Bolthole Index

Juneau County, Wisconsin

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

The Town of Necedah in Juneau County requires a town building permit for structures over 250 square feet and for every addition, regardless of size.1 The Town sets its own setback and land-use rules, while septic permits for land in the Town come from Juneau County Zoning, and mapped floodplain development needs a Juneau County land use permit.234

At a glance

Building permit
Required for structures over 250 square feet and every addition1
Zoning
Town land-use and setback rules apply25
Septic
Juneau County sanitary permit required63
Minimum divided lot
Generally 2 acres, with stated exceptions7
Accessory sleeping space
Sleeping or eating quarters are prohibited in accessory structures8
Owner-builder
Available to an owner who lives or will live in the dwelling; permits still apply9

Who to call

Building permits

GEC - General Engineering Company

Town of Necedah building permit applications and building inspection contact

(608) 742-2169

Zoning

Juneau County Sanitation & Zoning Department

Sanitary permits, shoreland zoning and floodplain zoning in Juneau County

608-847-9391

[email protected]

650 Prairie Street Mauston, WI 53948

Septic permits

Juneau County Sanitation

Sanitary permits for private onsite wastewater treatment systems in Juneau County

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 Necedah 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 Necedah, WI?

Yes. The Town of Necedah requires a building permit for any structure over 250 square feet, including a dwelling, mobile home or gazebo, and every addition needs a permit regardless of size.1 New one- and two-family homes also fall under Wisconsin's Uniform Dwelling Code, including manufactured-home installations.10

A town permit authorizes only the development or occupancy described in the application and plans.1 Before the Town issues a dwelling or commercial-building permit, the applicant must have any applicable Juneau County sanitary or shoreland zoning permit.11

Who issues building permits in the Town of Necedah?

The Town of Necedah directs building-permit applicants to GEC - General Engineering Company, and the Town's building-inspector page provides an online application link.12 Building-permit applications are filed with the Town Building Inspector on Town forms, accompanied by the Town Board-set fee and a site plan.11

The Building Inspector acts on a complete application within 10 days; a rejection must be in writing and state the reasons.11 For a new one- or two-family dwelling, required UDC inspections include footings, foundation and reinforcement, rough construction, insulation and final inspection.13

Does the Town of Necedah have zoning and setback rules?

Yes. The Town of Necedah land-use ordinance applies the Town Zoning Ordinance to setbacks, although the available Town materials do not identify the zoning districts or publish a district schedule.2 A structure must be at least 10 feet from an abutting property boundary and 63 feet from the center of the road.5

A newly divided parcel is generally at least 2 acres, subject to grandfathering and a Town Board exception, while a public-road lot covered by the single-family sanitary-sewer provision needs at least 40 feet of frontage.14 Accessory structures cannot be used as sleeping or eating quarters.8

How do septic permits work inside the Town of Necedah?

Juneau County, not the Town, handles the sanitary permit for a septic system serving land in the Town of Necedah.3 A sanitary permit is required for a new system, replacement, modification, repair, reconnection or a non-plumbing system such as an outhouse or transfer tank.15 The County says the sanitary-permit application must be completed by a licensed plumber.15

The Town requires the applicable County sanitary permit before issuing its building permit for a dwelling or commercial building.6 Juneau County's delegated plan-review authority covers at-grade and mound systems up to 1,000 gallons per day built from state-approved components; other designs, including individual site designs, go to the state Department of Safety and Professional Services for plan review.16 POWTS construction and installation must be inspected in accordance with the plan-review approval; contact the agency that issued the POWTS permit.17

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

We could not confirm a Town of Necedah rule that specifically allows long-term RV occupancy, temporary camping on private land outside a campground or tiny-home occupancy. Ask the Town Building Inspector about the parcel's intended use before buying or placing a unit.

