Bolthole Index

Juneau County, Wisconsin

Building permits, zoning and septic rules in New Lisbon, Wisconsin

New Lisbon, Wisconsin, in Juneau County, issues its own building permits and certificates of occupancy, and city zoning applies inside the city limits.12 Septic permits do not move to the city: Juneau County handles sanitary permits for private sewage systems, and Wisconsin law requires that sanitary permit before any local permit issues for a building with a private system.34 Properties served by municipal sewer face city connection requirements instead.5

At a glance

Building permit
Required before new construction and other covered work1
Zoning
City zoning applies inside New Lisbon2
Septic permit
Juneau County handles sanitary permits for private systems36
RV living
Prohibited as living quarters in mobile home parks; the rule elsewhere is unconfirmed7
Tiny homes
No separate city rule confirmed; zoning and building review still apply21
Owner electrical work
A qualifying owner-occupant may receive an electrical permit after signing the city cautionary statement8
Agricultural buildings
Building-permit exemption only in properly zoned agricultural districts9

Who to call

Building permits

City of New Lisbon Building Inspector

City building permits and building inspections through General Engineering Company

608-697-7807

Online permits →

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

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 New Lisbon means bringing your own water and power. The kit we’d start with:

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Do you need a building permit in New Lisbon, Wisconsin?

Yes. New Lisbon requires a building permit before a new building or structure is erected, enlarged, altered, moved, demolished, razed or used, subject to the code's listed exceptions.1 The exceptions include re-roofing, re-siding, interior surface finishing, cabinetry, minor repairs, normal repairs and agricultural buildings in properly zoned districts.10

New Lisbon has adopted Wisconsin's Uniform Dwelling Code for municipal enforcement of one- and two-family dwellings.11 Permit fees are set by Common Council resolution, and starting construction before permit issuance results in double fees.12 A qualifying owner-occupant may obtain a permit for electrical work on the owner's home after signing the city's cautionary statement, but New Lisbon does not publish a blanket owner-builder exemption from building permits or inspections.8

Who issues building permits in New Lisbon?

New Lisbon contracts with General Engineering Company for city building permits and inspections; the city's building-inspector page lists 608-697-7807 and links to the online application.13 The written application identifies the owner, land, designer, contractor license and intended use, and the city generally requires plans and specifications with site, setback, grading, drainage and erosion-control information.14

Required inspections must be requested 48 business hours in advance and include the applicable foundation, rough systems, underfloor, insulation, final and erosion-control stages.15 A dwelling constructed or altered inside New Lisbon may not be occupied until the Building Inspector issues the required certificate after completion and final inspection.16

Does New Lisbon have zoning, and what does it mean for a parcel?

New Lisbon has city zoning that applies to land inside its corporate limits.2 The published districts include residential, commercial, downtown business, industrial, public and agricultural districts, and new structures or changes in land use require zoning review.17 Confirm the parcel's mapped district with the city before designing a house, accessory structure or land division because the numeric lot-size, setback, height and lot-coverage standards were not confirmed here.

A building permit cannot issue until the Building Inspector determines that the subdivision and required improvements have been accepted by the Common Council.18 A driveway crossing a sidewalk or curb also requires a driveway permit from the Director of Public Works, with the application routed through the City Clerk-Treasurer.19

How do septic permits and sewer connection work inside New Lisbon?

Juneau County administers private sewage systems serving New Lisbon property where public sewer is unavailable.3 A separate sanitary-permit application signed by a licensed plumber is required for each private sewage system, and a county sanitary permit is also required before installing a non-plumbing sanitation system.620 Wisconsin requires the sanitary permit before any local permit is issued for a building that uses a private sewage system.4 Juneau County's delegated plan review covers at-grade and mound systems with design flows up to 1,000 gallons per day; plans outside those categories, including individual site designs, go to the state Department of Safety and Professional Services.2122 Contact the Juneau County Sanitation & Zoning Department at 608-847-9391 for sanitary permits and plan review.23

New Lisbon's sewer rule changes the answer for served property: a habitable building adjacent to a sewer main, or in a block through which sewer is extended, must connect after written city notice, and private sewage-disposal systems are prohibited in the area served by municipal sewer.5 For new residential construction, necessary street sewer, water, grading and graveling must be installed before a building permit issues.24

Can you live in an RV or tiny home in New Lisbon?

