Bolthole Index county-legal census · checked 2026-08-08
Septic permitting in Wisconsin is handled at the county level — county health departments approve systems in 71 of 72 counties.Every entry below names the approving authority for that county, cited to the authority’s own page.
Septic rules change and some cities run their own programs — treat this as a verified starting point, not legal advice. All states → Wisconsin water rights & wells → Full Wisconsin profile →
72 counties · county health departments · permit status scouted for 8
Adams County Planning & Zoning Department
Adams County, WI - Planning and Zoning ↗Ashland County Zoning Department (under Wisconsin DSPS SPS 383)
Ashland County Zoning - Sanitary Permit Information ↗Barron County Zoning Office (Sanitary Program)
Barron County Sanitary Maintenance Program ↗Bayfield County Planning & Zoning Department
Bayfield County Sanitary Information ↗Brown County Planning and Land Services - Zoning Division
Brown County Planning and Land Services - Zoning ↗Buffalo County Land Management / Zoning Department (POWTS)
Buffalo County - Sanitary Permit Applications ↗Burnett County Land Services (POWTS/sanitary permits, under WI DSPS)
Burnett County Private Sewage Systems ↗Calumet County Planning, Zoning & Land Information Department (Sanitation)
Calumet County Sanitation ↗Chippewa County Department of Planning & Zoning
Chippewa County, WI - POWTS ↗Clark County Planning, Zoning & Land Information Department
Clark County Planning & Zoning FAQ ↗Columbia County Planning & Zoning Department (Sanitary/POWTS program, DSPS delegated agent under SPS 383)
Columbia County - Sanitary Permit Documents & Information ↗Crawford County Land Conservation, Planning & Zoning Department
Crawford County - Sanitation ↗Dane County Department of Planning & Development
Dane County Chapter 46 Private Sewage System Ordinance ↗Dodge County Land Resources and Parks Department
Dodge County - Septic Systems ↗Door County Land Use Services, Sanitarian Division
Door County Sanitarian (POWTS) ↗Douglas County Zoning Office (WI DSPS POWTS program)
Douglas County, WI - New Sanitary System (POWTS) Installation ↗Dunn County Environmental Services - Planning & Zoning (Land Use) Division
Dunn County - Sanitation ↗Eau Claire County Health Department (sanitary/POWTS permits)
Eau Claire County Planning & Development - Building Permits ↗Florence County Zoning and Planning (County Sanitary/POWTS program under WI DSPS)
Florence County Comprehensive Zoning Ordinance (Ch. 10) ↗Fond du Lac County Land Information Department, Code Enforcement Office
Fond du Lac County - POWTS Program (Code Enforcement) ↗Forest County Zoning & Sanitary Department
Forest County (WI) Zoning & Sanitary Department ↗Grant County Conservation, Sanitation & Zoning Department
Grant County Conservation, Sanitation & Zoning ↗Green County Land Use & Zoning Department (Sanitary/POWTS)
Green County Title 4 - Zoning, Sanitary Code and Subdivision Regulations ↗Green Lake County Land Use Planning & Zoning Department (POWTS)
Green Lake County Code - Sewage Systems, Private (eCode360) ↗Iowa County Office of Planning & Development (County Sanitarian)
Iowa County WI - Sanitation Information ↗Iron County Zoning Department (POWTS/sanitary permitting)
Iron County Zoning Department ↗Jackson County Zoning/POWTS Department (State & County Sanitary Permits under WI DSPS)
Jackson County WI - POWTS Department ↗Jefferson County Planning and Development Department (POWTS program)
Jefferson County WI - POWTS Ordinance ↗Juneau County Sanitation & Zoning Department
Juneau County, WI - Sanitation & Zoning ↗Kenosha County Division of Planning & Development (POWTS sanitary permits, under WI DSPS)
Municipal Code of Kenosha County 15.04.020 - Sanitary Permit Requirements ↗Kewaunee County Land & Water Conservation Department, Sanitation Division
Kewaunee County Sanitary Ordinance (Chapter 15) ↗La Crosse County Zoning, Planning and Land Information Department
La Crosse County Zoning, Planning and Land Information ↗Lafayette County Land Conservation, Planning & Zoning Department
Lafayette County WI - Forms and Documents (LCPZ) ↗Langlade County Land Records & Regulations Department
Langlade County Sanitary Permits ↗Lincoln County Land Services (Zoning & Conservation)
