Bolthole Index

Waushara County, Wisconsin

Zoning, building permits and septic rules in the Village of Wild Rose, Wisconsin

The Village of Wild Rose, Wisconsin requires a building permit from the Village Building Inspector, applied for through the Clerk-Treasurer, before work begins1. The village adopts its own zoning inside village limits2. Septic permits for lots without municipal sewer come from the Waushara County Zoning Office, not the village3.

At a glance

Building permit
Required from the village Building Inspector, through the Clerk-Treasurer1
Zoning
The village has its own zoning chapter and district map24
Septic permit
Waushara County Zoning Office, where municipal sewer does not serve the lot3
Minimum dwelling size
750 square feet in R-1 and R-256
R-1 minimum lot
7,500 square feet and 70 feet wide7
Manufactured homes
Allowed as dwellings in village residential districts, with permits8
Sewer connection
Required within 90 days of notice if a public sewer is within 300 feet9
RV and tiny-home living
Not confirmed; ask the Village Clerk10

Who to call

Building permits

Village of Wild Rose Clerk-Treasurer

Village building permit applications and forms; the Village Building Inspector works through this office

(920) 622-4183

PO Box 292, 500 Main Street Wild Rose, Wisconsin 54984-0292

Septic permits

Waushara County Zoning Office

Sanitary (septic) permits and three-year maintenance tracking for private onsite wastewater systems, including those inside village limits

920-787-0453

lcd.zoning@wausharacountywi.gov

380 S. Townline Rd., Wautoma, WI 54982

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 Wild Rose means bringing your own water and power. The kit we’d start with:

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Does Wild Rose have zoning, and what does it mean for lot size, setbacks and manufactured homes?

The Village of Wild Rose adopts and enforces its own zoning chapter for land inside village limits2. The village lists seven district types: R-1 and R-2 residential, MH mobile home, B-1 and B-2 business, I-1 industrial and C conservancy/open space, and the certified zoning map is kept at the Clerk-Treasurer's office4.

In the R-1 district, a lot needs at least 7,500 square feet and 70 feet of width7. A home in R-1 needs at least 750 square feet of floor area5, and the R-2 district sets the same 750-square-foot minimum6. Principal buildings in R-1 sit 20 feet from the front line, 10 feet from the side lines and 30 feet from the rear line, and accessory buildings sit 4 feet from the side and 8 feet from the rear11. Accessory buildings in R-1 may not exceed 15 feet in height, and pods or cargo containers cannot serve as accessory buildings12.

Manufactured homes count as dwelling units in the village's residential districts, provided the home meets the village's foundation and installation definition and all building and zoning permits are obtained8. We could not confirm village rules for living in an RV, tiny homes or accessory dwelling units, so ask the Village Clerk before you plan around any of them10.

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

Yes. Inside the Village of Wild Rose, a building permit must be obtained from the Village Building Inspector through the Clerk-Treasurer before a building is erected or ground is broken1. The same rule covers enlarging, altering, moving or demolishing a building, and changing its footprint or installing heating or ventilating equipment1. Routine maintenance such as roofing, a water heater, a window swap or a sink replacement needs no building permit unless the footprint changes or an opening is enlarged or reduced1.

Waushara County does not issue Uniform Dwelling Code building permits inside the village; the county's own page names the Village of Wild Rose as an exception to its UDC permit and inspection program13. Applications are written on a Village Clerk-Treasurer form, fees are paid before issuance, and a permit lapses if work does not start within 60 days and expires 12 months after issuance unless extended14. The village's fee schedule is kept at the Clerk-Treasurer's office, and we could not confirm the dollar amounts for ordinary building permits15. The village also requires a $25 permit from the Village Board for a driveway that crosses a sidewalk or curb16.

Wisconsin lets the owner who occupies or will occupy a home take out the UDC construction permit instead of a licensed dwelling contractor17. We could not confirm how the village applies that to owner-builders, so ask the Clerk-Treasurer10.

How do septic permits work inside Wild Rose?