New Lisbon prohibits recreational vehicles from being occupied as living quarters in mobile home parks.7 That provision does not establish a citywide rule for an RV on every other private parcel, and we could not confirm a general rule for long-term RV occupancy or temporary camping outside a mobile home park. Ask the city building and zoning office to classify the parcel and proposed use before relying on an RV as temporary housing.

We could not confirm a separate tiny-home category, minimum dwelling size or citywide rule for accessory dwellings. A proposed small home still needs review under New Lisbon's zoning districts and the city's adopted building code, and covered construction requires a building permit.2251

Building a home in New Lisbon: what are the steps?

  1. Confirm the parcel's city zoning district, permitted residential use, lot dimensions, setbacks and access before finalizing plans.17
  2. Ask whether municipal sewer and water serve the site; necessary street utilities must be available for a residential building permit, and served property is subject to the sewer-connection rule.26
  3. If public sewer is unavailable and a private system is proposed, obtain Juneau County plan review and the sanitary permit before the city building permit issues.64
  4. Submit the city building-permit application and plans through the inspector before breaking ground.2713
  5. Request each required inspection 48 business hours in advance.15
  6. Obtain the certificate of occupancy before moving into the completed dwelling.28

What should you check before buying land in New Lisbon?

Confirm city limits, the mapped zoning district, legal access, subdivision status and the buildable area before closing.229 Ask the city whether water and sewer are installed in the streets needed to serve the parcel, because that availability affects residential permitting and occupancy.24 If public sewer is unavailable, speak with Juneau County about the sanitary permit and site evaluation before treating the lot as buildable.3

Juneau County soils are challenging for conventional drain fields: only about 0.5% are rated without severe limitations, so a parcel-specific soil evaluation matters.30 We could not confirm the private-well rule for every New Lisbon parcel; ask the city and the appropriate state water authority before budgeting for an off-grid water supply.

Watch-outs

  • Starting covered construction before the city building permit is issued results in double fees.12
  • A city building permit does not replace the Juneau County sanitary permit required for a private sewage system, and the sanitary permit must come before any local permit.164
  • An RV may not be occupied as living quarters in a New Lisbon mobile home park, while the rule on other private parcels remains unconfirmed.7
  • New Lisbon requires utility availability for residential permitting and occupancy in the circumstances described by its building code.24

Sources

  1. Chapter 238: Building Construction - City of New Lisbon, WI (New Lisbon), quoted and re-checked
  2. Table of Contents - City of New Lisbon, WI (New Lisbon), quoted and re-checked
  3. Juneau County Chapter 15 Private Sewage System Ordinance (New Lisbon), quoted and re-checked
  4. Requirement for Plan Review Prior to Issuing Local Permits, quoted and re-checked
  5. Sewer Use Ordinance (New Lisbon), quoted and re-checked
  6. Juneau County Chapter 15 Private Sewage System Ordinance (New Lisbon), quoted and re-checked
  7. Article XVI: Mobile Homes and Mobile Home Parks - City of New Lisbon, WI (New Lisbon), quoted and re-checked
  8. Chapter 238: Building Construction - City of New Lisbon, WI (New Lisbon), quoted and re-checked
  9. Chapter 238: Building Construction - City of New Lisbon, WI (New Lisbon), quoted and re-checked
  10. Chapter 238 Building Construction - City of New Lisbon, WI (New Lisbon), quoted and re-checked
  11. Chapter 238 Building Construction - City of New Lisbon, WI (New Lisbon), quoted and re-checked
  12. Chapter 238: Building Construction - City of New Lisbon, WI (New Lisbon), quoted and re-checked
  13. City of New Lisbon Building Inspector (cityofnewlisbon.com)
  14. Chapter 238 Building Construction - City of New Lisbon, WI (New Lisbon), quoted and re-checked
  15. Chapter 238: Building Construction - City of New Lisbon, WI (New Lisbon), quoted and re-checked
  16. Chapter 238 Building Construction - City of New Lisbon, WI (New Lisbon), quoted and re-checked
  17. Chapter 520 Zoning (New Lisbon), quoted and re-checked
  18. Chapter 238 Building Construction - City of New Lisbon, WI (New Lisbon), quoted and re-checked
  19. Chapter 267 Driveways - City of New Lisbon, WI (New Lisbon), quoted and re-checked
  20. Juneau County Chapter 15 Private Sewage System Ordinance (New Lisbon), quoted and re-checked
  21. Delegated Agents for Private On-Site Wastewater Treatment System (POWTS) Plan Review, quoted and re-checked
  22. Juneau County POWTS Plan Review Delegation Letter, quoted and re-checked
  23. Juneau County Sanitation & Zoning Department (co.juneau.wi.gov)
  24. Chapter 238 Building Construction - City of New Lisbon, WI (New Lisbon), quoted and re-checked
  25. Chapter 238 Building Construction - City of New Lisbon, WI (New Lisbon), quoted and re-checked
  26. Chapter 238: Building Construction - City of New Lisbon, WI (New Lisbon), quoted and re-checked
  27. Chapter 238: Building Construction - City of New Lisbon, WI (New Lisbon), quoted and re-checked
  28. Chapter 238: Building Construction - City of New Lisbon, WI (New Lisbon), quoted and re-checked
  29. City of New Lisbon, WI Subdivision of Land (New Lisbon), quoted and re-checked
  30. 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