Lincoln County Private Sewage Systems (POWTS) ↗Manitowoc County Planning & Zoning Department (POWTS/Sanitary program under WI DSPS SPS 383)
Manitowoc County - Sanitary ↗Marathon County Conservation, Planning and Zoning Department (CPZ)
Marathon County Septic Systems (POWTS) ↗Marinette County Land Information — Sanitation
Marinette County Land Information — Sanitation Forms & Documents ↗Marquette County Planning, Zoning & Land Information Department (Sanitary/POWTS)
Marquette County Sanitation & Septic Systems ↗Menominee County Land Conservation/Forestry/Zoning (POWTS Program)
Menominee County Septic Systems (POWTS) ↗Monroe County Zoning Department (sanitary/POWTS permits)
Monroe County, WI Zoning Department ↗Oconto County Planning, Zoning & Solid Waste Department (Sanitary), under WI DSPS
Oconto County Sanitary ↗Oneida County Planning & Zoning Department (Private Onsite Wastewater Treatment Systems, Chapter 13, under WI DSPS/SPS 383)
Oneida County - Planning & Zoning ↗Outagamie County Development & Land Services (POWTS/Sanitary)
Outagamie County Land Use, Zoning and Sanitary ↗Ozaukee County Land & Water Management Department
Ozaukee County - Septic (POWTS) Resources ↗Pepin County Land Conservation & Planning Department (POWTS/sanitary permits under WI DSPS)
Pepin County Zoning ↗Pierce County Land Management / Zoning (POWTS program under WI DSPS)
Pierce County Land Management / Zoning ↗Polk County Environmental Services Division — Zoning
Polk County Environmental Services — Ordinances & Permits ↗Portage County Planning & Zoning Department
Portage County Permit Application Forms and Procedures ↗Price County Zoning Department (POWTS / sanitary permits, under WI DSPS)
Price County - Permits, Applications and General Information ↗Racine County Public Works and Development Services (POWTS/sanitary permits, under WI DSPS)
Racine County Development Services - FAQ ↗Richland County Zoning & Sanitation Department
Richland County Zoning & Sanitation - Sanitation ↗Rock County Public Health Department
Rock County Public Health - Septic Systems ↗Rusk County Zoning Office (POWTS/sanitary permits under WI DSPS)
Rusk County - Zoning and Sanitary Permits ↗Sauk County Land Resources and Environment Department (Planning & Zoning)
Sauk County WI - Land Use/Sanitary Permit Application ↗Sawyer County Zoning Office / County Sanitarian (POWTS under WI DSPS)
Sawyer County - Sanitary Requirements ↗Shawano County Planning & Development, Zoning & Land Use Control (Sanitation) Division
Shawano County - Sanitation ↗Sheboygan County Planning and Conservation Department
Sheboygan County - Sanitary Ordinance (Chapter 70) ↗St. Croix County Community Development Department (Sanitary Program)
St. Croix County - Sanitary Program ↗Taylor County Zoning Department
Taylor County WI Zoning Department ↗Trempealeau County Department of Land Management
Trempealeau County Dept. of Land Management - Sanitary (POWTS) ↗Vernon County Zoning & Sanitarian Department (POWTS, under WI DSPS)
Town of Franklin (Vernon County, WI) - Permit Applications ↗Vilas County Zoning & Planning (Sanitary Department)
Vilas County Sanitary / Septic ↗Walworth County Land Use & Resource Management Department
Walworth County Land Use FAQ ↗Washburn County Zoning Department (POWTS / Sanitary Permits)
Washburn County WI — Zoning Department ↗Washington County Land Resources Division (Sanitary Permit / POWTS)
Washington County WI - Septic Systems/POWTS ↗Waukesha County Department of Parks and Land Use, Environmental Health Division
Waukesha County Environmental Health — Septic Systems ↗Waupaca County Planning & Zoning Office
Waupaca County Planning & Zoning - Land Use Permits ↗Waushara County Land Conservation & Zoning Office
Waushara County Land Use Permits ↗Winnebago County Planning and Zoning Department
Winnebago County - Sanitary System Information ↗Wood County Planning & Zoning Office
Wood County Planning & Zoning - Sanitary Program ↗Every county here has a full profile — its index score, water, land prices, and the rest of its building rules. See the Wisconsin state page for all counties ranked, or the national septic guide.
General guidance, not legal advice. Off-grid, building, and land-use rules are often set at the county level and change often. Verify with your county and state before acting. Data reviewed 2026-06-26.
