Bolthole Index

St. Croix County, Wisconsin

Zoning, building permits and septic rules in the Town of St. Joseph, Wisconsin

The Town of St. Joseph, Wisconsin writes and enforces its own zoning (Chapter 170), separate from St. Croix County's zoning12. Building permits are required inside the town and are handled by the Town's contract inspector3. Septic permits stay with the St. Croix County Community Development Department4.

At a glance

Zoning
The Town's own zoning (Chapter 170); county general zoning does not apply here12
Building permit
Required; issued through the Town with Wisconsin Uniform Dwelling Code inspections56
Septic
St. Croix County sanitary permit comes before the building permit7
Driveway permit
Required before a building permit; Town Zoning Administrator issues it83
Occupancy permit
Required before a new house can be occupied9
Owner-builder
Owner-occupants may take out UDC permits under state rules10
RV or tiny-home living
Not confirmed; ask the Town Zoning Administrator11

Who to call

Zoning

Town of St. Joseph Zoning Administrator

Zoning districts, conditional use, variance and rezoning applications for land in the Town of St. Joseph

715-781-0643

zoning@tn.stjoseph.wi.gov

1337 County Road V Hudson, WI 54016

Building permits

Town of St. Joseph building permits (All-Croix Inspections)

Building permits and inspections, driveway permits and fire numbers in the Town of St. Joseph

Septic permits

St. Croix County Community Development Department (Sanitary Program)

State and county sanitary (septic) permits and inspections for every address in St. Croix County, including the Town of St. Joseph

715-386-4680

cdd@sccwi.gov

Online permits →

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 Town of St. Joseph means bringing your own water and power. The kit we’d start with:

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Does the Town of St. Joseph, Wisconsin have zoning?

Yes. The Town of St. Joseph adopts and maintains its own zoning chapter, Chapter 170 of the Town code1. St. Croix County's general zoning applies to the county's other towns and unincorporated areas but not to the towns of Forest, Hudson, St. Joseph and Troy2. That means the county's district tables, setbacks, minimum dwelling size and camping rules do not govern a parcel in St. Joseph.

The Town publishes a zoning map and a use table showing what each district allows11. Use them to find your parcel's district before you make an offer, because lot size, setbacks, height and dwelling size depend on the district. We could not confirm those district standards, or the Town's rules on accessory dwellings, tiny homes and manufactured homes. Ask the Town Zoning Administrator.

Can you live in an RV or tiny home in the Town of St. Joseph?

We could not confirm a general rule for living in an RV, tiny home or camping on private land in the Town of St. Joseph. The Town's short-term rental chapter does bar a recreational vehicle, camper or tent from providing extra accommodations for paying guests12. St. Croix County's camping limits and seasonal travel-trailer permit are county zoning rules, and county general zoning does not apply in St. Joseph2. Call the Town Zoning Administrator before you plan to live in a camper or tiny home on your land11.

Do you need a building permit in the Town of St. Joseph, and who issues it?

Yes. Building permits are required inside the Town of St. Joseph, and the Town handles building inspections and permits through a contract inspector, All-Croix Inspections3. A permit is required before altering, building, adding onto or making structural or major mechanical changes to a building within the Town's building chapter5. Exemptions include qualifying work under $2,000 in a twelve-month period, fences and some small outbuildings; outbuildings larger than 150 square feet need a permit5.

The Town adopts the Wisconsin Uniform Dwelling Code for buildings within its ordinance6. The Town must act within 10 business days after it has all required forms, fees, plans and documents13. A single-family home also needs an occupancy permit, which is issued only after inspections pass and fees are paid9. Wisconsin lets the owner who occupies or will occupy a home take out the construction permit, but that does not waive other required approvals10.

Do you need a driveway permit in the Town of St. Joseph?

Yes. A driveway permit is required before any driveway is built or widened in the Town of St. Joseph, and the driveway must be completely constructed and approved before a building permit is issued8. The Town Zoning Administrator issues driveway permits3. A driveway onto a county or state highway needs county or state approval in addition to the Town's8. Existing field driveways are exempt unless rebuilt for new construction8.

How do septic permits work in the Town of St. Joseph?

Septic permits do not come from the Town. In St. Croix County, the Community Development Department's Sanitary Program issues them14. A State Sanitary Permit is required to install a private on-site wastewater treatment system, and a County Sanitary Permit is required to repair, reconnect or rejuvenate one or to install a privy or composting toilet4. A sanitary permit is required before the local municipality issues a building permit, and only a licensed plumber may submit it7. County staff inspect all work that needs a sanitary permit15.

Across St. Croix County, about 15.3% of soils are rated not limited for a conventional drain field, so many lots need a site evaluation or an engineered system16. We could not confirm a Town-specific septic inspection rule or a well-permit rule; ask the county sanitary staff.

Building a home in the Town of St. Joseph: the steps, in order

  1. Find your parcel's zoning district on the Town zoning map and use table, and confirm your plan fits it with the Zoning Administrator11.
  2. Get the county sanitary permit through a licensed plumber, since it must precede the building permit7.
  3. Get the driveway permit and have the driveway built and approved8.
  4. Apply for the building permit on the Town's form, with the required plans, and copy in any county permits13.
  5. Call for inspections of each phase before covering the work17.
  6. Obtain the occupancy permit before anyone moves in9.

