Bolthole Index

Juneau County, Wisconsin

Building permits, zoning and land rules in the Town of Kildare, Wisconsin

The Town of Kildare in Juneau County requires a building permit and fire sign for all structures, including parked seasonal-use campers, trailers and park models.1 A residence must have a sanitary permit from the Juneau County Zoning & Sanitation Department before the town issues its building permit.2 Kildare also sets residential lot, living-space and setback standards, but we could not confirm a general town zoning ordinance or district map.345

At a glance

Building permit
Required for all structures, with limited exceptions1
Land-use rules
Town lot-size, setback and dwelling-size standards apply354
Septic permit
Juneau County sanitary permit required before a residence permit62
RV parking
Limited to 2 recreational vehicles for occasional use per parcel7
Minimum home size
400 square feet of residential living space4
Minimum lot size
5 acres per residence unless grandfathered3
Owner-builder
Available to an owner who occupies or will occupy the UDC home; permits still apply8
Private well
State notification number required before most new private wells9

Who to call

Building permits

Town of Kildare

Town land-use and building-permit applications, RV registration, fire numbers and town-road driveway permits

608-666-2227

[email protected]

W3604 55th St., Mauston WI

Septic permits

Juneau County Sanitation & Zoning Department

County sanitary permits, shoreland and floodplain zoning, and related land-use review

608-847-9391

[email protected]

650 Prairie Street Mauston, WI 53948

Zoning

Juneau County Shoreland Zoning

Shoreland building permits and county shoreland review

Contact details are copied from each office’s official page and were checked against it on October 10, 2026.

Off-grid gear

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

These are affiliate links — we may earn a commission, at no cost to you. As an Amazon Associate, Bolthole Index earns from qualifying purchases.

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

Yes. The Town of Kildare requires a building permit and fire sign for all structures, including seasonal-use campers, trailers and park models parked on a parcel.1 Temporary construction buildings that are not living quarters are exempt, while additions and structural alterations require permits; ordinary repairs or replacements are exempt unless roofing changes are planned.1 Kildare permits remain valid for 12 months after issuance.1

Kildare has adopted the Wisconsin Uniform Dwelling Code, so applicable state dwelling-code requirements also control.10 Permitted construction is inspected by the town's contract building inspector, and the applicant pays additional state UDC and inspection fees directly to that inspector.11 The town publishes its land-use application and directs applicants to contact the Town Clerk before starting a project.12

Who issues building permits in the Town of Kildare?

The Town of Kildare runs the local land-use and building-permit application process.13 An application goes to the Town Clerk and is then forwarded to the town's building inspector.13 The submission includes a dimensional drawing or certified survey map, property and structure details, utility information and, for a structure intended for human occupancy, the state sanitary permit.13 Contact the Town of Kildare at 608-666-2227 or [email protected] before beginning the project.12

The town fee schedule uses a $20 processing fee plus $0.25 per square foot, with additional UDC and inspection fees paid to the inspector.14 Starting work without a permit can trigger a penalty of $200 to $1,000 and double inspection fees.14

Does the Town of Kildare have zoning and land-use rules?

Kildare publishes binding land-use standards, although we could not confirm a general town zoning ordinance or a zoning-district map; ask the Town Clerk how the standards apply to the parcel. The minimum residential lot is 5 acres unless the lot is grandfathered, and a residence must contain at least 400 square feet of living space.34

Town standards require at least 10 feet from side and rear property lines and 60 feet from a public-highway right-of-way; a lot fronting directly on a public highway must have at least 150 feet of frontage.5 Juneau County separately administers shoreland and floodplain zoning rather than Kildare's ordinary building rules.15 County shoreland jurisdiction reaches land within 1,000 feet of a lake or flowage, within 300 feet of a navigable river or stream, and all floodplains, with construction permits required in those areas.16

Inside Juneau County's shoreland jurisdiction, the county rules replace the town's ordinary setbacks: buildings must sit at least 75 feet from the ordinary highwater mark of navigable water, with side yards of at least 10 feet on one side and 25 feet combined, and a zoning permit is required before construction starts17. Within the county's shoreland-wetland zoning area, each main building needs a lot of at least 20,000 square feet and 100 feet of frontage at the water's edge when no public sewer serves it, or 10,000 square feet and 65 feet where public sewer does1819. Juneau County's floodplain ordinance, effective March 21, 2023, divides flood hazard areas into Floodway (FW), Floodfringe (FF) and General Floodplain (GFP) districts, and a land use permit is required before any development, repair, addition or change of use there2021.

How do septic permits work inside the Town of Kildare?

