Bolthole Index

Juneau County, Wisconsin

Building permits, zoning and septic rules in the Town of Armenia, Wisconsin

The Town of Armenia in Juneau County, Wisconsin issues its own building permits and runs its own zoning: a town building permit is needed to construct, erect, remodel or move a building, and town zoning applies throughout the town.12 Septic permits are not a town matter: Juneau County issues the sanitary permit for a private sewage system anywhere in Armenia, and county shoreland and floodplain permits can apply on top of town approvals.34

At a glance

Building permit
Required for covered construction, remodeling or moving a structure1
Zoning
Town zoning applies throughout Armenia2
Septic permit
Juneau County handles sanitary permits for private systems35
RV living
Long-term occupancy on private land is not confirmed; ask the Town zoning office2
Tiny homes
No separate rule confirmed; an R-1 dwelling must provide at least 900 square feet of living space6
Mobile homes
Restricted by Town zoning; district and development conditions apply7

Who to call

Zoning

Town of Armenia Zoning Administration

Town zoning questions and access to zoning, building and driveway permit forms

(414) 758-8335

[email protected]

W3772 2nd St. Nekoosa, WI 54457

Building permits

Town of Armenia Building Inspector

Town building inspections and Uniform Dwelling Code administration

(608) 697-7807

Septic permits

Juneau County Sanitation & Zoning Department

Juneau County sanitary permits, septic plan review, shoreland permits and floodplain questions

608-847-9391

[email protected]

650 Prairie Street Mauston, WI 53948

Zoning

Juneau County Shoreland Zoning

County shoreland building permits and construction review in shoreland and floodplain areas

Contact details are copied from each office’s official page and were checked against it on October 9, 2026.

Off-grid gear

Going off-grid in Town of Armenia means bringing your own water and power. The kit we’d start with:

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Do you need a building permit in the Town of Armenia, Wisconsin?

Yes. The Town of Armenia building-permit application covers constructing, erecting, remodeling or moving a building or business structure, and the permit remains valid for one year from issuance.1 New one- and two-family dwellings also require a Wisconsin Uniform Dwelling Code permit, including stick-built, modular and manufactured-home installations.8

Armenia is a delegated Uniform Dwelling Code municipality, so the Town's designated inspector handles permitting and inspection for new one- and two-family dwellings.9 Contact the Town Building Inspector at (608) 697-7807 for inspection scheduling and current submission instructions.10 Wisconsin requires inspections of new dwellings at the footing, foundation, rough-work, insulation and final stages.11

A qualifying owner-occupant may use Wisconsin's owner-builder allowance, but the allowance concerns contractor qualification and financial responsibility rather than eliminating building permits or code compliance.12

Does the Town of Armenia have zoning, and what lot and setback rules apply?

The Town of Armenia zoning ordinance applies throughout the Town and establishes Agriculture/Recreational/Open, Residential-1 and Commercial districts.213 The official zoning map is maintained in the Town Clerk's office, so confirm the mapped district before designing a house or dividing land.14

In the Residential-1 district, a residential lot requires at least 2 acres per dwelling unit excluding right-of-way, and living space must be at least 900 square feet.156 The listed Residential-1 setbacks are 75 feet in front, 15 feet at a lakeshore side or 25 feet at another side, and 25 feet at the rear.16

In the Agriculture/Recreational/Open district, residential lots require at least 5 acres per dwelling unit excluding right-of-way, with listed setbacks of 75 feet in front and 25 feet at the side and rear.1718 Listed cultivation, husbandry and related uses receive a conditional zoning exemption in that district, but large-volume animal-feeding operations are excluded from it.19

The Town also has a Mapping & Subdivision Ordinance, adopted in 2003, so check it before splitting a parcel.20

Can you live in an RV, tiny home or mobile home in the Town of Armenia?

We could not confirm a complete Town rule for long-term RV occupancy or temporary camping on an ordinary private lot. Ask Town Zoning Administration to classify the proposed use before buying land or using an RV as housing.21 Floodplain campground provisions do not answer the private-lot question.

The Town materials do not establish a separate tiny-home category, but a dwelling in the Residential-1 district must provide at least 900 square feet of living space and comply with the district's lot and setback standards.61516

Town zoning says a mobile home may not be placed, parked, stored or occupied in the Town, while separately describing mobile-home residential developments outside residential districts with at least 2 acres per unit, septic service and acceptable road access.7 Because the same materials also treat manufactured-home installations as dwellings under the state code, ask Town Zoning Administration to classify a specific factory-built home before purchase.22

How do septic permits work inside the Town of Armenia?

