Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Fitchburg, Wisconsin

Fitchburg’s own rules

• Building code adoptedAdopted

  Buildings and structures inside Fitchburg city

  • Uniform Dwelling Code adopted except SPS 320.05(1), 320.05(3) and 320.05(5)
  • Also adopts SPS 316 Electrical, 361-365 Commercial Building, 366 Existing Buildings, 381-387 Plumbing, 302.31 fees, 327 Camping Units

  “wis. admin. code sps 320-325, uniform dwelling code, except wis. admin. code sps 320.05(1), 320.05 (3) and 320.05(5).”

• Local zoningPresent

  Land inside Fitchburg city limits; the city adopts its own zoning chapter (Chapter 22) with residential and agricultural districts

  “for the r-l low density district, dimensional standards are as follows:”

• Minimum lot sizeSpecified

  R-LM Low to Medium Density District inside Fitchburg city

  • No unsewered lots allowed
  • Minimum lot width 60 feet

  minimum lot area per dwelling unit: >= 7200 square feet

  “minimum lot area per dwelling unit: 7,200 square feet. no unsewered lots shall be allowed. (2) minimum lot width: 60 feet.”

  2 more reviewed findings on this topic

  • Specified — R-L Low Density District inside Fitchburg city

    “minimum lot area per dwelling unit: 10,000 square feet (one acre, unsewered). (2) minimum lot width: 80 feet.”

  • Specified — R-R Rural Density District inside Fitchburg city

    “minimum lot area per dwelling unit: one acre. (2) minimum lot width: 150 feet.”

• SetbacksSpecified

  R-L Low Density District inside Fitchburg city

  • Front setback may be 25 feet for an open-air porch or stoop
  • Side setback ten feet, reducible to five feet by deed-restricted agreement
  • Street side 25 feet; rear 35 feet (25 feet by conditional use for screen/glass rooms)

  front setback: >= 30 feet (porch or stoop to 25 feet)

  “minimum rear setback: 35 feet, except that the rear setback may be reduced to as low as 25 feet on a conditional use basis to allow screen porches, and three or four season rooms which are primarily glass or windows.”

  One more reviewed finding on this topic

  • Specified — A-S Small Lot Agriculture District inside Fitchburg city

    “front setback: 35 feet. (4) side setback: ten feet. (5) rear setback: 50 feet. (6) side setback for barns, feeding or loafing sheds, hog houses and the like: 100 feet if adjacent to residential district. (7) side yard abutting public street: 30 feet.”

• Lot coverageSpecified

  R-L Low Density District inside Fitchburg city

  maximum lot area coverage and buildings: <= 35 percent

  “maximum lot area coverage and buildings: 35 percent.”

  One more reviewed finding on this topic

  • Specified — R-R Rural Density District inside Fitchburg city

    “maximum lot area coverage and buildings: ten percent.”

• Building heightSpecified

  A-S Small Lot Agriculture District inside Fitchburg city

  • No height limit for farm buildings
  • Other structures may exceed 45 feet on a conditional use basis

  maximum building height: <= 45 feet (no limit for farm buildings)

  “maximum building height: 45 feet, except there is no height limitation for farm buildings. other structures may exceed 45 feet on a conditional use basis.”

  One more reviewed finding on this topic

  • Specified — R-L Low Density District inside Fitchburg city

    “maximum height of structures: 35 feet or three stories, whichever is less.”

• Accessory dwellingsLimited

  Accessory dwelling units on lots inside Fitchburg city residential districts

  • Entrance only on side or rear of primary dwelling
  • Must comply with Wisconsin Uniform Dwelling Code, on a foundation, with permanent water and sewer connections
  • Not sold separately from principal dwelling
  • Rear and side setbacks may be reduced by conditional use permit
  • Ordinance adopted 9-9-2025 (Ord. No. 2025-O-17)

  max ADUs per lot: <= 1 units · max ADU size with single-family or duplex: <= 75 percent of principal dwelling floor area (excludes garage, screened porch, patio and deck) · max detached ADU height with single-family or duplex: <= 25 feet

  “a maximum of one accessory dwelling unit shall be permitted on a lot of record.”

• Building in a floodplainRequired

  Development in mapped floodplain districts inside Fitchburg city

  • No development may obstruct flow or increase regional flood height
  • Land use permit from the zoning administrator needed for campgrounds and watercourse alteration
  • Amendments under Sec. 22-851 apply

  “the zoning administrator shall deny permits if it is determined the proposed development will obstruct flow or cause any increase in the regional flood height, based on the officially adopted firm or other adopted map, unless the provisions of section 22-851, amendments, are met.”

Still unanswered

We looked and could not find an official answer yet. Silence is not permission; ask Fitchburg or Dane County directly.

• Building permit — Building permits inside Fitchburg city
• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder exemption inside Fitchburg city
• Inspections — Building inspections inside Fitchburg city
• Certificate of occupancy — Occupancy certificates inside Fitchburg city
• Minimum dwelling size — Minimum dwelling size inside Fitchburg city

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.