Wisconsin law requires any building that uses a private sewage system to have a sanitary permit before any local permit is issued, so the county sanitary permit comes first for every address in Juneau County, town or not22. A Kildare residence using private sewage must obtain its sanitary permit before the town can issue the residential building permit.2 The Town of Kildare directs applicants to the Juneau County Zoning & Sanitation Department for that sanitary permit.6 Juneau County lists sanitary permits for new systems, replacements or modifications, repairs, reconnections and non-plumbing systems such as outhouses and transfer tanks.23

Juneau County has delegated plan-review authority for qualifying at-grade and mound systems with design flows up to 1,000 gallons per day; projects outside those delegated categories may require Wisconsin DSPS review.2425 Only 0.5% of Juneau County soils are rated without severe limits for a conventional septic drain field, so make the soil evaluation and system design an early contingency.26

Can you live in an RV or tiny home in the Town of Kildare?

Kildare allows no more than 2 recreational vehicles to be permanently parked for occasional use on a parcel, charges a one-time $100 registration fee and requires a new application when an RV is replaced.7 Parked seasonal-use campers, trailers and park models also need a building permit and fire sign.7 These rules authorize occasional use, not full-time RV residence, and we could not confirm a general rule allowing temporary or permanent RV living; ask the Town Clerk before relying on an RV as housing.

Where an RV sits in a campground inside a Juneau County floodplain district, the county requires a land use permit for the campground, and a mobile RV there that is not fully licensed and ready for highway use may not stay more than 180 consecutive days before it must leave the floodplain for at least 24 hours27.

Kildare does not publish a distinct tiny-home occupancy rule in the available town materials. A tiny home proposed as a residence would still face Kildare's 400-square-foot minimum living-space standard, residential building-permit process and sanitary-permit prerequisite.412

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

  1. Confirm that the parcel meets Kildare's 5-acre minimum, unless it is grandfathered, and lay out the home to meet the town's setbacks and frontage standard.35
  2. Arrange the private-sewage design and obtain the Juneau County sanitary permit before seeking the residential building permit.2
  3. Submit Kildare's application with the site drawing or survey, project details, utility information and sanitary permit to the Town Clerk.13
  4. Obtain a driveway permit before installing, changing or altering a driveway, and verify whether the town, county or WisDOT controls the road.2829
  5. Contact the town's building inspector before construction to settle placement, fees and the inspection schedule.13
  6. Keep required work visible for UDC inspections and complete the final inspection before occupancy.3031

What should you check before buying land in the Town of Kildare?

Confirm the deeded acreage and grandfathered status because Kildare generally requires 5 acres per residence.3 Check the proposed building envelope against town setbacks and, near water or mapped floodplain, ask Juneau County whether its specialized zoning and permits apply.515

Budget for a soil evaluation and septic design because only 0.5% of Juneau County soils are rated without severe limits for a conventional drain field.26 For a new private well, obtain the Wisconsin DNR well-construction notification number before construction and file the construction report within 30 days afterward.9 Verify legal road access and secure Kildare's driveway permit before installing, changing or altering a driveway.28 If access connects to a state trunk highway, WisDOT requires its own connection permit.29

Watch-outs

  • Kildare's RV allowance is for occasional use; full-time RV residence and general temporary camping were not confirmed, so ask the Town Clerk before buying land for that purpose.7
  • A tiny home used as a residence must still clear Kildare's 400-square-foot minimum and the residential building and sanitary-permit sequence.412
  • Juneau County shoreland and floodplain controls can add another land-use permit even when the project meets Kildare's ordinary setbacks; the county's shoreland water setback is 75 feet from the ordinary highwater mark153217.
  • Kildare bars mobile or manufactured homes older than 25 years and homes in rundown or dilapidated condition.33