Juneau County is the local sanitary-permit authority for private sewage systems in the Town of Armenia, and a sanitary permit is required for a non-plumbing private sewage-system installation.35 The published non-plumbing application lists a $200 sanitary-permit fee.5

Juneau County requires sanitary permits for new systems, replacements or modifications, repairs, reconnections and non-plumbing systems such as outhouses or transfer tanks.23 Approved plans must stay at the construction site until the private sewage system is completed, inspected and accepted.24 A pit-privy application also requires soil data from a certified soil tester, and the county sanitary permit must be obtained before installing a non-plumbing sanitation system.25

Juneau County's delegated plan review covers qualifying at-grade and mound systems with design flows up to 1,000 gallons per day; plans outside that delegation may require Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services review.2627

Building a home in the Town of Armenia: what are the steps?

  1. Confirm the parcel's official Town zoning district and whether the house meets the applicable lot, dwelling-size and setback standards.14
  2. If the site will use private wastewater, obtain the Juneau County sanitary permit before the local building permit is issued.28
  3. Submit the Town building-permit application with the site, legal description, builder, occupancy, structure, sanitation, water-supply, road and driveway information it requests.29
  4. Obtain any driveway approval that applies; the Town publishes a driveway application and a $150 driveway fee, but we could not confirm when every parcel must obtain that permit.3031
  5. Schedule the required dwelling inspections with the inspector identified for the Town.910
  6. Do not assume a separate occupancy certificate is required or unnecessary; ask the Town Building Inspector what closeout document applies before moving in.10

What stays with Juneau County when you build in the Town of Armenia?

Juneau County handles sanitary permits for private septic systems even though Armenia administers Town zoning and its delegated dwelling-code process.329 Contact the Juneau County Sanitation & Zoning Department at 608-847-9391 for septic, shoreland and floodplain questions.23

County shoreland zoning applies within 1,000 feet of a lake or flowage, within 300 feet of a navigable river or stream and in floodplains, and a county permit is required before construction begins in those areas.4 In flood-prone areas, new construction and substantial improvements must be anchored against flotation and collapse and use flood-resistant materials under the county floodplain ordinance.32 In mapped floodplain areas, a land-use permit is required before covered development, repair, modification, addition or change in use begins.33 A state-highway driveway requires a Wisconsin Department of Transportation connection permit.34

Watch-outs

  • A Town building permit does not replace the Juneau County sanitary permit required for a private sewage system.15
  • The Town's mobile-home language is restrictive and does not supply a simple blanket approval for manufactured housing; obtain a zoning classification before buying a unit.7
  • Long-term RV occupancy and temporary camping on an ordinary private lot remain unconfirmed; ask Town Zoning Administration before relying on an RV as housing.21
  • Shoreland or floodplain land can require Juneau County approval in addition to Town zoning and building permits.435

Sources

  1. Town of Armenia Application for Building Permit (Town of Armenia), quoted and re-checked
  2. Town of Armenia Zoning Ordinance (Town of Armenia), quoted and re-checked
  3. Juneau County Non-Plumbing System Permit Application (Town of Armenia), quoted and re-checked
  4. Juneau County Shoreland Zoning (co.juneau.wi.gov)
  5. Juneau County Non-Plumbing System Permit Application (Town of Armenia), quoted and re-checked
  6. Town of Armenia Zoning Ordinance (Town of Armenia), quoted and re-checked
  7. Town of Armenia Zoning Ordinance (Town of Armenia), quoted and re-checked
  8. UDC (Uniform Dwelling Code / One- and Two-Family Dwellings) (Town of Armenia), quoted and re-checked
  9. Delegated Agents for Uniform Dwelling Code (UDC) and for Camping Units Permitting and Inspection (Town of Armenia), quoted and re-checked
  10. Town of Armenia Building Inspector (townofarmenia.com)
  11. UDC inspection requirements (Town of Armenia), quoted and re-checked
  12. Dwelling Contractor Qualifier (Town of Armenia), quoted and re-checked
  13. Town of Armenia Zoning Ordinance (Town of Armenia), quoted and re-checked
  14. Town of Armenia Zoning Ordinance (Town of Armenia), quoted and re-checked
  15. townofarmenia.com (Town of Armenia), quoted and re-checked
  16. townofarmenia.com (Town of Armenia), quoted and re-checked
  17. townofarmenia.com (Town of Armenia), quoted and re-checked
  18. townofarmenia.com (Town of Armenia), quoted and re-checked
  19. Town of Armenia Zoning Ordinance (Town of Armenia), quoted and re-checked
  20. Town of Armenia Zoning Ordinance (Town of Armenia), quoted and re-checked
  21. Town of Armenia Zoning Administration (townofarmenia.com)
  22. UDC (Uniform Dwelling Code / One- and Two-Family Dwellings) (Town of Armenia), quoted and re-checked
  23. Juneau County Sanitation & Zoning Department (co.juneau.wi.gov)
  24. Juneau County Chapter 15: Private Onsite Wastewater Treatment Systems Ordinance (Town of Armenia), quoted and re-checked
  25. Juneau County Chapter 15: Private Onsite Wastewater Treatment Systems Ordinance (Town of Armenia), quoted and re-checked
  26. Delegated Agents for Private On-Site Wastewater Treatment System (POWTS) Plan Review, quoted and re-checked
  27. Juneau County POWTS Plan Review Delegation Letter, quoted and re-checked
  28. Requirement for Plan Review Prior to Issuing Local Permits, quoted and re-checked
  29. Town of Armenia Application for Building Permit (Town of Armenia), quoted and re-checked
  30. Forms & Permits (Town of Armenia), quoted and re-checked
  31. Town of Armenia Permit/Application Fee Schedule (Town of Armenia), quoted and re-checked
  32. Juneau County Floodplain Zoning Ordinance (Town of Armenia), quoted and re-checked
  33. Juneau County Floodplain Zoning Ordinance, quoted and re-checked
  34. State highway connection permits (driveways & more) (Wisconsin statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  35. Juneau County Rural Building Beginning Procedures for Sanitary and Building Permits (Town of Armenia), quoted and re-checked