Septic permits for a Wild Rose lot that municipal sewer does not serve come from the Waushara County Zoning Office, even though the lot sits inside village limits3. New, repaired, replaced or altered systems all need a permit, the work must be done by a licensed plumber, and a licensed Certified Soil Tester must complete soil testing before the permit is issued18. Every system must be visually inspected every 3 years, pumping must be done by a licensed septage hauler, and the results are reported to the County Zoning Office19.

On a lot with village sewer nearby, the village's sewer rules apply instead. The owner of a building used for people to live, work or gather must connect to the public sanitary sewer within 90 days after official notice, as long as the sewer is within 300 feet of the property line, at the owner's expense9.

Wells are a state matter in general: Wisconsin requires advance notice to the DNR before a new private well is built20. We could not confirm a village-specific well rule, so ask the Village Clerk10.

Building a home in Wild Rose: the steps, in order

  1. Ask the Village Clerk-Treasurer which zoning district the parcel is in and look at the certified zoning map held there4.
  2. Find out whether public sewer is within 300 feet of the property line; if not, plan for a county septic system9.
  3. If the lot needs a septic system, hire a Certified Soil Tester and a licensed plumber, and apply to the Waushara County Zoning Office for the septic permit18.
  4. Apply for the village building permit on the Clerk-Treasurer's form and pay the fee before issuance14.
  5. Start work within 60 days of issuance and finish inside 12 months, or request an extension14.
  6. If a driveway will cross a sidewalk or curb, apply to the Village Board for a driveway permit16.
  7. Call for the inspection of each phase of construction before covering the work21.

What stays with Waushara County, and what should you check before you buy?

Septic permits and the three-year septic maintenance reporting stay with the Waushara County Zoning Office3. Waushara County's own land-use permits and zoning apply to unincorporated land in the county's townships, outside city and village limits22. For land outside the village, see the Waushara County page.

For floodplain questions, the county's floodplain page tells owners in incorporated cities and villages to check with the local government23. The village's code index lists a floodplain zoning chapter, but we could not read its text, so ask the Village Clerk whether a parcel is mapped4.

Property tax figures are county-level: Waushara County's effective property tax rate is 1.3% and the median bill is $2,458 a year2425. A driveway onto a state highway needs a WisDOT connection permit26.

Watch-outs

  • County land-use permits do not apply inside Wild Rose village limits, so do not start with the county zoning counter for a building permit; start with the Village Clerk-Treasurer13.
  • A septic permit comes from the Waushara County Zoning Office, not the village, wherever municipal sewer does not serve the lot3.
  • We could not confirm village rules on RV occupancy, tiny homes, accessory dwellings, short-term rentals, wells or building permit fee amounts; call the Village Clerk at (920) 622-4183 before you buy10.

Sources

  1. Chapter 10-3: Building Regulations - Village of Wild Rose, WI (Village of Wild Rose), quoted and re-checked
  2. Chapter 10-5: Zoning - Village of Wild Rose, WI (Village of Wild Rose), quoted and re-checked
  3. Septic System Information - Waushara County WI (Village of Wild Rose), quoted and re-checked
  4. Chapter 10-5: Zoning - Village of Wild Rose, WI (Village of Wild Rose), quoted and re-checked
  5. ecode360.com (Village of Wild Rose), quoted and re-checked
  6. ecode360.com (Village of Wild Rose), quoted and re-checked
  7. ecode360.com (Village of Wild Rose), quoted and re-checked
  8. Chapter 10-5: Zoning - Village of Wild Rose, WI (Village of Wild Rose), quoted and re-checked
  9. Chapter 5-3: Sewer Utility - Village of Wild Rose, WI (Village of Wild Rose), quoted and re-checked
  10. Village of Wild Rose Clerk-Treasurer (villageofwildrose.com)
  11. ecode360.com (Village of Wild Rose), quoted and re-checked
  12. ecode360.com (Village of Wild Rose), quoted and re-checked
  13. Building Code and Inspections, quoted and re-checked
  14. Chapter 10-3: Building Regulations - Village of Wild Rose, WI (Village of Wild Rose), quoted and re-checked
  15. Chapter 10-3: Building Regulations - Village of Wild Rose, WI (Village of Wild Rose), quoted and re-checked
  16. Chapter 4-4: Driveways - Village of Wild Rose, WI (Village of Wild Rose), quoted and re-checked
  17. Wisconsin’s Uniform Dwelling Code (Wisconsin statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  18. Septic System Information - Waushara County WI (Village of Wild Rose), quoted and re-checked
  19. Septic System Information - Waushara County WI (Village of Wild Rose), quoted and re-checked
  20. Well and heat exchange notification (Wisconsin statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  21. Wisconsin’s Uniform Dwelling Code (Wisconsin statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  22. Land Use Permits, quoted and re-checked
  23. Floodplain - Waushara County WI, quoted and re-checked
  24. Effective property tax rate: Bolthole Index county data
  25. Median property tax bill: Bolthole Index county data
  26. State highway connection permits (driveways & more) (Wisconsin statewide rule), quoted and re-checked