The rules that are confirmed still matter: a structure over 250 square feet requires a town building permit, and every addition requires one regardless of size.18 A manufactured home needs a UDC permit, and the Town generally will not permit one more than 15 years old unless the Town Board grants a variance; a home built before June 15, 1976 cannot receive the permit.19

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

  1. Confirm the parcel's Town setbacks and whether Juneau County shoreland or floodplain rules apply; mapped floodplain development requires a land-use permit.54
  2. Arrange the septic design and obtain the Juneau County sanitary permit before seeking the Town dwelling permit.6
  3. Submit the Town building-permit application, fee and site plan to the Town Building Inspector.11
  4. Obtain a Town driveway permit, which costs $50, before installing, altering or changing a driveway from a public road.2021
  5. Call the inspector listed on the UDC permit for the required construction inspections.13
  6. Occupy the dwelling only after a final inspection finds no major health or safety violations.22

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

Start with parcel boundaries, buildable area and access. The Town's ordinary structure setbacks are 10 feet from an abutting boundary and 63 feet from the road center, while mapped shoreland areas can carry additional County setbacks.523

Check soils early: only 0.5% of Juneau County soils are rated without severe limitations for a conventional septic drain field, so a site evaluation may materially affect the design and cost.24 Check floodplain status with Juneau County before designing, because development in mapped floodplain areas needs approval.4 A new private well also requires advance Wisconsin DNR notification, followed by a construction report within 30 days.25

Watch-outs

  • A Town building permit does not replace Juneau County sanitary, shoreland or floodplain approval.11
  • A driveway from a public road needs a Town permit before installation, alteration or change.20

Sources

  1. Town of Necedah Ordinance 10, Land Use (Town of Necedah), quoted and re-checked
  2. Ordinance 10 Land Use (Town of Necedah), quoted and re-checked
  3. townofnecedah.com (Town of Necedah), quoted and re-checked
  4. co.juneau.wi.gov (Town of Necedah), quoted and re-checked
  5. Ordinance 10 Land Use (Town of Necedah), quoted and re-checked
  6. townofnecedah.com (Town of Necedah), quoted and re-checked
  7. Town of Necedah Ordinance #10, as amended: Ordinance Regulating the Division of the Lands and the Erection of Buildings and Structures in the Town of Necedah (Town of Necedah), quoted and re-checked
  8. Town of Necedah Ordinance 10, Land Use (Town of Necedah), quoted and re-checked
  9. Dwelling Contractor Qualifier (Town of Necedah), quoted and re-checked
  10. UDC (Uniform Dwelling Code / One- and Two-Family Dwellings) (Town of Necedah), quoted and re-checked
  11. Town of Necedah Ordinance 10: Land Use (Town of Necedah), quoted and re-checked
  12. GEC - General Engineering Company (townofnecedah.com)
  13. UDC (Uniform Dwelling Code / One- and Two-Family Dwellings) (Town of Necedah), quoted and re-checked
  14. Ordinance 10 Land Use (Town of Necedah), quoted and re-checked
  15. Juneau County Sanitation (co.juneau.wi.gov)
  16. Delegated Agents for Private On-Site Wastewater Treatment System (POWTS) Plan Review, quoted and re-checked
  17. Private Onsite Wastewater Treatment Systems (POWTS) (Town of Necedah), quoted and re-checked
  18. townofnecedah.com (Town of Necedah), quoted and re-checked
  19. townofnecedah.com (Town of Necedah), quoted and re-checked
  20. Town of Necedah Ordinance 10: Land Use (Town of Necedah), quoted and re-checked
  21. townofnecedah.com (Town of Necedah), quoted and re-checked
  22. Wisconsin’s Uniform Dwelling Code (Wisconsin statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  23. General Shoreland Zoning Provisions, quoted and re-checked
  24. 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
  25. Well and heat exchange notification (Town of Necedah), 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 Necedah

Town of Necedah’s own rules

  • Building permitRequired

    Structures over 250 square feet, dwellings, mobile homes, gazebos, and all additions inside Necedah town.

    • Permits are required for all additions regardless of size.
    • The permit authorizes only the development or occupancy stated in the application and plans.
    • A valid Juneau County sanitary and/or shoreland zoning permit is required before a town permit for a dwelling or commercial building.
    • The permit expires two years after issuance.

    structure threshold: > 250 square feet (all additions require permits regardless of size)

    “Are required within the Town of Necedah for the erection of any structure over 250 square feet including but not limited to, buildings, dwellings, mobile homes, or gazebos, whether constructed on site, prefabricated and erected or moved from another location. Building permits are required for all additions, including but not limited to structure alterations, decks, porches or patios, no matter the square foot size.”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Required — Structures and additions inside Necedah town.
      “Are required within the Town of Necedah for the erection of any structure over 250 square feet [...] Building permits are required for all additions [...] no matter the square foot size.”
  • Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

    Land inside Necedah town; the town ordinance refers to and applies the Town Zoning Ordinance.

