Bolthole Index

Juneau County, Wisconsin

Building permits and land rules in the Town of Plymouth, Wisconsin

The Town of Plymouth in Juneau County requires a town building permit before any construction, enlargement or alteration begins.1 Juneau County administers sanitary permits for private septic systems, while county permits also apply in mapped shoreland and floodplain areas.23 The town's general zoning rules for RV living, tiny homes, lot size and setbacks could not be confirmed, so ask the Town Clerk about a specific parcel before buying.

At a glance

Building permit
Required before construction, enlargement or alteration1
Building permit fees
$100 for a new home; $50 for other structures4
Septic
Juneau County sanitary permit process applies25
Temporary camping
Annual town approval required; $10 per camper6
Owner-builder
Owner-occupants may use the state contractor-credential exemption7
Private well
Obtain a Wisconsin DNR notification number before construction8
Driveway
Town permit required for a new or improved driveway9

Who to call

Building permits

Town of Plymouth Clerk

Town building permits and driveway permit applications

608-462-5034

[email protected]

W9902 State Road 82 | Elroy, WI | 53929-9453

Zoning

Juneau County Sanitation & Zoning Department

County sanitary, shoreland and floodplain questions

608-847-9391

[email protected]

650 Prairie Street Mauston, WI 53948

Septic permits

Juneau County Sanitation

Sanitary permits for private onsite wastewater systems

Zoning

Juneau County Shoreland Zoning

County shoreland building permits and shoreland ordinance questions

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 Plymouth 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 Plymouth, Wisconsin?

Yes. The Town of Plymouth requires a building permit before any construction, enlargement or alteration begins, and the work must follow Wisconsin State Code standards and current ordinances.1 The published town fee is $100 for a new home building permit and $50 for a building permit for any other structure.4 New one- and two-family dwellings, including manufactured-home installations, are also governed by Wisconsin's Uniform Dwelling Code.10

An owner who lives or will live in a one- or two-family dwelling may apply for the state owner-builder exemption from dwelling-contractor certification and qualifier requirements, but the exemption does not remove building permit or code obligations.7 For a new home, ask the Town Clerk which application and plan materials to submit and which inspector is assigned to the UDC permit.11

Who issues building permits in the Town of Plymouth?

The Town of Plymouth directs applicants to the Town Clerk before making property changes and provides a general building permit application, a Wisconsin building permit application and a planned-layout form.12 The Town Clerk's office is at W9902 State Road 82 in Elroy and lists 608-462-5034 and [email protected].13

For a new one- or two-family dwelling, required UDC inspections include footings, foundation and reinforcement, rough work, insulation and a final inspection; the applicant notifies the inspector identified on the UDC permit.14 A separate town driveway permit is required for a new driveway or an improvement to an existing driveway.9 Juneau County, rather than the Town Clerk, handles sanitary permits, and the county may also require shoreland or floodplain approval for a mapped site.23

Does the Town of Plymouth have zoning?

We could not confirm a general Town of Plymouth zoning ordinance or a complete district map, so do not assume that a parcel is unrestricted. Ask the Town Clerk to identify any town land-use rule for the parcel and ask Juneau County Sanitation & Zoning whether county shoreland or floodplain controls apply.

Juneau County requires county approval before construction in mapped shoreland and floodplain areas, including land within 1,000 feet of a lake, pond or flowage and within 300 feet of a river or stream.3 In mapped floodplain areas, a land-use permit is required before development, repair, modification, an addition or a change in use, including sewer and water facilities.15

On shoreland parcels, Juneau County requires buildings and structures to sit at least 75 feet from the ordinary highwater mark of navigable waters, with lesser setbacks possible only for stairways, walkways and piers.16 A main building on a shoreland lot without public sewer needs at least 20,000 square feet and 100 feet of frontage at the water’s edge.17 With public sewer the minimum is 10,000 square feet and an average of 65 feet of frontage.18 We could not confirm townwide minimum dwelling size, ordinary setbacks, building height or lot coverage away from the water; ask both offices before relying on a survey or site plan.