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 New Lisbon

New Lisbon’s own rules

  • Building permitRequired

    New buildings, structures, additions, qualifying alterations, moves, demolitions, and use within New Lisbon city limits.

    • A permit must be obtained before the work or use begins.
    • Permits are not required for replacement of major building equipment listed in § 238-2(A)(1)(b).
    • Re-roofing, re-siding, interior surface finishing, cabinetry, minor repair, normal repairs, and agricultural buildings in properly zoned districts are exempt as specified in § 238-2.
    “No building of any kind shall be moved within or into the City and no new building or structure, or any part thereof, shall hereafter be erected, or ground broken for the same, or enlarged, altered, moved, demolished, razed or used within the City, except as herein provided, until a permit therefor shall first have been obtained by the owner or his/her authorized agent from the Building Inspector or his/her designee.”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Required — New buildings, structures, additions, alterations, moving, demolition, and specified building systems inside New Lisbon city limits.
      “No building of any kind shall be moved within or into the City and no new building or structure, or any part thereof, shall hereafter be erected, or ground broken for the same, or enlarged, altered, moved, demolished, razed or used within the City, except as herein provided, until a permit therefor shall first have been obtained by the owner or his/her authorized agent from the Building Inspector or his/her designee.”
  • Owner-builder exemptionConditional

    Owner-performed electrical work on property inside New Lisbon city limits that is owned and occupied by the owner as the owner's home.

    • The owner may receive an electrical permit only after signing the City's cautionary statement.
    • The general building-permit provisions do not establish a blanket owner-builder exemption.
    “the Building Inspector may issue a permit to a property owner for work on property which is owned and occupied by such owner as his/her home”
  • Building code adoptedAdopted (with conditions)

    One- and two-family dwellings inside New Lisbon city.

    • Chapters SPS 320 through 325 and subsequent revisions are adopted for municipal enforcement.
    • The city code also supplements Wisconsin construction laws and Chapter 520 zoning.
    • Agricultural buildings are excluded from the general building-code scope.
    “Chapters SPS 320 through 325, Wis. Adm. Code, and subsequent revisions are adopted for municipal enforcement.”
    3 more reviewed findings on this topic
  • InspectionsRequired

    Construction and covered building work inside New Lisbon city limits under the City building code.

    • The following inspections must be requested 48 hours (business work) in advance.
    • Required inspections include footing/foundation; rough carpentry, HVAC, electric and plumbing; drain tile/basement floor; underfloor plumbing/electric service; insulation; final carpentry, HVAC, electric and plumbing; and erosion control.
    • Failure to request any inspection is the responsibility of the contractor and/or property owner.
    • Agricultural buildings in properly zoned districts are exempt from the building-permit requirement.
    “The following inspections shall be requested 48 hours (business work) in advance by the applicant/contractor or property owner as applicable:”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
  • Certificate of occupancyRequired

    Any building constructed or altered into a dwelling inside New Lisbon city limits.

    • The certificate is applied for together with the building permit.
    • It is issued after lawful completion and final inspection.
    • The Building Inspector may modify the section's operation.

    issuance deadline after completion and final inspection: <= 10 days

    “No building hereafter constructed or altered into a dwelling shall be occupied in whole or in part for human habitation until the issuance of a certificate by the Building Inspector affirming that such dwelling conforms in all respects to the requirements of this chapter.”
    2 more reviewed findings on this topic
    • Required — Any building constructed or altered into a dwelling inside New Lisbon city.
      “No building hereafter constructed or altered into a dwelling shall be occupied in whole or in part for human habitation until the issuance of a certificate by the Building Inspector affirming that such dwelling conforms in all respects to the requirements of this chapter. Such certificate shall be applied for coincidentally with the application for a building permit and shall be issued not more than 10 days after the lawful erection or alteration is complete and final inspection has been made.”
    • Required — A building constructed or altered into a dwelling inside New Lisbon city limits.
      “No building hereafter constructed or altered into a dwelling shall be occupied in whole or in part for human habitation until the issuance of a certificate”
  • Local zoningPresent

    Land inside New Lisbon city limits; the City publishes and administers Chapter 520 Zoning.

