Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin

Fond du Lac’s own rules

• Local zoningPresent

  Land inside Fond du Lac city limits; the city adopts and administers Chapter 720 Zoning

  • Administered by the city building inspector

  “the building inspector of the city of fond du lac, or his/her designee, is hereby authorized to administer and enforce the provisions of this chapter”

• Zoning districtsPublished

  Residential zoning districts (R-1 through R-4) inside Fond du Lac city

  • Full district list and map not reviewed

  “the intent of the r-1 residential district is to set forth those land uses and activities which are permitted in areas where one-family housing development at a relatively low or moderate density is the desired predominant land use.”

• Minimum lot sizeSpecified

  Single-family condominium or cluster one-family developments in the R-1 and R-2 districts only; not the general R-1/R-2 lot standard

  • Additional site plan approval standards of § 720-12 apply
  • Amended 12-10-2025 by Ord. No. 3821
  • General R-1/R-2 lot minimums in § 720-29 not captured

  minimum lot area per dwelling unit, R-1: >= 6000 sq ft · minimum lot area per dwelling unit, R-2: >= 5175 sq ft

  “minimum lot area per dwelling unit: 6,000 square feet when located within the r-1 district and 5,175 square feet when located within the r-2 district.”

• SetbacksSpecified

  Single-family condominium or cluster one-family developments in R-1 and R-2 districts only

  • Interior yard 18 ft and rear yard 20 ft also apply
  • Standard lot setbacks in § 720-29 not captured

  front yard setback: >= 30 ft · interior yard setback: >= 18 ft · rear yard setback: >= 20 ft

  “front yard setback, the area between the front of a building and the public right-of-way line and/or the area between the front of a building and a private roadway: minimum 30 feet.”

• Manufactured homesLimited

  Mobile homes inside Fond du Lac city

  • Exception cross-referenced to § 720-14a, not opened
  • Installation in a park requires a mobile home permit from the building inspector (§ 720-94 b)

  “mobile homes are permitted only in a mobile home park approved by the plan commission, except as may be specified in § 720-14a of this chapter.”

• Mandatory utility hookupSewer (with conditions)

  Houses and buildings used for human occupancy inside Fond du Lac city abutting a street, alley or right-of-way with a public sanitary sewer

  • Applies to properties abutting a right-of-way where a public sanitary sewer is or may in future be located
  • Connection at owner's expense per Chapter 639
  • Public water connection rule (Water Utility code) not opened

  “the owner of all houses, buildings or other properties used for human occupancy, employment, recreation or other purposes situated within the city and abutting on any street, alley or right-of-way in which there is now located or may be located in the future a public sanitary sewer of the city is hereby required at his expense to install suitable toilet facilities therein and to connect the facilities directly with the proper public sewer in accordance with the provisions of this chapter.”

Still unanswered

We looked and could not find an official answer yet. Silence is not permission; ask Fond du Lac or Fond du Lac County directly.

• Building permit — Building permits inside Fond du Lac city
• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder exemption inside Fond du Lac city
• Building code adopted — Building code adoption inside Fond du Lac city
• Inspections — Building inspections inside Fond du Lac city
• Certificate of occupancy — Certificates of occupancy inside Fond du Lac 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.