How do septic permits work inside the Town of Plymouth?

Juneau County administers the sanitary permit process for private septic systems inside the Town of Plymouth.2 A new home, replacement home, connection to an existing septic system, bedroom addition or an addition equal to or greater than 25% of the existing area can trigger a sanitary permit.5 The process calls for a certified soil tester's report, then a licensed plumber designs the system from that report and applies to the county; county and state approvals precede issuance.2

Installed, modified or reconnected private onsite wastewater systems must remain open for county inspection, with notice to the Zoning Department on the working day before inspection, excluding weekends and holidays.19 Juneau County soils offer only 0.5% without severe limitations for a conventional septic drain field, so make the soil evaluation an early purchase contingency rather than assuming a conventional system will work.20

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

The Town of Plymouth has a documented path for temporary camping: an annual camping permit requires Town Board approval, must remain with the camper during the stay and carries a $10 fee per camper after approval.6 The application asks about the parcel, camping units, sanitary facilities and trash disposal, and an applicant camping without the owner present must provide the owner's signed permission.21

That temporary-camping approval does not answer whether the Town of Plymouth permits long-term residential RV occupancy, and we could not confirm such a rule; ask the Town Clerk before treating a camper as a residence. We also could not confirm a Plymouth-specific tiny-home occupancy rule or minimum dwelling size. A tiny home used as a new dwelling may still fall within the town building permit requirement, while a manufactured home installed as a new dwelling falls under the statewide UDC.110

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

  1. Ask the Town Clerk about the parcel, the town building permit forms and any unconfirmed town zoning or dimensional rules before finalizing a design. The town requires the building permit before construction begins.22
  1. If the site will use private septic, obtain the certified soil report and have a licensed plumber prepare the design and county sanitary permit application.23 A local building permit for a new dwelling using private onsite wastewater cannot be issued until the sanitary permit has been issued.24
  1. Ask Juneau County whether shoreland or floodplain approval applies to the mapped parcel.25
  1. Obtain the town driveway permit for a new or improved driveway.26
  1. Submit the applicable town and UDC building materials, then arrange each required inspection with the inspector named on the permit.1127
  1. For a new private well, obtain a Wisconsin DNR Well Construction Notification Number before construction.8

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

Start with buildability, not just acreage. Juneau County soils offer only 0.5% without severe limitations for a conventional septic drain field, while 85.7% of county land has a slope of 15% or less; a gentle-looking site can still need a different wastewater design.2028 Make an acceptable soil evaluation and sanitary-permit path part of the purchase decision.2

Check county maps for shoreland and floodplain controls before placing a home, septic system, well or driveway.15 Confirm legal road access and budget for the required town driveway permit.9 For carrying costs, Juneau County's effective property tax rate is 1.5%, and the county's typical home insurance premium is $1,246 per year.2930 Finally, obtain written answers from the Town Clerk on general zoning, setbacks, tiny homes and residential RV use because those townwide rules could not be confirmed.

Watch-outs

  • A town building permit does not replace the Juneau County sanitary permit or mapped shoreland and floodplain approvals.123
  • Temporary camping requires annual Town Board approval and a $10 fee per camper; the available rule does not confirm long-term residential RV use.6
  • Only 0.5% of Juneau County soils are rated without severe limitations for a conventional septic drain field, so complete the soil evaluation before committing to a house site.20
  • A new or improved driveway needs a Town of Plymouth driveway permit, but the published material does not state its fee or design standards.9

