Bolthole Index

Juneau County, Wisconsin

Building permits, zoning and septic rules in Necedah, Wisconsin

A new one- or two-family home in the Village of Necedah, Wisconsin, requires a Uniform Dwelling Code building permit, including a stick-built, modular or manufactured-home installation.1 The Village administers local zoning, while Juneau County handles sanitary permits for private sewage systems on property not served by approved public sewer and requires a land-use permit for development in county-regulated floodplain areas.234

At a glance

Building permit
Required for a new one- or two-family dwelling1
Zoning
The Village of Necedah administers its own zoning ordinance2
Septic permit
Juneau County requires a sanitary permit where an approved public sewer does not serve the property35
Owner-builder
A qualifying owner-occupant may take out construction and erosion-control permits; the permits are not waived6
RV living
Not confirmed for private land; ask the Village before relying on an RV as housing2
Tiny homes
No separate Village rule confirmed; zoning and dwelling-code review still apply27
Private well
Advance Wisconsin DNR notification is required for a new non-high-capacity private well8
Floodplain
County-regulated floodplain development requires a land-use permit before work starts4

Who to call

Building permits

Village of Necedah Office

Village zoning questions, building-permit routing and municipal water or sewer questions

(608) 565-2260

[email protected]

101 Center St. PO Box 371 Necedah, WI 54646

Septic permits

Juneau County Sanitation & Zoning Department

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

608-847-9391

[email protected]

650 Prairie Street Mauston, WI 53948

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 Village 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 Village of Necedah, Wisconsin?

Yes for a new one- or two-family dwelling. Wisconsin's Uniform Dwelling Code requires a permit for a new stick-built, modular or manufactured-home installation inside the Village of Necedah.1 The code also governs construction standards and inspections for those dwellings.7

The reviewed material does not establish one blanket Village permit rule for every addition, alteration, accessory building or agricultural structure. Contact the Village office before starting those projects and ask which application and enforcing agency apply to the exact work.9 A qualifying owner who occupies or will occupy the home may take out construction and erosion-control permits without the contractor-certification arrangement, but the owner-builder allowance does not waive the permits themselves.6

Who handles building permits and zoning in Necedah?

Start with the Village of Necedah Office at 101 Center St., PO Box 371, Necedah, WI 54646; call (608) 565-2260 or email [email protected].9 Ask the office to identify the current residential UDC enforcing agency, the correct building-permit application and the Village zoning approval needed for the parcel.

For a new dwelling, the application package must include the permit application, contractor-license information and legible building plans with scale or dimensions, regardless of which agency has authority.10 Required new-home inspections include the stages identified by DSPS, and the applicant must notify the inspector shown on the UDC permit when work is ready.11 Necedah also has delegated authority for commercial structural, HVAC, fire-suppression and fire-alarm inspections, subject to state-retained exceptions.12

Does the Village of Necedah have zoning?

Yes. The Village of Necedah has general zoning authority and administers its own zoning ordinance.2 The zoning system includes Residential, Business, Industrial, Conservancy, Institutional and Mobile Home classifications, plus a wellhead-protection overlay, but the parcel's mapped district must be confirmed before a buyer relies on any use.13 Juneau County separately regulates mapped floodplain areas and requires a land-use permit before development, repairs, additions or changes in use begin there.1415

We could not confirm the current adopted schedule for Village minimum lot size, setbacks, lot coverage, building height or minimum dwelling size. Ask the Village office for the parcel's zoning designation and current dimensional table before preparing a site plan.9 Do not use the Town of Necedah's land-use ordinance for a parcel inside the Village. Village approval is required for land divisions under the Village land-division framework.16

How do septic permits work inside the Village of Necedah?

On Village property not served by a DNR-approved public sewer, Juneau County's private onsite wastewater ordinance applies and the Juneau County Zoning Department is the county authority.3 Every private sewage system in that program requires a separate complete application signed by a licensed plumber and a sanitary permit, and state law requires the sanitary permit before a local building permit for a building using private sewage.517 The permit card must remain displayed until the system is installed, inspected and approved by the county.18

Juneau County has delegated plan-review authority for qualifying at-grade and mound systems with design flows up to 1,000 gallons per day; designs outside that delegation may need DSPS review.19 Contact the Juneau County Sanitation & Zoning Department at 650 Prairie Street, Mauston, WI 53948, by phone at 608-847-9391 or by email at [email protected].20 Where approved public sewer becomes available, the county ordinance requires connection within one year.21

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

We could not confirm a Village rule allowing long-term RV occupancy or temporary camping on an ordinary private lot in Necedah. Ask the Village office for a written, parcel-specific zoning answer before buying land, placing an RV or using one during construction.9 County campground provisions for mapped floodplain areas do not establish a right to live in an RV on a private residential parcel.