    • The ordinance also requires applicable Juneau County sanitary and/or shoreland zoning permits before a dwelling or commercial building permit is issued.
    “SET-BACKS for a building, structure, mobile home or auxiliary structure [...] shall be as detailed in the Town Zoning Ordinance, except:”
  • Minimum lot sizeSpecified

    Each parcel or lot divided inside the Town of Necedah, including land divisions for single-family dwellings.

    • Minimum size is two acres.
    • Lots or parcels grandfathered in before August 1989 are exempt from the acreage requirement.
    • A lot or parcel may be specially excepted by Town Board resolution.
    • Pre-existing parcels established by deeds, plats, or certified survey maps of record before the ordinance's effective date are exempted from the acreage requirements.
    • The ordinance was adopted July 20, 1990, amended June 22, 2010, and amended November 14, 2016.
    • The ordinance states that it becomes effective the day after legal publication.

    minimum parcel or lot size: >= 2 acres (Unless grandfathered in before August 1989 or specially excepted by a Town Board resolution.)

    “shall be not less than two (2) acres in size”
    2 more reviewed findings on this topic
    • Specified — Land divisions inside Necedah town; the ordinance does not identify residential zoning districts.
      “Each parcel or lot so divided shall not be less than two acres for a single-family dwelling with Sanitary Sewer. If the parcel or lot is on a public road it shall have a minimum frontage of 40 feet.”
    • Specified — Land divisions in Necedah town; single-family dwelling lots covered by the town land-division ordinance.
      “Each parcel or lot so divided shall not be less than two acres for a single-family dwelling with Sanitary Sewer. If the parcel or lot is on a public road it shall have a minimum frontage of 40 feet.”
  • SetbacksSpecified

    Buildings, structures, mobile homes, auxiliary structures, and sewerage disposal systems inside Necedah town.

    • The ordinance references the Town Zoning Ordinance for setbacks, subject to the stated exceptions.
    • No structure may be closer than 10 feet to an abutting property boundary.
    • Structures require a 63-foot setback from the center of the road right-of-way.
    • Sewerage disposal systems, including septic tanks and drain fields, require a 10-foot setback.

    side/property-line setback: >= 10 feet · road-center setback: >= 63 feet · sewerage-disposal-system setback: >= 10 feet

    “No permit shall be granted for the erection or placement of any structure closer than ten (10) feet to the boundary line of abutting properties. There shall be a setback on the right-of-way, a distance of 63 feet from the center of road for any structure. Setback of a distance of ten (10) feet for any sewerage disposal system including septic tank and drain field.”
  • Manufactured homesLimited

    Placement and occupancy of manufactured/mobile homes inside Necedah town.

    • No permit may be issued for a mobile/manufactured home more than 15 years old unless the Town Board grants a variance based on documented quality.
    • No permit may be issued for a home built before June 15, 1976.
    • The mobile home is residential only, not a storage building.
    • Foundation siding must be installed within 60 days of installation.

    maximum manufactured-home age: <= 15 years before permit application (Town Board variance may be available) · foundation siding deadline: <= 60 days

    “No permit shall be issued for any mobile (manufactured) home that has a year of manufacture more than fifteen (15) years prior to the date of said permit application.”
  • Accessory dwellingsLimited

    Accessory structures inside Necedah town.

    • Accessory structures may not be used for sleeping or eating quarters.
    “No accessory structure or part thereof shall be used for sleeping or eating quarters.”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Prohibited — Use of an accessory structure or part of an accessory structure for sleeping or eating quarters inside Necedah town.
      “No accessory structure or part thereof shall be used for sleeping or eating quarters.”
  • Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

    Division of lands and creation of parcels or lots inside the Town of Necedah.