What stays with St. Croix County, and what to check before you buy

For the Town of St. Joseph, the county keeps septic permits14, and its shoreland, floodplain, land division and Lower St. Croix Riverway rules apply to all townships18. Land division rules, including a survey and town and county review, apply to creating new lots19. We could not confirm the Town's floodplain, minimum lot size or setback rules; check them with the Zoning Administrator. For land outside the town, see the St. Croix County page. St. Croix County's effective property tax rate is 1.2%20.

Watch-outs

  • County zoning pages for St. Croix County do not apply inside the Town of St. Joseph, so county rules about camping units, minimum dwelling size and setbacks cannot be used for a parcel here2.
  • Short-term rentals of more than 10 nights per license year need a Town license plus a Wisconsin tourist rooming house license12.
  • We could not confirm the Town's rules on RV living, tiny homes, lot size, setbacks or floodplain development; ask the Town Zoning Administrator11.

Sources

  1. Table of Contents - Town of St. Joseph, WI (Town of St. Joseph), quoted and re-checked
  2. Land Use and Zoning, quoted and re-checked
  3. Town of St. Joseph building permits (All-Croix Inspections) (townofstjoseph.com)
  4. Sanitary Program, quoted and re-checked
  5. Chapter 80: Building Construction (Town of St. Joseph), quoted and re-checked
  6. Chapter 80: Building Construction (Town of St. Joseph), quoted and re-checked
  7. Sanitary Program, quoted and re-checked
  8. Article III: Driveways (Town of St. Joseph), quoted and re-checked
  9. Chapter 80: Building Construction (Town of St. Joseph), quoted and re-checked
  10. Wisconsin’s Uniform Dwelling Code, quoted and re-checked
  11. Town of St. Joseph Zoning Administrator (townofstjoseph.com)
  12. Chapter 167: Short-Term Rental Licensing (Town of St. Joseph), quoted and re-checked
  13. Chapter 80: Building Construction (Town of St. Joseph), quoted and re-checked
  14. St. Croix County Community Development Department (Sanitary Program) (sccwi.gov)
  15. Sanitary Program, quoted and re-checked
  16. Share of soils USDA rates "not limited" for a conventional septic drain field (SSURGO). A strict rating: the median county is about 6% and a tenth of counties are 0%, so a low figure means most lots need a site evaluation or an engineered system, not that septic is impossible. Cite it only with that caveat: Bolthole Index county data
  17. Chapter 80: Building Construction (Town of St. Joseph), quoted and re-checked
  18. Land Use & Zoning FAQ, quoted and re-checked
  19. Land Division, 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 Town of St. Joseph

Town of St. Joseph’s own rules

  • Building permitRequired

    Residential building work inside St. Joseph town.

    • A permit is required before altering, building, adding onto, or making structural or major mechanical changes to a building within the chapter scope.
    • Listed exemptions include qualifying work under $2,000 in a twelve-month period, certain equipment repairs, fences, qualifying reroofing, certain small outbuildings, qualifying repairs, interior finishing, and same-size window or door replacement.
    • Outbuildings larger than 150 square feet require a permit.

    small-work cost threshold: < 2000 USD (must be in a twelve-month period and must not change occupancy, area, structural strength, fire protection, exits, natural light, or ventilation) · outbuilding permit threshold: > 150 square feet (outbuildings without a foundation or slab)

    “No person shall alter, build, add onto or alter any building within the scope of this chapter without first obtaining a building permit for such work from the Building Inspector. Any structural changes or major changes to mechanical systems that involve extensions shall require permits.”
  • Building code adoptedAdopted

    All buildings within the scope of the Town building ordinance inside St. Joseph town.

    • Wisconsin Uniform Dwelling Code Chapters SPS 320-325 and successors apply to buildings within the ordinance scope.
    • The ordinance also adopts Wisconsin commercial, pre-1914, electrical, plumbing, and specified flammable-material codes for municipal enforcement.
    “The Wisconsin Uniform Dwelling Code, Chs. SPS 320-325, and its successors, of the Wisconsin Administrative Code, and all amendments thereto, is adopted and incorporated by reference and shall apply to all buildings within the scope of this ordinance.”
  • InspectionsRequired

    Construction subject to the Uniform Dwelling Code or Commercial Building Code inside St. Joseph town.

    • The builder, contractor, owner, or permit holder must notify the Building Inspector and coordinate required inspection timing under the cited Wisconsin administrative-code provisions.
    • Necessary reinspections for incomplete or noncompliant work carry an additional fee payable before issuance of the occupancy permit.
    “For all inspections required by the Uniform Dwelling Code and the Commercial Building Code, the builder (contractor, owner or permit holder as the case may be) shall provide notice to the Building Inspector and shall coordinate the timing of the construction as provided in SPS 320.10(2)(b)3, SPS 320.10(3)(h)2, and SPS 361.41(1).”
  • Certificate of occupancyRequired

    Single-family dwellings, two-family dwellings, and commercial structures inside St. Joseph town.