Sources

  1. Permits & Licenses (Town of Kildare), quoted and re-checked
  2. Permits & Licenses (Town of Kildare), quoted and re-checked
  3. Permits & Licenses (Town of Kildare), quoted and re-checked
  4. kildaretownship.com (Town of Kildare), quoted and re-checked
  5. kildaretownship.com (Town of Kildare), quoted and re-checked
  6. Permits & Licenses (Town of Kildare), quoted and re-checked
  7. Permits & Licenses (Town of Kildare), quoted and re-checked
  8. Wisconsin’s Uniform Dwelling Code (Wisconsin statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  9. Well and heat exchange notification (Wisconsin statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  10. Town of Kildare Ordinances (Town of Kildare), quoted and re-checked
  11. Application for Land Use Permit and Fee Schedule (Town of Kildare), quoted and re-checked
  12. Town of Kildare (kildaretownship.com)
  13. Application for Land Use Permit and Fee Schedule (Town of Kildare), quoted and re-checked
  14. Application for Land Use Permit and Fee Schedule (Town of Kildare), quoted and re-checked
  15. Sanitation & Zoning, quoted and re-checked
  16. Juneau County Shoreland Zoning (co.juneau.wi.gov)
  17. General Shoreland Zoning Provisions, quoted and re-checked
  18. Juneau County Code, Appendix A, Sec. 3.1 — Lots not served by public sanitary sewer, quoted and re-checked
  19. Juneau County Code, Appendix A, Sec. 3.2 — Lots served by public sanitary sewer, quoted and re-checked
  20. Juneau County Floodplain Zoning Ordinance, quoted and re-checked
  21. Juneau County Floodplain Zoning Ordinance, quoted and re-checked
  22. Requirement for Plan Review Prior to Issuing Local Permits, quoted and re-checked
  23. Juneau County Sanitation & Zoning Department (co.juneau.wi.gov)
  24. Delegated Agents for Private On-Site Wastewater Treatment System (POWTS) Plan Review, quoted and re-checked
  25. Juneau County POWTS Plan Review Delegation Letter, quoted and re-checked
  26. Share of soils USDA rates "not limited" for a conventional septic drain field (SSURGO). A strict rating: the median county is about 6% and a tenth of counties are 0%, so a low figure means most lots need a site evaluation or an engineered system, not that septic is impossible. Cite it only with that caveat: Bolthole Index county data
  27. Juneau County Floodplain Zoning Ordinance, quoted and re-checked
  28. Permits & Licenses (Town of Kildare), quoted and re-checked
  29. State highway connection permits (driveways & more) (Wisconsin statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  30. Wisconsin’s Uniform Dwelling Code (Wisconsin statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  31. Wisconsin’s Uniform Dwelling Code (Wisconsin statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  32. Juneau County Floodplain Zoning Ordinance, quoted and re-checked
  33. Permits & Licenses (Town of Kildare), quoted and re-checked

Written October 10, 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 Kildare

Town of Kildare’s own rules

  • Building permitRequired

    Structures and construction inside Kildare town.

    • Temporary buildings used exclusively for construction purposes and not used for living quarters do not require a building permit.
    • Repairs or replacements do not require permits unless roofing changes are planned.
    • Additions and structural alterations require permits.
    • Permits are valid for 12 months from issuance.
    “All structures, including parked seasonal-use campers/trailers/park models, require a building permit and fire sign.”
  • Building code adoptedAdopted

    Building construction inside Kildare town.

    • The town ordinance adopts the Wisconsin Uniform Dwelling Code; applicable state code requirements remain controlling.
    “An Ordinance Adopting the Wisconsin Uniform Dwelling Code in The Town of Kildare”
  • InspectionsRequired

    Permitted construction inside Kildare town.

    • Inspection is performed by the town's contract building inspector.
    • Additional state UDC and inspection fees are paid directly to the building inspector.
    “I also agree that all construction will comply with current Wisconsin Building Code and Uniform Dwelling Code and will have my building inspected by the Town’s contract building inspector as required by the Town of Kildare.”
  • Minimum dwelling sizeSpecified

    Residences inside Kildare town.

    • The town page states a minimum residential living space for a residence; no zoning district distinction was published.

    minimum residential living space: >= 400 square feet

    “Minimum residential living space: 400 square feet.”
  • Minimum lot sizeSpecified

    Residential lots inside Kildare town.

    • The town page states the minimum per residence unless the lot is grandfathered.

    minimum lot size per residence: >= 5 acres (Unless the lot has been grandfathered.)

    “Minimum lot size per residence: 5 acres unless lot has been grandfathered.”
  • SetbacksSpecified

    Residential structures and lots inside Kildare town.

    • Lots with direct frontage on a public highway must also have minimum frontage of 150 feet.

    side setback: >= 10 feet · back setback: >= 10 feet · public highway right-of-way setback: >= 60 feet · minimum public-highway frontage: >= 150 feet (For lots with direct frontage on a public highway.)

    “Minimum setbacks: 10 feet from side and back property lines; 60 feet from public highway right-of-way. Lots with direct frontage on public highway must have minimum frontage of 150 feet.”
  • Living in an RVLimited

    Permanent parking and occasional use of recreational vehicles on a parcel inside Kildare town.