Written October 9, 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 Armenia

Town of Armenia’s own rules

  • Building permitRequired

    Construction, erection, remodeling, or moving of a building or business structure inside Armenia town.

    • The application requires conformity with the Town of Armenia ordinance.
    • The permit is good for one year from issue date.
    • The permit must be displayed in plain sight near the road.
    • The zoning ordinance lists exemptions for specified agricultural uses, certain remodeling or repairs that do not change exterior dimensions or square footage, and certain storage in pre-existing accessory buildings.

    permit validity: 1 year (from issue date)

    “Application is hereby made for a permit to construct, erect, re-model, or move a building or business structure, in conformity with the Ordinance of the Town of Armenia”
  • InspectionsRequired

    UDC permitting and inspection for new one- and two-family dwellings inside Armenia town.

    • DSPS lists Armenia town as delegated.
    • The listed municipal inspector is Dale Krutke.
    “Town of Armenia, Juneau County (29002) | Delegated”
  • Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

    All territory located within Armenia town.

    • Land uses are subject to the applicable zoning district and permit procedures.
    “This Chapter is applicable to all territory located within the Town of Armenia.”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Present — All territory located within the Town of Armenia.
      “This Chapter is applicable to all territory located within the Town of Armenia.”
  • Zoning districtsPublished

    The entire Town of Armenia zoning jurisdiction.

    • The ordinance identifies Agriculture/Recreational/Open (ARO), Residential-1 (R-1), and Commercial (C) districts.
    • An Official Zoning Map is maintained in the Town Clerk's office.
    “Agriculture/Recreational/Open (ARO) District Residential-1 (R-1) District Commercial (C) District”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Published (with conditions) — All land inside Armenia town.
      “The standard zoning districts established by this Chapter are shown on the Official Zoning Map of the Town of Armenia, which together with all explanatory materials thereon, is hereby made part of this Chapter.”
  • Minimum dwelling sizeSpecified

    Single-family residential development in the Residential-1 (R-1) District.

    • The ordinance table identifies the requirement as minimum dwelling core dimensions (living space).

    minimum dwelling core dimensions: >= 900 sq ft

    “Min. DweHing Core Dimensions 900 sq ft NIA (living space)”
  • Minimum lot sizeSpecified

    Residential uses in the Residential-1 (R-1) District inside Armenia town.

    • The minimum lot area is exclusive of right-of-way.
    • The requirement is district-specific.

    minimum lot area: >= 2 acres per dwelling unit (exclusive of ROW)

    “Min. Lot Area 2 acres per du (exclusive of ROW)”
    2 more reviewed findings on this topic
    • Specified — Residential uses in the Residential-1 (R-1) District.
      “Min. Lot Area 2 acres per du (exclusive of ROW) N/A”
    • Specified — Residential uses in the Agriculture/Recreational/Open (ARO) District.
      “M in. Lot Area 5 acres per du (exclusive of ROW) 5 acres”
  • SetbacksSpecified

    Residential uses in the Residential-1 (R-1) District.