We also could not confirm a separate Village tiny-home classification or a minimum dwelling size. A tiny home proposed as a permanent dwelling still faces Village zoning and, if it is a new one- or two-family unit, Wisconsin's Uniform Dwelling Code permit requirement.21 Manufactured-home installation is expressly included in that new-dwelling permit rule, but the Village's land-use placement rules must still be checked.1

Building a home in Necedah: what are the steps?

  1. Ask the Village office to confirm the parcel's zoning district, allowed dwelling type and current lot, setback, height and coverage standards.9
  2. Ask the Village Water/Sewer Department whether approved public water and sewer serve the site.9
  3. Ask Juneau County whether mapped floodplain or shoreland review applies; county-regulated floodplain work needs a land-use permit before development begins.4
  4. If the site will use private wastewater, have a licensed plumber prepare the application and obtain the Juneau County sanitary permit before the building permit.517
  5. Submit the UDC building-permit application with contractor information and dimensioned building plans to the enforcing agency identified by the Village.10
  6. Do not start the new dwelling until the required permit is issued, then call the inspector identified on the permit for each required stage.111
  7. Take occupancy after a final inspection finds no major health or safety violations; ask the Village whether it also issues an occupancy permit.22

What should you check before buying land in Necedah?

Confirm Village zoning and utility availability first, because we could not confirm a complete Village district schedule or a mandatory water-and-sewer connection threshold.29 If private septic may be needed, seek an early site evaluation: only 0.5% of Juneau County soils rate without severe limitations for a conventional drain field.23 That county-level figure does not decide whether a particular lot can support an approved system.23

For a new non-high-capacity private well, Wisconsin requires advance DNR notice and a Well Construction Notification Number before construction.8 Ask Juneau County whether its shoreland rules apply to the parcel; within county shoreland jurisdiction, the published rules include a 75-foot water setback and different minimum lot sizes for sewered and unsewered lots.242526 Also confirm floodplain status and road access before buying; a new connection to a state highway requires a WisDOT connection permit.1427

Watch-outs

  • Town of Necedah ordinances and permit forms do not automatically apply inside the incorporated Village of Necedah; confirm the jurisdiction with the Village office.9
  • A Village building or zoning approval does not replace the Juneau County sanitary permit for a private sewage system where the county program applies.5
  • Mapped floodplain development can require a separate Juneau County land-use permit before work starts.4
  • The Village zoning ordinance exists, but current district dimensions were not confirmed; get the parcel's district and adopted schedule before designing the home.2
  • Long-term RV living, temporary camping and a separate tiny-home category were not confirmed; ask the Village for a written parcel-specific answer.9

Sources

  1. UDC (Uniform Dwelling Code / One- and Two-Family Dwellings) (Village of Necedah), quoted and re-checked
  2. Village of Necedah Comprehensive Plan 2024-2044 (Village of Necedah), quoted and re-checked
  3. Chapter 15 - Private Onsite Wastewater Treatment Systems Ordinance (Village of Necedah), quoted and re-checked
  4. Juneau County Floodplain Zoning Ordinance, quoted and re-checked
  5. Chapter 15 - Private Onsite Wastewater Treatment Systems Ordinance (Village of Necedah), quoted and re-checked
  6. Wisconsin’s Uniform Dwelling Code (Wisconsin statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  7. UDC (Uniform Dwelling Code / One- and Two-Family Dwellings) (Village of Necedah), quoted and re-checked
  8. Well and heat exchange notification (Village of Necedah), quoted and re-checked
  9. Village of Necedah Office (townofnecedah.com)
  10. UDC (Uniform Dwelling Code / One- and Two-Family Dwellings) (Village of Necedah), quoted and re-checked
  11. UDC (Uniform Dwelling Code / One- and Two-Family Dwellings) (Village of Necedah), quoted and re-checked
  12. Village of Necedah Jurisdiction for Commercial Building Plan Review and Inspections (Village of Necedah), quoted and re-checked
  13. Village of Necedah Comprehensive Plan 2024-2044 (Village of Necedah), quoted and re-checked
  14. Juneau County Floodplain Zoning Ordinance, quoted and re-checked
  15. Juneau County Floodplain Zoning Ordinance, quoted and re-checked
  16. Village of Necedah Comprehensive Plan 2024-2044 (Village of Necedah), quoted and re-checked
  17. Requirement for Plan Review Prior to Issuing Local Permits, quoted and re-checked
  18. Juneau County POWTS inspection and approval (Village of Necedah), quoted and re-checked
  19. Delegated Agents for Private On-Site Wastewater Treatment System (POWTS) Plan Review, quoted and re-checked
  20. Juneau County Sanitation & Zoning Department (co.juneau.wi.gov)
  21. Juneau County Chapter 15 Private Onsite Wastewater Treatment Systems Ordinance (Village of Necedah), quoted and re-checked
  22. Wisconsin’s Uniform Dwelling Code (Wisconsin statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  23. 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
  24. General Shoreland Zoning Provisions, quoted and re-checked
  25. Juneau County Code, Appendix A, Sec. 3.1 — Lots not served by public sanitary sewer, quoted and re-checked
  26. Juneau County Code, Appendix A, Sec. 3.2 — Lots served by public sanitary sewer, quoted and re-checked
  27. State highway connection permits (driveways & more) (Wisconsin statewide rule), 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 Village of Necedah