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 Wild Rose

Village of Wild Rose’s own rules

  • Building permitRequired

    Erection, enlargement, alteration, footprint change, heating or ventilating installation, moving, or demolition of a building or structure inside Wild Rose village.

    • A permit must be obtained from the Village Building Inspector through the Clerk-Treasurer before work begins.
    • Normal maintenance such as roofing, water heater, HVAC, toilet/vanity/sink, or window replacement does not require an inspection or building permit unless the footprint changes or an opening is enlarged or reduced.
    “No building or any part there of shall hereafter be erected within the Village of Wild Rose or ground broken for the same, except hereinafter provided, until a permit therefor shall first have been obtained from the Village Building Inspector through the Clerk-Treasurer by the owner, or his/her authorized agent.”
  • Building code adoptedAdopted (with conditions)

    Commercial and one- and two-family building work requiring a permit inside Wild Rose village.

    • The Village adopts the State Building Code for commercial buildings and one- and two-family buildings, plus SPS 326, SPS 327, and SPS 328; future amendments are incorporated.
    “The State Building Code, Wis. Adm. Code, Chapters SPS 360 through 366 for commercial buildings and Wis. Adm. Code Chapters SPS 320 through 325 for one- and two-family buildings, are adopted and made a part of this section with the respect to those classes of buildings to which this building code specifically applies.”
  • Local zoningPresent

    Land within the corporate limits of the Village of Wild Rose.

    • The chapter states that it is effective after a public hearing, adoption by the Wild Rose Village Board, and publication or posting as required by state law.
    “It is the general intent of this chapter to promote orderly development of all structures, lands, and waters within the corporate limits of the Village of Wild Rose.”
  • Zoning districtsPublished

    The Village zoning framework and district map inside Wild Rose village.

    • The certified zoning map is adopted with the text and is available to the public in the Village Clerk-Treasurer's office.
    • District types listed are R-1, R-2, MH, B-1, B-2, I-1, and C.
    “Residential District | R-1 | R-2 Mobile Home Districts | MH [...] Business Downtown District | B-1 Business Service District | B-2 Industrial District: | I-1 Conservancy/Open Space District | C”
  • Minimum dwelling sizeSpecified

    R-1 Residential District.

    • Applies to all residential buildings for human habitation in R-1.

    minimum dwelling floor area: >= 750 square feet

    “Minimum square footage: all residential buildings for human habitation shall have a minimum square footage of 750 square feet.”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Specified — R-2 Residential District.
      “Minimum square footage: all residential buildings for human habitation shall have a minimum square footage of 750 square feet.”
  • Minimum lot sizeDistrict specific (with conditions)

    R-2 Residential District, by dwelling-unit count.

    • The opened ordinance specifies area per dwelling unit for two-, three-, and four-family units; no separate single-family R-2 lot-area figure was located.

    two-family minimum lot area per dwelling unit: >= 4000 square feet · three-family minimum lot area per dwelling unit: >= 3000 square feet · four-family minimum lot area per dwelling unit: >= 2500 square feet

    “Minimum lot area per dwelling unit: [...] Two-family units: 4,000 square feet. [...] Three-family units: 3,000 square feet. [...] Four-family units: 2,500 square feet.”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Specified — R-1 Residential District.
      “Minimum lot area and width: area not less than 7,500 square feet; width seventy-foot minimum.”
  • SetbacksSpecified

    Principal and accessory buildings in the R-1 Residential District.