    • Town Board approval is required for land divisions under the ordinance's approval standard.
    • Each divided parcel or lot must generally be at least two acres.
    • Single-family dwelling lots with sanitary sewer must be at least two acres and, if on a public road, have at least 40 feet of frontage.
    • Flag lots require Town Board approval and are allowed only in special circumstances; their access pole is subject to length, width, spacing, and resource-protection conditions.
    • Pre-existing parcels established by deeds, plats, or certified survey maps of record before the effective date, August 1989, are exempted from acreage requirements.
    • Two-family dwellings require at least three acres; three-family and larger dwellings require at least four acres and are classified as commercial lots.
    • The ordinance was adopted July 20, 1990, amended June 22, 2010, and amended November 14, 2016.

    minimum lot size for single-family dwelling with sanitary sewer: >= 2 acres · minimum public-road frontage for single-family dwelling lot with sanitary sewer: >= 40 feet · minimum lot size for two-family dwelling: >= 3 acres · minimum lot size for three-family and larger dwelling: >= 4 acres (Classified as a commercial lot.)

    “No division of lands in the Town of Necedah shall be approved”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Regulated (with conditions) — Division of lands and lots inside Necedah town.
      “No division of lands in the Town of Necedah shall be approved by the Town Board unless it meets the following requirements:”
  • Driveway accessRequired

    Driveways from public roads into private property inside Necedah town.

    • No driveway may be installed, altered, or changed without a permit.
    • A 12-inch minimum culvert is required unless the Town Board grants permission otherwise.
    • Minimum approach width is 26 feet at the culvert.
    • At least 8 feet of gravel, at least 4 inches deep, and a cleared passable driveway at least 20 feet wide are required for emergency access.
    • Temporary driveways are fee-exempt but still require a permit and mean not more than 12 months.

    culvert diameter: >= 12 inches (Town Board permission may allow otherwise) · approach width at culvert: >= 26 feet · gravel width: >= 8 feet · gravel depth: >= 4 inches · cleared driveway width: >= 20 feet (For fire suppression equipment and ambulances)

    “The establishment and installation of all driveways from public roads into private property shall be controlled by the Town Board of Necedah, and no driveway shall be installed, altered or change without first obtaining a permit authorizing installation, change or construction of the same.”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Required — Driveways from public roads into private property inside Necedah town.
      “The establishment and installation of all driveways from public roads into private property shall be controlled by the Town Board of Necedah, and no driveway shall be installed, altered or change without first obtaining a permit authorizing installation, change or construction of the same.”
  • Permit feesVariable (with conditions)

    Town building permit applications and driveway permits inside Necedah town.

    • Building permit fee amount is determined by the Town Board.
    • A driveway permit has a stated $50 fee.
    • Temporary driveway permits are fee-exempt but still required.
    • The owner or applicant pays driveway installation expenses.

    driveway permit fee: 50 USD (Temporary driveway permit is exempt from the fee but must still be issued)

    “An application for a building permit must be accompanied by: A. A fee, in an amount determined by the Town Board.”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Variable (with conditions) — Town building and driveway permits inside Necedah town.
      “A fifty ($50.00) fee shall be charged for the issuance of a permit to install a driveway. A permit for a temporary driveway shall be exempt, however they must have a permit issued. Temporary means, not more than 12 months.”
  • Permit processPublished (with conditions)

    Town building permit applications inside Necedah town.

    • Applications are filed with the Town Building Inspector on town forms.
    • The inspector acts within ten days of receipt.
    • Rejected applications receive written reasons, with a copy delivered to the Town Clerk.
    • Applications must include a fee and site plan.
    • A Juneau County sanitary and/or shoreland zoning permit is required before a dwelling or commercial building permit is issued.

    review action time: <= 10 days

    “APPLICATION FOR BUILDING PERMITS shall be filed with the Town Building Inspector on forms furnished by the town. The Building Inspector shall act on the application within ten (10) days following its receipt. If the application is rejected, the applicant shall be notified in writing, stating the reason(s) for rejection.”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Published (with conditions) — Town building and driveway permits inside Necedah town.
      “APPLICATION FOR BUILDING PERMITS shall be filed with the Town Building Inspector on forms furnished by the town. The Building Inspector shall act on the application within ten (10) days following its receipt. If the application is rejected, the applicant shall be notified in writing, stating the reason(s) for rejection.”

Rules another office applies inside Town of Necedah

Town of Necedah 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 to work on that dwelling inside Necedah town.