Village of Necedah’s own rules

  • Owner-builder exemptionConditional

    An owner applying for an erosion-control or construction permit using the official building-permit form hosted on the Necedah municipal website.

    • The owner must be or become the owner-occupant of the dwelling.
    • The owner must read the cautionary statement regarding contractor responsibility.
    • The form states the exemption without a Dwelling Contractor Certification.
    “owner-occupant of this dwelling [...] without a Dwelling Contractor Certification”
  • InspectionsRequired

    Structural, HVAC, fire-suppression, and fire-alarm inspections for commercial buildings inside Necedah village.

    • The delegation covers commercial buildings without size limitations.
    • The Department retains jurisdiction for specified exceptions, including state-owned buildings.
    “The Department delegates your municipality [...] to perform structural, HVAC, fire suppression, and fire alarm inspections of commercial buildings without size limitations.”
  • Local zoningPresent

    Land inside the Village of Necedah.

    • The Village administers its own zoning ordinance; the source states the ordinance was adopted in 1988.
    “The Village has general zoning authority. The Zoning Ordinance was adopted in 1988, and the Village administers the ordinance.”
  • Zoning districtsPublished

    The Village of Necedah zoning system.

    • The comprehensive plan reports 13 total districts, 12 in use: four Residential, three Business, two Industrial, Conservancy, Institutional, Mobile Home, and a wellhead-protection overlay district.

    total districts: 13 · districts in use: 12

    “The ordinance provides for a total of 13 districts, twelve of these are in use. The Ordinance has four Residential districts, three Business districts, two Industrial districts, as well as Conservancy, Institutional and Mobile Home districts, and a wellhead protection overlay district.”
  • Who permits septicCounty (with conditions)

    Private sewage systems serving land inside Necedah village, where the County Chapter 15 sanitation requirements apply.

    • Juneau County identifies the County Authority as the Juneau County Zoning Department; public-sewer availability is determined by the local sewer service entity.
    “County. The County Authority; the Juneau County Zoning Department.”
  • Septic permitRequired

    Private sewage systems serving land inside Necedah village.

    • A sanitary permit is not required for addition of manhole risers, replacement of manhole covers, risers, baffles, filters, or pumps.
    “A sanitary permit shall be obtained by the property owner, his agent or contractor, in the name of the property owner, before any private sewage system or part thereof may be installed, replaced, reconnected or modified.”
  • Mandatory utility hookupSewer (with conditions)

    Private sewage systems serving premises inside Necedah village when an approved public sewer becomes available.

    • The private system must be disconnected within one year; the local sewer service entity determines whether sewer is available; the source does not establish a water-connection rule.

    connection deadline: 1 year (after public sewer becomes available)

    “When public sewers approved by the Department of Natural Resources becomes available to the structure or premises served, the private sewage system shall be disconnected within one year and a connection made to the public sewer. Determination of whether sewer is available shall be made by the local sewer service entity.”
  • Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

    Land divisions inside Necedah village.

    • The Village ordinance was adopted in 1988; it calls for Village approval of all land division. Juneau County reviews surveys and has approval authority, while the Village has veto authority.
    “The Village of Necedah has a Land Division Ordinance that was adopted in 1988. The ordinance calls for Village approval of all land division.”
  • Permit processPartial

    Building-permit submission and inspection process inside Necedah village limits.