    • Principal-building side setback may be reduced below 10 feet to zero if the adjacent parcel's setback provides a minimum 20-foot building separation.
    • Driveways must be 2 feet from the property line.

    principal front setback: 20 feet · principal side setback: 10 feet (May be reduced to zero if adjacent parcel setback provides 20 feet of building separation.) · principal rear setback: 30 feet · driveway setback: 2 feet · accessory side setback: 4 feet · accessory rear setback: 8 feet

    “Front yard: 20 feet from property line. [...] Side yard: 10 feet from side lot line (can be reduced below 10 feet to zero, if adjacent parcel has a setback that provides minimum building separation is 20 feet. [...] Rear yard: 30 feet from rear lot line. [...] Driveway: two feet from property line.”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Specified — Principal and accessory buildings in the R-2 Residential District.
      “Front yard: 20 feet from property line. [...] Side yard: 10 feet from side lot line (can be reduced below 10 feet to zero, if adjacent parcel has a setback that provides minimum building separation is 20 feet. [...] Rear yard: 30 feet from rear lot line. [...] Driveway(s): two feet from property line.”
  • Lot coverageSpecified

    R-1 Residential District.

    • Accessory-building coverage is measured against the required rear yard for the primary building.

    primary building maximum coverage: <= 40 percent of lot size · accessory building maximum coverage: <= 30 percent of required rear yard

    “Primary building: shall not exceed 40% of lot size. [...] Accessory building: shall not exceed 30% of the required rear yard for primary building.”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Specified — R-2 Residential District.
      “Primary building(s): shall not exceed 40% of lot size; [...] Accessory building(s): shall not exceed 30% of the required rear yard for primary building.”
  • Building heightSpecified

    R-1 Residential District.

    • Pods or cargo containers cannot be used as accessory buildings.

    principal building maximum height: 35 feet or three stories, whichever is less · accessory building maximum height: <= 15 feet

    “Principal building: 35 feet or three stories, whichever is less; [...] Accessory building: shall not exceed 15 feet in height. [...] Pods or cargo containers cannot be used as accessory buildings.”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Specified — R-2 Residential District.
      “Principal building: 35 feet or three stories, whichever is less. [...] Accessory building: shall not exceed 15 feet in height. [...] Pods or cargo containers cannot be used as accessory buildings.”
  • Manufactured homesAllowed (with conditions)

    Manufactured homes used as dwelling units in Wild Rose village residential districts.

    • The home must meet the Village's manufactured-home definition: enclosed foundation compliant with cited Wisconsin standards or an approved comparable foundation, manufacturer's installation instructions, and proper utility connection.
    • The applicable district must permit the dwelling use and all building and zoning permits remain required.
    “Dwelling units include manufactured homes as defined below.”
  • Who permits septicCounty (with conditions)

    Private onsite wastewater systems inside Wild Rose village where the property is not served by municipal sewer; Waushara County Zoning Office administers septic requirements.

    • The county page expressly limits the stated septic program to areas not served by municipal sewer.
    • Where Village public sewer is available within the Village sewer ordinance's threshold, Village sewer-connection rules apply instead.
    “Septic System requirements are administered by the County Zoning Office and apply in all areas of the county not served by municipal sewer.”
  • Septic permitRequired

    New, repaired, replaced, or altered septic systems inside Wild Rose village where municipal sewer does not serve the property.

    • All work must be done by a qualified, licensed plumber.
    • A licensed Certified Soil Tester must complete soil testing before the permit is issued.
    “Permits are required for repairing, replacing, and altering existing septic systems, as well as installing new ones. All work must be done by a qualified, licensed plumber. Soil tests must be taken by a licensed Certified Soil Tester prior to issuing such permits.”
  • Septic inspectionRequired

    Septic systems inside Wild Rose village where municipal sewer does not serve the property.