    • The owner must reside or will reside in the dwelling.
    • This exemption concerns the dwelling contractor certification and qualifier requirement; building permits and applicable code requirements still apply.
    “the above does not apply to an owner of a dwelling who resides or will reside in the dwelling”
  • Building code adoptedAdopted (with conditions)

    New one- and two-family dwellings, including manufactured homes, inside Necedah town.

    • The Wisconsin UDC governs one- and two-family dwelling units and applies statewide; the local agency or DSPS handles permitting depending on delegated 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. Enforces construction standards and inspection procedures including evaluation of building materials.”
  • InspectionsRequired

    New one- and two-family dwellings inside Necedah town.

    • Required inspections are footings, foundation and reinforcement, rough construction, insulation, and final inspection.
    • The applicant must notify the inspector identified on the UDC permit.
    “The following inspections are required on new one- and two-family dwellings. When ready for inspection, notify the inspector identified on your UDC permit.”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
  • Who permits septicCounty (with conditions)

    Septic permitting for land inside Necedah town.

    • The Town of Necedah directs applicants to Juneau County Zoning for septic information and sanitary permits.
    • The town ordinance requires a valid Juneau County sanitary and/or shoreland zoning permit before issuance of a town building permit for a dwelling or commercial building.
    “Also you need a sanitary permit for the septic. Call Dave Donnelly at Juneau County Zoning, Mauston WI 608-847-9391.”
  • Septic permitRequired

    A dwelling or commercial building using septic inside Necedah town.

    • A valid Juneau County sanitary and/or shoreland zoning permit must precede the town building permit.
    “Also you need a sanitary permit for the septic.”
  • Septic inspectionRequired

    POWTS construction and installation serving land inside Necedah town.

    • Inspection must follow the plan-review conditional approval letter.
    • Contact the agency that issued the POWTS permit.
    “Inspection of POWTS construction and installation is required”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Required — Private onsite wastewater treatment system construction and installation inside Necedah town.
      “Inspection of POWTS construction and installation is required in accordance with the plan review conditional approval letter.”
  • Well permitLimited

    Construction of a new private well inside Necedah town.

    • Advance DNR notification is required before construction.
    • High-capacity wells, reconstruction of existing wells, and wells on Native American property are exceptions to the notification requirement.
    • A Well Construction Report must be submitted within 30 days after construction.
    • The notification fee is $50.50.

    notification fee: 50.5 USD (Heat exchange notification has no fee)

    “Obtain a Well Construction Notification Number prior to constructing a well. This applies to both drilled wells and driven point wells. For high capacity wells or other wells that require written DNR approval, follow the notification requirements in your approval.”
  • Agricultural exemptionAvailable (with conditions)

    Farming operations inside Necedah town for purposes of the State Commercial Building Code plan-review exemption.

    • The exemption includes sales of farm products raised there.
    • Public horse boarding stables and riding arenas are not exempt.
    • The exemption does not establish exemption from all town permits or the Uniform Dwelling Code.
    “Farming operations including sales of farm products that are raised there (public horse boarding stables and riding arenas are not exempt).”
  • Building in a floodplainRequired

    Development in mapped floodplain areas inside Necedah town.

    • The community reviews permit applications for flood safety and required governmental permits.
    • Flood-prone construction must be anchored, use flood-resistant materials, minimize flood damage, and elevate mechanical and utility equipment to or above the flood protection elevation.
    • Floodplain subdivision proposals must include regional flood elevation and floodway data.
    • The ordinance was approved and made effective March 21, 2023.
    “Failure to obtain a floodplain development permit shall be a violation of these regulations and shall be punishable in accordance with s. 10.0.”

Still unanswered

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

  • Certificate of occupancy — Certificates of occupancy for buildings inside Necedah town.
  • Zoning districts — Zoning districts inside Necedah town.
  • Minimum dwelling size — Residential dwellings inside Necedah town.
  • Lot coverage — Residential and other lots inside Necedah town.
  • Building height — Buildings inside Necedah town.
6 more unanswered
  • Living in an RV
  • Camping on your land
  • Tiny homes
  • Off-grid sanitation
  • Mandatory utility hookup
  • 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 Necedah publishes no rule on the point, not that none exists. Juneau County’s page lists the county offices to call.

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