    • The DSPS online system routes applications to the enforcing jurisdiction.
    • The official municipal form requires project information, plans or site-plan information, and inspection calls.
    • The complete process for all project types was not located.
    “PROJECT DESCRIPTION (Submit Building Plans & Site Plan) [...] Call in ALL INSPECTIONS to the Inspector.”

Rules another office applies inside Village of Necedah

Village 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.

  • Building permitRequired

    New one- and two-family dwellings, including stick-built, modular, and manufactured home installations, inside Necedah village.

    • The permit is required under the UDC.
    • If the municipality has delegated authority, contact the municipality; otherwise submit to DSPS.
    • The application requires plans, required data, and a permit application fee.
    “A permit under the UDC is required for new one- and two-family dwelling units. This includes stick-built, modular, and manufactured home installations.”
    2 more reviewed findings on this topic
    • Required — New one- and two-family dwelling units inside Necedah village limits.
      “A permit under the UDC is required for new one- and two-family dwelling units. This includes stick-built, modular, and manufactured home installations.”
    • Required — New one- and two-family dwelling units inside Necedah village.
      “A permit under the UDC is required for new one- and two-family dwelling units. This includes stick-built, modular, and manufactured home installations.”
  • Building code adoptedAdopted (with conditions)

    New one- and two-family dwellings, including manufactured home installations, inside Necedah village limits under Wisconsin's Uniform Dwelling Code.

    • The local municipality or an authorized UDC inspection agency may administer permits and inspections; otherwise DSPS procedures apply.

    program code: SPS 320-325

    “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.”
    2 more reviewed findings on this topic
    • Adopted (with conditions) — New one- and two-family dwelling construction, including manufactured home installations, inside Necedah village.
      “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.”
    • Adopted (with conditions) — New one- and two-family dwellings, including manufactured homes, inside Necedah village.
      “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.”
  • Septic inspectionRequired

    Private sewage system construction and installation inside Necedah village limits where the County sanitary program applies.

    • The permit card must remain displayed until the system has been installed, inspected, and approved by the County.
    • POWTS inspection is also required under the state plan-review conditional approval process.
    “The permit card may not be removed until the private sewage system has been installed, inspected, and approved by the County.”
  • Off-grid sanitationLimited

    Non-plumbing sanitation systems on parcels inside Necedah village limits where the County ordinance applies.

    • A County Sanitary Permit is required before constructing or installing a non-plumbing sanitation system.
    • The County ordinance applies to geographic areas not served by an approved public sewer.
    “A County Sanitary Permit shall be obtained prior to constructing or installing a non-plumbing sanitation system.”
  • Well permitRequired

    New private-well construction inside Necedah village limits, as part of the statewide Wisconsin DNR program.

    • Advance notice is required before construction of a new private well that is not a high-capacity well.
    • The notification requirement excepts high-capacity wells, reconstruction of existing wells, and wells on Native American property.
    • A Well Construction Notification Number is required before construction for drilled and driven-point wells.
    • For high-capacity wells or other wells requiring written DNR approval, the approval's notification requirements apply.
    • All wells must be constructed by a licensed water-well driller or a registered rig operator under a licensed driller's supervision, except that an owner may drive or drill a well on their own property.
    • The notification fee is $50.50; it is nonrefundable and nontransferable.
    • A Well Construction Report must be completed and submitted to DNR within 30 days after construction.

    Well Construction Notification fee: 50.5 USD (The fee and notification number are not refundable or transferable.) · Well Construction Report deadline: <= 30 days (After well or drillhole construction.)

    “Wisconsin law requires that a property owner provide advance notice to DNR before construction of any new private well that is not a high capacity well, and advance notice of any heat exchange drillhole construction (geothermal system) that does not require a written DNR approval.”

Still unanswered

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

  • Certificate of occupancy — Certificates of occupancy or equivalent occupancy approvals inside Necedah village limits.
  • Minimum dwelling size — Minimum dwelling size inside Necedah village limits.
  • Minimum lot size — Minimum lot size inside Necedah village limits.
  • Setbacks — Building setbacks inside Necedah village limits.
  • Lot coverage — Lot coverage inside Necedah village limits.
11 more unanswered
  • Building height
  • Living in an RV
  • Camping on your land
  • Tiny homes
  • Manufactured homes
  • Accessory dwellings
  • Agricultural exemption
  • Driveway access
  • Building in a floodplain
  • Short-term rentals
  • Permit fees

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 Village 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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