    • Systems must be visually inspected every three years for leaking tanks or ponding absorption areas.
    • Pumping must be done by a licensed septage hauler.
    • Inspection and servicing must be reported to the Waushara County Zoning Office.

    inspection interval: 3 years

    “All septic systems must be visually inspected every three years for signs of leaking tank and/or ponding of absorption area (drainage field). Pumping of tanks must be completed by a licensed septage hauler. Inspection and servicing must be reported to the County Zoning Office.”
  • Mandatory utility hookupSewer (with conditions)

    Buildings or properties used for human occupancy, employment, recreation, or other purposes inside Wild Rose village.

    • Connection is required after official notice.
    • The public sanitary sewer must be within 300 feet of the property line.
    • Connection is at the owner's expense and must occur within 90 days after notice.

    maximum sewer distance from property line: <= 300 feet · connection deadline after official notice: 90 days

    “The owner(s) of all houses, buildings, or properties used for human occupancy, employment, recreation, or other purposes, situated within the Village and abutting on any street, alley, or right-of-way in which there is now located or may in the future be located a public sanitary sewer of the Village, is hereby required at the owner's (owners') expense to install suitable toilet facilities therein, and to connect such facilities directly with the proper public sewer in accordance with the provisions of this chapter, within 90 days after date of official notice to do so, provided that said public sewer is within 300 feet (91.5 meters) of the property line.”
  • Driveway accessRequired

    Driveways crossing or passing through a sidewalk or curb inside Wild Rose village.

    • Written application must state the reason.
    • Application must include property lines, proposed driveway location and width, and any driveway/street intersection within 100 feet.
    • The Village Board may especially permit an exception by resolution.
    • Driveways may not exceed 24 feet at the outer or street edge of the sidewalk except by specific Village Board resolution.

    permit fee: 25 USD · intersection information distance: 100 feet · maximum driveway width: <= 24 feet (Specific Village Board resolution.)

    “Unless otherwise especially permitted by resolution of the Village Board, upon written application giving the reason therefor, no person shall construct, repair or reconstruct any driveway across or through any sidewalk or curbing without having first obtained a permit from the Village Board for which a fee in the sum of $25 shall be charged, which shall accompany the application.”
  • Permit feesPublished (with conditions)

    Building, plan-review, and listed permit fees inside Wild Rose village.

    • Plan-examination fees are determined by square footage under a published fee schedule.
    • The permit-fee schedule is on file in the Clerk-Treasurer's office; the opened code did not expose the amounts for ordinary building permits.
    “Fees for plan examination shall be determined on square footage as per published fee schedule. [...] The following fees shall be as provided in the fee schedule on file in the Clerk-Treasurer's office:”
  • Permit processPublished (with conditions)

    Village building-permit applications inside Wild Rose village.

    • Applications must be written on a Village Clerk-Treasurer form and identify the landowner, building owner if different, legal description, and other information required by the Clerk-Treasurer or Building Inspector.
    • Fees must be paid before issuance.
    • A permit lapses if work does not commence within 60 days and expires 12 months after issuance unless extended.

    work commencement deadline: 60 days after issuance · permit expiration: 12 months after issuance (Unless an extension is requested.)

    “A building permit shall lapse and be void unless operation under the permit are commenced within 60 days from the date of issuance thereof and will expire 12 months from the issue date unless an extension is requested.”

Still unanswered

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

  • Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builders performing residential construction inside Wild Rose village.
  • Certificate of occupancy — Certificates of occupancy for buildings inside Wild Rose village.
  • Living in an RV — Long-term or residential occupancy of recreational vehicles on private land inside Wild Rose village.
  • Camping on your land — Temporary camping on private land inside Wild Rose village.
  • Tiny homes — Tiny-home occupancy inside Wild Rose village.
6 more unanswered
  • Accessory dwellings
  • Well permit
  • Agricultural exemption
  • Subdividing land
  • Building in a floodplain
  • Short-term rentals

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 Wild Rose publishes no rule on the point, not that none exists. Waushara County’s page lists the county offices to call.

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