    • The code index states that Chapter 520 is the City's zoning chapter.
    • The code is published through 2021-11-19; later amendments should be checked separately.
    “Chapter 520 Zoning (§ 520-1 – § 520-131)”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
  • Zoning districtsPublished

    Land inside the corporate limits of New Lisbon city, governed by the City's Chapter 520 zoning districts.

    • The zoning chapter applies to all structures, land, water and air within the corporate limits of the City of New Lisbon.
    • The published district list includes R-1, R-2, R-3, C-1, B-1, B-2, DB-1, I-1, I-2, P-1, and A-1 districts.
    • New structures and changes of land use require a zoning permit and compliance with applicable local, county, and state regulations.
    “§ 520-12 Zoning districts designated. § 520-13 District boundaries. § 520-14 R-1 Single- and Two-Family Residential District (Low Density).”
  • Living in an RVLimited

    Recreational-vehicle occupancy as living quarters inside New Lisbon city limits.

    • In mobile home parks, recreational vehicles may not be occupied as living quarters.
    • The cited mobile-home provisions do not establish a citywide rule for every RV outside mobile home parks.
    “In mobile home parks, recreational vehicles shall not be occupied as living quarters and sales lots shall not be permitted.”
  • Who permits septicCounty

    Private sewage systems serving property inside New Lisbon city limits are administered under the Juneau County private sewage system ordinance.

    • Juneau County's ordinance defines the County Authority as the Juneau County Zoning Department.
    • The County Zoning Administrator issues sanitary permits and inspects properties.
    • The County may delegate enforcement duties to the County Health Department.
    “The requirements of this ordinance shall apply to all geographic areas of the County not served by a public sewer approved by the Department of Natural Resources.”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • County — Private sewage systems and non-plumbing sanitation systems inside New Lisbon city limits; the operative rule-maker is Juneau County.
      “County. The County Authority; the Juneau County Zoning Department.”
  • Septic permitRequired

    Private sewage systems and non-plumbing sanitation systems serving property inside New Lisbon city limits.

    • A sanitary permit is required before installation, establishment, or construction of a structure requiring a private sewage or non-plumbing sanitation system.
    • A permit is also required before installation, replacement, reconnection, or modification of a private sewage system.
    • A sanitary permit is not required for manhole risers, manhole covers, risers, baffles, filters, or pumps replacement as specified.
    “Every private sewage system shall require a separate complete application signed by a licensed plumber and a sanitary permit.”
  • Septic inspectionRequired

    Private sewage system installation and maintenance inside New Lisbon city limits.

    • Construction and installation inspection is required under the state plan-review approval.
    • Juneau County requires inspection and approval before the permit card may be removed.
    • Septic tanks permitted and installed on or after September 16, 1980 must be visually inspected and/or pumped within three years and at least every three years thereafter unless the tank has less than one-third sludge and scum volume.
    • Inspection reports must be furnished to the County within 10 days.

    initial septic-tank inspection/pumping deadline: 3 years after installation (unless inspection finds less than 1/3 of tank volume occupied by sludge and scum) · recurring septic-tank inspection/pumping interval: 3 years (unless inspection finds less than 1/3 of tank volume occupied by sludge and scum)

    “shall be installed, inspected, and approved before the structure may be occupied.”
  • Off-grid sanitationLimited

    Non-plumbing sanitation systems inside New Lisbon city limits.

    • A county sanitary permit is required before constructing or installing a non-plumbing sanitation system.
    • The system must comply with Juneau County's private sewage system ordinance and applicable state requirements.
    “A County Sanitary Permit shall be obtained prior to constructing or installing a non-plumbing sanitation system.”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
  • Mandatory utility hookupSewer (with conditions)

    Parcels inside New Lisbon city limits with a building usable for human habitation adjacent to a sewer main or located in a block through which the sewer system is extended.