    • Front setbacks are exclusive of right-of-way.
    • Side setback varies between lakeshore and other lots.

    front setback principal building: >= 75 feet (exclusive of right-of-way) · front setback accessory building: >= 75 feet (exclusive of right-of-way) · side setback principal/accessory building: 15 feet lakeshore; 25 feet other feet · rear setback principal/accessory building: >= 25 feet

    “Front Setback to Prine. Bldg. 75 (exclusive of ROW) NIA [...] Side Setback to Prine. Bldg. 15 feet lakeshore; 25 feet other NIA [...] Rear Setback to Prine. Bldg. \ l 25 N/A”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Specified — Residential uses in the Agriculture/Recreational/Open (ARO) District.
      “Fr ont Setback to Prine. Bldg. 75 ·(excl. of ROW) N/A [...] Side Setbq1;k to Prine. Bldg. 25' (excl. of ROW) [...] Rear Setback to Prine. Bldg. 25' (excl. of ROW)”
  • Manufactured homesLimited

    Manufactured/mobile-home occupancy inside Armenia town.

    • The ordinance prohibits mobilehomes from being placed, parked, stored, or occupied within the Town.
    • A mobile-home residential development is separately described and cannot be located in a residential district; agricultural or commercial placement requires at least 2 acres per unit plus septic and acceptable road access.

    minimum agricultural/commercial mobile-home development area: >= 2 acres per unit (Does not apply because residential districts are excluded.)

    “No mobilehome may be placed, parked, stored or occupied within the Town. [...] Developments shall not be located in a residential district and cannot be located in an agricultural or commercial district on less than 2 acres per unit with provision for septic system and road access acceptable to the Town.”
  • Septic inspectionRequired

    Private sewage-system installations inside Armenia town subject to the Juneau County POWTS ordinance.

    • Approved plans must remain at the construction site until installation is completed, inspected, and accepted.
    • The permit card may not be removed until the system has been installed, inspected, and approved by the County.
    “A copy of the approved plans shall be maintained at the construction site until the private sewage system installation is completed, inspected and accepted.”
  • Off-grid sanitationLimited

    Non-plumbing sanitation systems, including pit privies, inside Armenia town.

    • A County sanitary permit is required before constructing or installing a non-plumbing sanitation system.
    • Pit privy permit applications require soil data provided by a Certified Soil Tester to determine compliance with SPS 383, SPS 385, and SPS 391.
    “A County Sanitary Permit shall be obtained prior to constructing or installing a non-plumbing sanitation system.”
  • Agricultural exemptionConditional

    Specified agricultural and related uses in the Agriculture/Recreational/Open (ARO) District.

    • No application or permit is required for cultivation, husbandry, intensive agriculture, private residential kennel, private residential stable, private residential recreational facility, individual septic disposal system, one residential TV tower 50 feet high or less, home occupation, family daycare home, and intermediate daycare home as listed accessory or principal uses.
    • Large volume animal feeding operations are excepted from the agricultural exemption.

    exempt residential TV tower height: <= 50 feet

    “Agricultural/Recreational/Open Zoning District - all types of cultivation, husbandry, intensive agriculture, private residential kennel and private residential stable as principal or as accessory land uses, as well as private residential recreational facility, individual septic disposal system, one residential TV tower - 50 feet high or less, home occupation, family daycare home and intermediate daycare home as accessory uses; excepting only large volume animal feeding operations, in the ARO district”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Available — Listed agricultural uses in Armenia town's Agriculture/Recreational/Open (ARO) District.
      “Agricultural/Recreational/Open Zoning District - all types of cultivation, husbandry, intensive agriculture, private residential kennel and private residential stable as principal or as accessory land uses, as well as private residential recreational facility, individual septic disposal system, one residential TV tower - 50 feet high or less, home occupation, family daycare home and intermediate daycare home as accessory uses; excepting only large volume animal feeding operations, in the ARO district;”
  • Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

    Land development and division inside the Town of Armenia under the Town's zoning and mapping/subdivision ordinances.

    • The Town of Armenia zoning ordinance applies to all territory located within the Town of Armenia.
    • The ordinance requires applicable development to comply with the Town Master Plan, Subdivision Ordinance, Road Ordinances, and other applicable Town ordinances.
    • The Town's official ordinances page identifies a Mapping and Land Subdivision Ordinance.
    “All development of land shall comply with all the regulations and requirements of this ordinance, the Town Master Plan, Subdivision Ordinance, Road Ordinances and all other ordinances of the Town of Armenia which are applicable”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Regulated (with conditions) — Land subdivision and mapping inside Armenia town.
      “MAPPING & SUBDIVISION ORDIN ANCE Adopted 10/29/03”
  • Building in a floodplainRequired

    Building activity inside Armenia town that is within a floodplain.