    • No more than two recreational vehicles may be permanently parked for occasional use per parcel.
    • A one-time $100 registration fee applies.
    • A replacement RV requires a new permit application.
    • Parked seasonal-use campers, trailers, and park models require a building permit and fire sign.

    maximum permanently parked recreational vehicles: 2 per parcel (For occasional use.) · RV registration fee: 100 USD one-time

    “A limit of two (2) recreational vehicles may be permanently parked for occasional use per parcel.”
  • Manufactured homesLimited

    Mobile/manufactured-home occupancy on land inside Kildare town.

    • Homes older than 25 years are not allowed.
    • Homes in rundown or dilapidated condition are not allowed.
    • All structures, including parked seasonal-use campers, trailers, and park models, require a building permit and fire sign.
    • For a residence, a sanitary permit is required before issuance of a building permit.
    • The page directs applicants to contact the Town of Kildare building inspector before beginning a project.

    maximum home age: <= 25 years (Homes older than 25 years are not allowed.)

    “Mobile homes older than 25 years or in rundown, dilapidated condition are not allowed.”
  • Who permits septicCounty (with conditions)

    Residential sanitary permits required inside Kildare town.

    • The town directs applicants to the Juneau County Zoning & Sanitation Department.
    “Sanitary permit required before issuance of a building permit for a residence. Contact Juneau County Zoning & Sanitation Department for information (608-847-9391).”
  • Septic permitRequired

    A residence inside Kildare town requiring a building permit.

    • The sanitary permit must be obtained before issuance of the residential building permit.
    • Juneau County Zoning & Sanitation Department is the listed contact.
    “Sanitary permit required before issuance of a building permit for a residence.”
  • Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

    Division and platting of land inside Kildare town.

    • A subdivision is defined as creating four or more building-site parcels of at least five acres each.
    • A minor division is five or fewer parcels within five years, each at least five acres.
    • The ordinance contains state-agency review, town approval, improvement, inspection, fee, and surety requirements.

    minimum lot size created under subdivision ordinance: >= 5 acres · preliminary plat town action deadline: 40 calendar days (Unless extended by agreement with the subdivider.) · final plat town action deadline: 60 calendar days (Unless extended by agreement and subject to unsatisfied objections.)

    “Subdivision: A plat of survey resulting in the division of a lot, parcel or tract by the owner thereof, or his agent, for the purpose of transfer of ownership or building development where the act of division creates four (4) or more parcels of building sites of no less than five (5) acres each in area.”
  • Driveway accessRequired

    Driveway installation, alteration, or change inside Kildare town.

    • A driveway permit is required before installation, alteration, or change.
    • A minimum 12-inch-diameter by 30-foot-long culvert is required unless the town board approves omission.
    • Driveways must be at least 20 feet wide, 30 feet wide at the culvert, and have 20 feet of overhead clearance.

    culvert diameter: >= 12 inches (Omission may be approved by the town board.) · culvert length: >= 30 feet (Omission may be approved by the town board.) · driveway width: >= 20 feet · driveway width at culvert: >= 30 feet · overhead clearance: >= 20 feet

    “No driveways shall be installed, altered or changed without first obtaining a permit authorizing the installation, change or construction of the driveway.”
  • Permit feesPublished (with conditions)

    Town land-use, building, RV, and related permits inside Kildare town.

    • The fee schedule is dated 5/1/2025.
    • Additional state UDC and inspection fees are paid directly to the building inspector.
    • Work started without a permit is subject to double inspection fees.

    town processing fee: 20 USD (Plus $0.25 per square foot.) · RV registration fee: 100 USD one-time · unpermitted-work penalty: 200-1000 USD

    “Completed applications, attachments, and the Town processing fee of $20 plus $.25/sq. ft. should be submitted to the Town Clerk.”
  • Permit processPublished (with conditions)

    Land-use and building-permit applications inside Kildare town.

    • Submit the application, dimensional drawing or certified survey map, property and structure information, utility information, and State Sanitary Permit when the structure is for human occupancy.
    • The application is submitted to the Town Clerk and then forwarded to the Town Building Inspector.
    • Applicants should contact the inspector before starting to determine placement, fees, and inspection schedules.
    “Once accepted, your application is forwarded to Town Building Inspector:”

Still unanswered

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

  • Owner-builder exemption — Owner-built construction inside Kildare town.
  • Local zoning — Land inside Kildare town.
  • Zoning districts — Zoning districts inside Kildare town.
  • Lot coverage — Lot coverage inside Kildare town.
  • Building height — Building height inside Kildare town.
9 more unanswered
  • Camping on your land
  • Tiny homes
  • Accessory dwellings
  • Septic inspection
  • Well permit
  • Mandatory utility hookup
  • Agricultural exemption
  • 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 Town of Kildare publishes no rule on the point, not that none exists. Juneau County’s page lists the county offices to call.

← All of Juneau County: county rules, score and offices