Sources

  1. Regulations | Town of Plymouth (Town of Plymouth), quoted and re-checked
  2. Rural Building Beginning Procedures for Sanitary and Building Permits (Town of Plymouth), quoted and re-checked
  3. Rural Building Beginning Procedures for Sanitary and Building Permits (Town of Plymouth), quoted and re-checked
  4. Regulations | Town of Plymouth (Town of Plymouth), quoted and re-checked
  5. Rural Building Beginning Procedures for Sanitary and Building Permits (Town of Plymouth), quoted and re-checked
  6. Regulations | Town of Plymouth (Town of Plymouth), quoted and re-checked
  7. Dwelling Contractor Qualifier (Town of Plymouth), quoted and re-checked
  8. Well and heat exchange notification (Town of Plymouth), quoted and re-checked
  9. Regulations | Town of Plymouth (Town of Plymouth), quoted and re-checked
  10. UDC (Uniform Dwelling Code / One- and Two-Family Dwellings) (Town of Plymouth), quoted and re-checked
  11. Regulations | Town of Plymouth (Town of Plymouth), quoted and re-checked
  12. Regulations | Town of Plymouth (Town of Plymouth), quoted and re-checked
  13. Town of Plymouth Clerk (townofplymouthjc.com)
  14. UDC (Uniform Dwelling Code / One- and Two-Family Dwellings) (Town of Plymouth), quoted and re-checked
  15. Juneau County Floodplain Zoning Ordinance (Town of Plymouth), quoted and re-checked
  16. General Shoreland Zoning Provisions, quoted and re-checked
  17. Juneau County Code, Appendix A, Sec. 3.1 — Lots not served by public sanitary sewer, quoted and re-checked
  18. Juneau County Code, Appendix A, Sec. 3.2 — Lots served by public sanitary sewer, quoted and re-checked
  19. Juneau County POWTS inspection requirements (Town of Plymouth), quoted and re-checked
  20. 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
  21. Regulations | Town of Plymouth (Town of Plymouth), quoted and re-checked
  22. Regulations | Town of Plymouth (Town of Plymouth), quoted and re-checked
  23. Rural Building Beginning Procedures for Sanitary and Building Permits (Town of Plymouth), quoted and re-checked
  24. Wisconsin’s Uniform Dwelling Code (Wisconsin statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  25. Juneau County Floodplain Zoning Ordinance (Town of Plymouth), quoted and re-checked
  26. Regulations | Town of Plymouth (Town of Plymouth), quoted and re-checked
  27. UDC (Uniform Dwelling Code / One- and Two-Family Dwellings) - DSPS (Town of Plymouth), quoted and re-checked
  28. Share of land at 15% slope or less: Bolthole Index county data
  29. Effective property tax rate: Bolthole Index county data
  30. Typical home insurance premium: 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 Town of Plymouth

Town of Plymouth’s own rules

  • Building permitRequired

    Any construction, enlargement, or alteration inside Plymouth town.

    • The permit must be obtained before the project begins.
    • The town page directs applicants to contact the Town Clerk.
    • All construction must comply with Wisconsin State Code standards and current ordinances.

    new home building permit fee: 100 USD · other structure building permit fee: 50 USD

    “Building permits are required for ANY construction, enlargement, or alteration before you begin your project.”
    2 more reviewed findings on this topic
    • Required — Any construction, enlargement, or alteration inside Plymouth town.
      “Building permits are required for ANY construction, enlargement, or alteration before you begin your project.”
    • Required — Construction, enlargement, or alteration inside Plymouth town.
      “Building permits are required for ANY construction, enlargement, or alteration before you begin your project.”
  • InspectionsRequired

    New one- and two-family dwellings inside Plymouth town, including manufactured-home installations.

    • The DSPS page lists footing, foundation and foundation reinforcement, rough, insulation, and final inspections.
    • DSPS identifies Plymouth town, Juneau County as a delegated municipality; the specific inspector name was not shown in the opened list entry.
    “The following inspections are required on new one- and two-family dwellings.”
  • Camping on your landLimited

    Camping on a parcel inside Plymouth town.

    • An annual camping permit is required by the town application.
    • The permit requires Town Board approval.
    • The permit must be in the applicant's possession during the camping stay.
    • If the property owner is absent, the applicant must attach a signed owner permission statement.
    • The application asks for parcel location, parcel size, camping-unit count and type, sanitary facilities, and trash-disposal plans.

    camping fee: 10 USD per camper

    “The applicant will receive the permit after it has been approved by the Town Board.”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Allowed (with conditions) — Temporary camping on a parcel inside Plymouth town.
      “The applicant will receive the permit after it has been approved by the Town Board. The permit shall be in the applicant’s possession during their camping stay. A ten dollar ($10.00) fee per camper is required upon approval.”
  • Who permits septicCounty

    Septic permitting for land inside Plymouth town; Juneau County administers the sanitary permit process.

