dwelling Code (Wisconsin statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  14. Article I: Sewer and Water Connections - Village of Blanchardville, WI (Village of Blanchardville), quoted and re-checked
  15. Wisconsin’s Uniform Dwelling Code (Wisconsin statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  16. Chapter 125: Building Construction - Village of Blanchardville, WI (Village of Blanchardville), quoted and re-checked
  17. Chapter 125: Building Construction - Village of Blanchardville, WI (Village of Blanchardville), quoted and re-checked
  18. Well and heat exchange notification, quoted and re-checked
  19. Chapter 6-1 Lafayette County Comprehensive Zoning Ordinance, quoted and re-checked
  20. Effective property tax rate: Bolthole Index county data

Written October 15, 2026 from the rules quoted below, each taken from an official source and re-checked by an independent reviewer. This is research, not legal advice: rules change, so confirm with the office before you buy or build.

Answers from the rulebook for Village of Blanchardville

Village of Blanchardville’s own rules

  • Building permitRequired

    Construction of buildings or mechanical systems inside Blanchardville village.

    • The permit is required before construction begins.
    • The chapter lists new buildings, additions, structural alterations, major equipment replacements, electrical work, HVAC work, and plumbing work among permit-requiring work.
    • Children's play structures are excluded from the chapter.
    “No owner or contractor may commence construction of any building or mechanical system prior to obtaining a valid permit from the Municipal Building Inspector.”
  • Building code adoptedAdopted

    Building construction inside Blanchardville village.

    • The Village adopts and enforces listed Wisconsin Administrative Code chapters, including the Uniform Dwelling Code, Camping Units, Commercial Building Code, and Uniform Plumbing Code.
    “The following chapters of the Wisconsin Administrative Codes, as well as all subsequent revisions, are adopted by the Village and shall be enforced by the Building Inspector:”
  • InspectionsRequired

    Permitted building projects inside Blanchardville village.

    • Requested inspections include footing, foundation, rough carpentry/HVAC/electrical/plumbing, underfloor plumbing, electric service, insulation, final carpentry/HVAC/electrical/plumbing, and erosion control.
    • The owner or contractor should request inspections at least 48 hours in advance when possible.
    • Failure to request inspection is the responsibility of the contractor or owner.
    “Inspections. In order to permit inspection of a building project at all necessary phases without causing delay for the owner, the owner and/or contractor shall request all of the following inspections in conformity with the appropriate time frame defined in the Wisconsin Administrative Code or at least 48 hours in advance by the applicant/contractor or property owner as possible.”
  • Certificate of occupancyRequired

    Occupancy of buildings inside Blanchardville village.

    • The Building Inspector issues an occupancy permit after required inspections find compliance.
    • A temporary occupancy permit may be issued for 30 days or a specified term when only minor non-safety-threatening deficiencies remain.
    “No person may have occupancy of a building until an occupancy permit is issued.”
  • Local zoningPresent

    Land inside Blanchardville village limits.

    • The Village zoning chapter applies to all lands and waters within the Village corporate limits.
    “This chapter shall be known as, referred to or cited as the "Zoning Code, Village of Blanchardville, Wisconsin."”
  • Camping on your landLimited

    Temporary camping inside Blanchardville village parks.

    • Camping is limited to the McKellar Park Campground or other designated campgrounds by permit.
    • Tent camping is generally permitted April 15 through October 15.
    • Camping outside that period requires prior Village Board approval for training or special uses.
    • Camping renewal is required weekly or daily by written request.

    tent camping season: April 15-October 15 (October 15-April 15 requires prior Village Board approval.)

    “Camping regulated. No person shall set up tents, shacks or any other temporary shelter for the purpose of overnight camping, nor shall any person leave in the park after closing hours any movable structure or special vehicle to be used or that could be used for such purpose, such as house trailers, camp trailers, camp wagons or similar structures except in designated campgrounds by permit.”
  • Accessory dwellingsAllowed (with conditions)

    One accessory dwelling unit on one R-1-zoned parcel inside Blanchardville village.

    • The parcel must be zoned R-1.
    • Limit is one ADU per R-1-zoned parcel.
    • Other building, zoning, sewer, and permit requirements still apply.

    ADUs per R-1-zoned parcel: 1 unit

    “One accessory dwelling unit (ADU) may be built per one R-1-zoned parcel.”
  • Off-grid sanitationLimited

    Sanitation facilities on land inside Blanchardville village where sewer mains are unavailable.

    • Where sewer mains are not available, chemical toilets must be used.
    • A surface privy, cesspool, or dry closet requires a permit from the Health Officer.
    • Where sewer or water is available, connection is required under the Village code.
    “Where sewer mains are not available, chemical toilets shall be used. No surface privy, cesspool or dry closet shall be constructed or maintained on any lot or parcel without a permit granted by the Health Officer.”
  • Mandatory utility hookupWater and sewer (with conditions)

    Buildings used for human habitation inside Blanchardville village when a Village sewer or water main is available or adjacent.

    • Written notice is issued by the Health Officer or Village Board.
    • Connection must occur within 90 days after written notice under the mandatory-hookup provision.
    • The Health Officer may extend the connection time or grant temporary relief for unnecessary hardship.
    • After connection, privies, privy vaults, and cesspools must be abated.

    connection deadline: 90 days after written notice (The Health Officer may extend the time or grant temporary relief for unnecessary hardship.)

    “Whenever sewer and water become available to any building used for human habitation, the Health Officer shall notify, in writing, the owner, agent or occupant thereof to connect thereto all facilities required by the Health Officer.”
  • Permit processPublished (with conditions)

    Building-permit applications inside Blanchardville village.

    • For proposed construction or demolition, two sets of building plans must be submitted for work expanding building size, new buildings, or as otherwise required.
    • A scaled plot plan showing proposed work, existing buildings, and property lines is required for new buildings or additions.
    • Permits are valid for two years and may be extended for 30, 90, or up to 180 days with Building Inspector approval and payment of fees.

    permit validity: 2 years (May be extended for 30, 90, or up to 180 days with approval and fee payment.)

    “The owner or contractor shall, with respect to any proposed construction or demolition, submit two sets of building plans to the Inspector for any work which expands the size of a building, any new building or as required by the Inspector.”

Still unanswered

We looked and could not find an official answer yet. Silence is not permission; ask Village of Blanchardville or Lafayette County directly.

  • Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builders constructing inside Blanchardville village.
  • Minimum dwelling size — Minimum dwelling size in the R-1 Single-Family Residential District.
  • Minimum lot size — Minimum lot size in the R-1 Single-Family Residential District.
  • Setbacks — Setbacks in the R-1 Single-Family Residential District.
  • Lot coverage — Lot coverage inside Blanchardville village.
13 more unanswered
  • Building height
  • Living in an RV
  • Tiny homes
  • Manufactured homes
  • Who permits septic
  • Septic permit
  • Septic inspection
  • Well permit
  • Agricultural exemption
  • Subdividing land
  • Driveway access
  • Short-term rentals
  • Permit fees

Each answer was extracted from an official source and independently re-checked against that source by a second reviewer. That is an evidence check, not legal advice. Rules change; confirm with the authority before you buy or build.

Unanswered questions are usually a sign that Village of Blanchardville publishes no rule on the point, not that none exists. Lafayette County’s page lists the county offices to call.

← All of Lafayette County: county rules, score and offices