    • County and FEMA floodplain regulations must be complied with.
    • The Juneau County procedure states that a County building permit is required if the project is within a floodplain.
    “Within a Floodplain – County & FEMA Floodplain Regulations must be complied with”
  • Permit feesPublished (with conditions)

    Town building and zoning permit requests inside Armenia town.

    • Building-permit fees vary by square footage; publication fees and other Town-incurred costs are additional; the Plan Committee may require a larger fee based on complexity and scale.

    new_dwelling_under_3000_square_feet_fee: 350 USD (All districts.) · driveway_fee: 150 USD

    “Under 3000 sq. ft. $350.00 [...] Driveway $150.00”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Published — Town zoning and building permit fees inside Armenia town.
      “Driveway Permit Application PACRS Brochure & Membership Form Zoning Ordinance Fees Building Permit Application”
  • Permit processPartial

    Zoning, building, and driveway permit process inside Armenia town.

    • The town publishes links for a Driveway Permit Application, Zoning Ordinance Fees, and Building Permit Application.
    • The town identifies a zoning administrator, but the opened page did not provide complete submission steps or fees.
    “Driveway Permit Application [...] Zoning Ordinance Fees [...] Building Permit Application”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Published — Building permit applications inside Armenia town.
      “Complete Reverse Side- With a description of the proposed site for the structure with specific detail showing the size of the lot or parcel involved, the location of the proposed structure, location of existing public roads and other access routed to the property, including the location of driveways.”

Rules another office applies inside Town of Armenia

Town of Armenia does not set these itself; the county, a health district or the state does, and they apply to every address inside its limits.

  • Owner-builder exemptionAvailable (with conditions)

    An owner-occupant applying for a building permit for the dwelling the owner resides in or will reside in inside Armenia town.

    • The exemption concerns the dwelling contractor qualifier/financial-responsibility requirement; it does not eliminate the building permit or UDC compliance requirement.
    “Per Wisconsin Administrative code the above does not apply to an owner of a dwelling who resides or will reside in the dwelling and who applies for a building permit to work on that dwelling.”
  • Building code adoptedAdopted

    New one- and two-family dwellings inside Armenia town under Wisconsin's Uniform Dwelling Code.

    • Permit and inspection authority may be delegated to the municipality or handled by DSPS depending on the municipality's authority.
    “The program governing one- and two-family dwelling units (including manufactured homes) is also called the UDC program, referring to the Uniform Dwelling Code.”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Adopted (with conditions) — New one- and two-family dwelling units, including manufactured homes, inside Armenia town.
      “The program governing one- and two-family dwelling units (including manufactured homes) is also called the UDC program, referring to the Uniform Dwelling Code. Enforces construction standards and inspection procedures including evaluation of building materials.”
  • Who permits septicCounty (with conditions)

    Non-plumbing private sewage systems for property identified by city, village, or town in Juneau County, including Armenia town.

    • Application requires an issuing agent; the form lists a $200 sanitary permit fee.

    sanitary_permit_fee: 200 USD

    “JUNEAU COUNTY ZONING & SANITATION DEPARTMENT”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • State (with conditions) — Small domestic POWTS serving property inside Armenia town.
      “Small wastewater systems for the underground disposal of domestic wastewater are regulated by the Department of Safety and Professional Services (DSPS)”
  • Septic permitRequired

    Non-plumbing private sewage-system installations in Armenia town.

    • Applicant must identify property location and system type; the listed sanitary-permit fee is $200.

    sanitary_permit_fee: 200 USD

    “JUNEAU COUNTY NON-PLUMBING SYSTEM PERMIT APPLICATION”

Still unanswered

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

  • Certificate of occupancy — Certificate-of-occupancy requirements inside Armenia town.
  • Lot coverage — Lot coverage inside Armenia town.
  • Building height — Building height inside Armenia town.
  • Living in an RV — RV occupancy on private land inside Armenia town.
  • Camping on your land — Temporary camping inside Armenia town.
6 more unanswered
  • Tiny homes
  • Accessory dwellings
  • Well permit
  • Mandatory utility hookup
  • Driveway access
  • 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 Town of Armenia publishes no rule on the point, not that none exists. Juneau County’s page lists the county offices to call.

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