    • The ordinance calls the document an occupancy permit.
    • It is issued only after all inspections are satisfactorily completed, all required fees are paid, and all chapter terms are met.
    “No single-family dwelling or two-family dwelling or commercial structure may be occupied by any person or party until an occupancy permit has been issued. An occupancy permit will be issued only after all inspections have been satisfactorily completed, all required fees associated with this ordinance paid, and all required terms of the chapter have been met.”
  • Local zoningPresent

    Land inside St. Joseph town; the Town adopts and maintains Chapter 170, Zoning.

    • The code table of contents identifies Chapter 170 as Zoning, with sections 170-1 through 170-117.
    “Chapter 170 Zoning (§ 170-1 – § 170-117)”
  • Zoning districtsPublished

    Land inside St. Joseph town; the Town code publishes a zoning chapter and zoning-related code structure.

    • The code table of contents identifies Chapter 170 as Zoning, covering sections 170-1 through 170-117.
    • The operative district names and dimensional schedules were not reliably retrievable in this research pass.
    “Article III Zoning Districts and Regulation”
  • Driveway accessRequired

    New buildings inside St. Joseph town.

    • A driveway permit is required before driveway construction or widening.
    • Existing field driveways are exempt unless rebuilt to accommodate new building construction.
    • Driveways exiting onto county or state highways also need county or state approval.
    • Driveway site inspection and approval are prerequisites to a final driveway permit.
    • The driveway must be completely constructed and approved before issuance of a building permit.
    • A cul-de-sac on a Town road is an exception to the 200-foot separation rule.

    driveway separation: >= 200 feet (exception for driveways coming off a cul-de-sac on a Town road) · driveway angle: >= 75 degrees (approximately right angles to the roadway)

    “A driveway permit shall be obtained and a copy issued to the permittee before commencement of any driveway construction or widening in the Town of St. Joseph. No driveway permit shall be issued until a completed application has been made and approved by the Town of St. Joseph. Driveways that exit onto a county or state highway need county or state approval in addition to the Town approval.”
  • Short-term rentalsLimited

    Short-term rentals in residential dwellings inside St. Joseph town.

    • A short-term rental is a residential dwelling rented for fewer than 29 consecutive days; specified bed-and-breakfasts, hotels, motels, and rooming houses are excluded.
    • No Town license is required for operation of 10 nights or fewer in a license year; operation for more than 10 nights requires a Town license.
    • The property must also hold a Wisconsin Tourist Rooming House License.
    • A local property-management contact must be within 35 miles and available 24 hours a day, seven days a week while guests use the property.
    • The property owner must provide proof of adequate sanitation facilities from St. Croix County Public Health.
    • No recreational vehicle, camper, tent, or other temporary lodging arrangement may provide additional accommodations for paying guests.

    short-term rental duration: < 29 consecutive days (bed-and-breakfasts, hotels, motels, and rooming houses are excluded) · Town-license threshold: > 10 nights per license year (license required above this threshold) · local contact distance: <= 35 miles (must be located within this distance while guests use the property)

    “No person may maintain, manage, or operate a short-term rental more than 10 nights each license year without a Town short-term rental license issued pursuant to this chapter.”
  • Permit processPublished (with conditions)

    Town building-permit application and issuance inside St. Joseph town.

    • Applications must be written on a Town-furnished form.
    • Applicants must submit required documents and plans.
    • Required St. Croix County permits, including a county driveway permit if necessary, must be obtained and copied into the application.
    • Town or private-road driveway permits are obtained from the Town Board; other driveway permits are issued by the county.
    • The Town must act within 10 business days after receiving all required forms, fees, plans, and documents.
    • Permits must be posted conspicuously at the building site.

    Town action deadline: 10 business days (runs after receipt of all required forms, fees, plans, and documents)

    “Application for a building permit shall be made, in writing, upon a form furnished by the Town. The appropriate building requirements of the Town and, where applicable, of the county or the state for the contemplated improvement shall be provided to the permit applicant by the Town at or before the submission of an application for a building permit.”

Still unanswered

We looked and could not find an official answer yet. Silence is not permission; ask Town of St. Joseph or St. Croix County directly.

  • Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builders performing construction inside St. Joseph town.
  • Minimum dwelling size — Minimum dwelling size inside St. Joseph town, by applicable zoning district.
  • Minimum lot size — Minimum lot size inside St. Joseph town, by applicable zoning district.
  • Setbacks — Building and site setbacks inside St. Joseph town, by applicable zoning district.
  • Lot coverage — Lot coverage inside St. Joseph town, by applicable zoning district.
13 more unanswered
  • Building height
  • Living in an RV
  • Camping on your land
  • Tiny homes
  • Manufactured homes
  • Accessory dwellings
  • Septic inspection
  • Off-grid sanitation
  • Well permit
  • Mandatory utility hookup
  • Agricultural exemption
  • Subdividing land
  • Building in a floodplain

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 Town of St. Joseph publishes no rule on the point, not that none exists. St. Croix County’s page lists the county offices to call.

← All of St. Croix County: county rules, score and offices