    • Connection must occur within 90 days after written notice from the City.
    • If the owner fails to connect, the City may make the connection and bill the owner; unpaid costs may become a special tax lien.
    • The City may instead impose a penalty equal to 150% of the minimum quarterly sewer charge after ten days' written notice.
    • Septic tanks and other private sewage-disposal systems are prohibited in the area of the City served by the sewer system.
    • A sewer-service application and municipal service permit are required, and the connection charge is $300 plus the owner's cost of the lateral.

    connection deadline: 90 days after written notice · sewer connection charge: 300 USD (plus the lateral cost)

    “shall connect to such system within 90 days of notice in writing from the City.”
    2 more reviewed findings on this topic
    • Water and sewer (with conditions) — Residential buildings inside New Lisbon city where the streets necessary to service the property have the required utilities installed.
      “Residential buildings. No building permit shall be issued for the construction of any residential building until sewer, water, grading and graveling are installed in the streets necessary to service the property for which the permit is required and a receipt for payment of electrical hookup is presented to the Building Inspector.”
    • Water and sewer (with conditions) — Residential and other buildings constructed inside New Lisbon city limits where City services are necessary to service the property.
      “No person shall occupy any building until sewer, water, grading and graveling are installed in the streets necessary to service the property”
  • Agricultural exemptionAvailable (with conditions)

    Agricultural buildings in properly zoned districts inside New Lisbon city.

    • The exemption is from the city building-permit requirement under § 238-2(A)(1)(e).
    • The building must be agricultural and located in a properly zoned district.
    • Other zoning, state, utility, floodplain, and land-use requirements may still apply.
    “Agricultural buildings in properly zoned districts are exempt.”
    3 more reviewed findings on this topic
  • Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

    Subdivision and building-site approval inside New Lisbon city limits.

    • A building permit cannot issue until the subdivision and required improvements have been accepted by the Common Council.
    • The property must abut a dedicated street.
    “No building permit shall be issued until the Building Inspector has determined that the subdivision and required improvements have been accepted by the Common Council.”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Regulated (with conditions) — Subdivision and land division inside New Lisbon city limits.
      “§ 515-19 Preliminary plat approval. § 515-20 Final plat procedure. § 515-21 Certified survey map procedure.”
  • Driveway accessRequired

    Driveways crossing a sidewalk or curbing inside New Lisbon city limits.

    • A driveway permit is obtained from the Director of Public Works.
    • Applications are made to the City Clerk-Treasurer for referral to the Director of Public Works.
    • The application requires a City form, drawing, dimensions, proposed materials, and a fee set by the Common Council unless the driveway is part of construction for which a building permit has been applied, in which case no additional fee is required.
    “No person shall construct or maintain a driveway across any sidewalk or curbing without first obtaining a driveway permit from the Director of Public Works.”
  • Permit feesVariable (with conditions)

    Permits issued under the New Lisbon building code.

    • The fee amount is established by Common Council resolution.
    • Construction begun before permit issuance is subject to double fees.
    • The current dollar amounts were not published in the retrieved code chapter.
    “Fees for permits under this chapter shall be established by resolution of the Common Council.”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
  • Permit processPublished (with conditions)

    Building-permit applications inside New Lisbon city limits.

    • Applications must be written on the Building Inspector's form and identify the owner, land, designer, contractor license number, and intended use.
    • Two complete sets of plans and specifications are generally required, with site, setback, grading, drainage, erosion-control, and related information.
    • The City directs applicants to General Engineering Company for building inspections and permits.
    “Application for a building permit shall be made in writing upon a form furnished by the Building Inspector or his/her designee and shall state the name and address of the owner of the land and also the owner of the building, if different, the legal description of the land upon which the building is to be located, the name and address of the designer, the license number of the contractor, the use to which said building is to be put and such other information as the Building Inspector may require.”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic

Still unanswered

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

  • Minimum dwelling size — Residential districts inside New Lisbon city limits, including R-1, R-2, and A-1 districts.
  • Minimum lot size — Residential districts inside New Lisbon city limits, including R-1, R-2, and A-1 districts.
  • Setbacks — Structures inside New Lisbon city limits.
  • Lot coverage — Lots inside New Lisbon city limits.
  • Building height — Buildings inside New Lisbon city limits.
7 more unanswered
  • Camping on your land
  • Tiny homes
  • Manufactured homes
  • Accessory dwellings
  • Well permit
  • 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 New Lisbon publishes no rule on the point, not that none exists. Juneau County’s page lists the county offices to call.

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