    • The county procedure requires a certified soil tester report and a plumbing plan/application submitted by a licensed plumber.
    • County and state approvals precede issuance of the sanitary permit.
    “The plumber will review your soil test, design a septic system based on the soil test and apply to the County for a sanitary permit for your land. Upon County and State approvals, your sanitary permit can be issued.”
  • Septic permitRequired

    New homes and specified additions or replacements inside Plymouth town using private sanitary systems.

    • Required when building a new home.
    • Also required when replacing a home, connecting a home to an existing septic system, or adding bedrooms or an addition equal to or exceeding 25% of the existing area or other qualified addition.
    • The application requires an approved soil description report and plumbing plan/application submitted by a licensed plumber.

    addition threshold: >= 25 percent of existing area (or other qualified addition)

    “Sanitary Permit Required When: Building a new home Replacing a home (i.e. removing existing home off site and replacing with a new home or replacing a home that has been destroyed.) Connecting a home to an existing septic system The addition of bedrooms or addition that equals or exceeds 25% of the existing area or other qualified addition.”
  • Driveway accessRequired

    A new driveway or improvement to an existing driveway inside Plymouth town.

    • A town driveway permit is required for a new driveway or improving an existing driveway.
    • The opened page did not state the permit fee or technical driveway standards.
    “Permit for a new driveway or improving an existing driveway.”
    2 more reviewed findings on this topic
    • Required — A new driveway or improvement to an existing driveway inside Plymouth town.
      “Permit for a new driveway or improving an existing driveway.”
    • Required — A new driveway or improvement to an existing driveway inside Plymouth town.
      “Permit for a new driveway or improving an existing driveway.”
  • Building in a floodplainLimited

    Building and development inside Plymouth town when the site is within a floodplain.

    • Juneau County and FEMA floodplain regulations must be complied with.
    • The county procedure states a county building permit is required within a floodplain.
    • The procedure also identifies county permit triggers within 1,000 feet of a lake, pond, or flowage and within 300 feet of a river or stream.

    lake, pond, or flowage distance trigger: <= 1000 feet · river or stream distance trigger: <= 300 feet

    “County Building Permit Required If: Within 1,000 feet of a lake, pond, or flowage Within 300 feet of a river or stream Within a Floodplain – County & FEMA Floodplain Regulations must be complied with”
  • Permit feesPublished (with conditions)

    Town building permits inside Plymouth town.

    • The town page lists $100.00 for a new home building permit and $50.00 for all other structure building permits.
    • The page does not state whether additional state, county, inspection, or plan-review fees apply.

    new home building permit fee: 100 USD · all other structure building permit fee: 50 USD

    “New home building permit fee: $100.00 All other structure building permit fee: $50.00”
    2 more reviewed findings on this topic
    • Published — Town building permits inside Plymouth town.
      “New home building permit fee: $100.00 All other structure building permit fee: $50.00”
    • Published (with conditions) — Town building permits inside Plymouth town.
      “New home building permit fee: $100.00 All other structure building permit fee: $50.00”
  • Permit processPartial

    Town building-permit process inside Plymouth town.

    • Before making property changes, contact Betty Manson, Town Clerk, at the listed office or mobile number.
    • The town page links a general building permit application, Wisconsin building permit application, and building permit planned layout.
    • The page states construction must follow Wisconsin State Code standards and current ordinances.
    “Before making any changes to your property, first contact Betty Manson, Clerk at 608-462-5034 (office) or 608-547-5283 (mobile) to apply for a building permit.”
    2 more reviewed findings on this topic
    • Published — Building-permit process inside Plymouth town.
      “All construction must be according to Wisconsin State Code standards and current ordinances. Before making any changes to your property, first contact Betty Manson, Clerk at 608-462-5034 (office) or 608-547-5283 (mobile) to apply for a building permit.”
    • Published (with conditions) — Town building-permit process inside Plymouth town.
      “Before making any changes to your property, first contact Betty Manson, Clerk at 608-462-5034 (office) or 608-547-5283 (mobile) to apply for a building permit.”

Rules another office applies inside Town of Plymouth

Town of Plymouth 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 of a one- or two-family dwelling in Plymouth town who resides or will reside in the dwelling and applies for a permit to work on it.

    • The owner must reside or intend to reside in the dwelling.
    • The exemption concerns the dwelling contractor certification and qualifier requirements; other permits and UDC compliance remain applicable.
    “Per Wisconsin Administrative code the above does not apply to an owner of a dwelling who resides or will reside in the dwelling and who applies for a building permit to work on that dwelling.”
  • Building code adoptedAdopted (with conditions)

    Wisconsin Uniform Dwelling Code standards applying to new one- and two-family dwellings, including manufactured-home installations, inside Plymouth town.

    • The town’s official page states that construction must comply with Wisconsin State Code standards and current ordinances.
    • The UDC permit and inspection authority depends on municipal delegation and state-owned property is excepted from the municipal-contact rule.
    “All construction must be according to Wisconsin State Code standards and current ordinances.”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Adopted — New one- and two-family dwellings, including manufactured homes, inside Plymouth town.
      “The program governing one- and two-family dwelling units (including manufactured homes) is also called the UDC program, referring to the Uniform Dwelling Code. Enforces construction standards and inspection procedures including evaluation of building materials.”
  • Certificate of occupancyLimited

    Buildings and land in mapped Juneau County floodplain areas inside Plymouth town.

    • The ordinance requires a certificate of compliance before occupancy, except where no permit is required.
    • This is a floodplain-specific certificate, not a general townwide certificate of occupancy.
    “shall be occupied until a certificate of compliance is issued by the zoning administrator”
  • Septic inspectionRequired

    POWTS construction and installation inside Plymouth town.

    • Inspection follows the plan-review conditional approval letter.
    • The agency that issued the POWTS permit must be contacted.
    “Inspection of POWTS construction and installation is required”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Required — POWTS installed, modified, or reconnected inside Plymouth town under the Juneau County private sewage system ordinance.
      “Notice for inspection shall be given to the Zoning Department for all POWTS installed, modified, or reconnected, the working day prior to the inspection, excluding Saturdays, Sundays and holidays. These POWTS shall be inspected by the Zoning Department for compliance with chs. SPS 382, SPS 383, SPS 384, and SPS 391, Wisconsin Administrative Code, and other appropriate Wisconsin Statues and Administrative Codes and this ordinance.”
  • Well permitLimited

    New private wells inside Plymouth town.

    • Advance notice to DNR is required before construction of a new private well that is not a high-capacity well.
    • High-capacity wells, reconstruction of existing wells, and wells on Native American property are exceptions to the stated notification requirement.
    • A Well Construction Notification Number must be obtained before construction.

    well construction notification fee: 50.5 USD (Heat exchange notification has no fee.)

    “Obtain a Well Construction Notification Number prior to constructing a well.”

Still unanswered

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

  • Local zoning — Land inside Plymouth town.
  • Zoning districts — Zoning districts inside Plymouth town.
  • Minimum dwelling size — Dwelling size inside Plymouth town.
  • Minimum lot size — Lot size inside Plymouth town.
  • Setbacks — Building setbacks inside Plymouth town.
11 more unanswered
  • Lot coverage
  • Building height
  • Living in an RV
  • Tiny homes
  • Manufactured homes
  • Accessory dwellings
  • Off-grid sanitation
  • Mandatory utility hookup
  • Agricultural exemption
  • Subdividing land
  • 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 Plymouth publishes no rule on the point, not that none exists. Juneau County’s page lists the county offices to call.

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