Bolthole Index

Juneau County, Wisconsin

Building permits, zoning and land rules in Union Center, Wisconsin

New one- and two-family homes in the Village of Union Center, Wisconsin need a Uniform Dwelling Code building permit, and the village is the delegated permitting and inspection authority.1 Private septic work falls to Juneau County where the county wastewater ordinance applies, while local zoning details should be confirmed with the Village Clerk before buying or designing.23

At a glance

Building permit
Required for new one- and two-family dwellings1
Building inspections
Required; Union Center has delegated local inspection authority4
Zoning
Confirm parcel rules and allowed uses with the Village Clerk3
Private septic
County sanitary permit required where the county ordinance applies and public sewer does not serve the property5
Owner-builder
Available to a qualifying owner-occupant, but required permits still apply6
Private well
Advance DNR notification is generally required before construction7
RV or tiny-home living
Not confirmed; ask the Village Clerk before relying on the use3

Who to call

Building permits

Village of Union Center Clerk

Local contact for Union Center UDC building permits and inspections

608-462-8810

[email protected]

Septic permits

Juneau County Sanitation & Zoning Department

Sanitary permits and plan review, private sewage information, shoreland building permits, floodplain zoning and land-use permits

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 Village of Union Center means bringing your own water and power. The kit we’d start with:

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Do you need a building permit in Union Center, Wisconsin?

Yes. A UDC building permit is required for a new one- or two-family dwelling in the Village of Union Center, including a stick-built, modular or manufactured-home installation.1 Wisconsin's Uniform Dwelling Code governs these homes, and Union Center is listed as a delegated municipality for UDC permitting and inspection.8

Required inspections cover the footings, foundation and reinforcement, rough work, insulation and final stage; the applicant contacts the inspector identified on the UDC permit when each stage is ready.9 Commercial work follows a separate delegation: Union Center has authority over qualifying small-project plan review and primary inspection responsibility for buildings, subject to the limits and retained state jurisdiction in the delegation.1011

An owner who lives or will live in the dwelling can apply for the building permit without a Dwelling Contractor Certification, but the same UDC permit and inspections still apply.6

Who issues building permits in Union Center?

The Village of Union Center is the local starting point for a UDC building permit because Wisconsin DSPS lists the village as delegated.1 The DSPS directory gives the Village Clerk contact as 608-462-8810 and [email protected].3 Ask the clerk who will review the current application and perform inspections for the specific project.3

A new-home application package includes the building-permit application, contractor license numbers and expiration dates, legible plans, a site and erosion-control plan, floor plan, elevations, energy documentation, truss plans, water calculations, wall-bracing information and the building-permit fee.12 Union Center's official site also posts building-permit information and an application, but the current fee amount could not be confirmed; request the current schedule from the Village Clerk.3

Does Union Center have zoning for RVs, tiny homes and setbacks?

Union Center's zoning rules for ordinary parcels, including allowed RV living, tiny-home occupancy, minimum dwelling size, lot size and setbacks, could not be confirmed from a readable village code. Before buying, give the Village Clerk the parcel address and proposed use and ask for the controlling zoning district, map, dimensional table and any zoning approval required.3

A tiny home used as a new one- or two-family dwelling does not escape the building-code layer: the UDC permit rule covers new stick-built, modular and manufactured-home installations.13 A mapped floodplain adds another layer because floodplain ordinances regulate development, including building, filling, grading, paving, excavation and storage.14 Juneau County Sanitation & Zoning lists floodplain zoning and land-use permits among its services, so ask that office to screen the parcel as well.15 In Juneau County floodplain-zoning areas, a land use permit is required before any development, repair, modification or addition, or change in use of a building, including sewer and water facilities.16

How do septic permits work inside Union Center?

Where a Union Center property is not served by public sewer and the Juneau County wastewater ordinance applies, every private sewage system needs a separate complete application signed by a licensed plumber and a county sanitary permit.5 A building that will use a private sewage system must have its sanitary permit before a local building permit is issued.17

Juneau County Sanitation & Zoning handles sanitary permits and plan review and can be reached at 608-847-9391.15 County inspection is required for a private onsite wastewater treatment system installed, modified or reconnected under the ordinance, and the system must remain open for inspection under the stated procedure.18 Union Center also has village water and sewer service, but a mandatory connection rule could not be confirmed; ask the Village Clerk whether the parcel must connect before planning a private system.3

Juneau County's delegated plan-review authority covers at-grade and mound systems with design wastewater flows up to 1,000 gallons per day that use approved treatment and dispersal methods.19 Individual site designs and other systems outside those categories go to the state Department of Safety and Professional Services for plan review, and the state's delegation list says plans may be submitted to either the county or the state.20 After installation, Wisconsin requires every private septic system to be visually inspected at least once every 3 years.21

Can you live in an RV or tiny home in Union Center?

Long-term RV occupancy and temporary camping on private land in the Village of Union Center could not be confirmed, so do not treat a vacant parcel or an existing driveway as approval to live in an RV. Ask the Village Clerk for a written answer tied to the parcel and proposed duration before purchase or setup.3

For a tiny home intended as a dwelling, the construction route matters. A new stick-built, modular or manufactured installation used as a one- or two-family dwelling requires a UDC building permit.13 If the building has plumbing and is not connected to public sewer, Wisconsin requires suitable wastewater treatment, recycling, dispersal or holding rather than unrestricted off-grid disposal.22 Where the county wastewater ordinance applies, the county sanitary-permit requirement must also be resolved.5

Building a home in Union Center: what are the steps?

  1. Confirm the parcel rules. Give the Village Clerk the address, site plan and intended dwelling type; ask for the applicable zoning, setbacks, access rules and current building-permit fee.3
  2. Resolve sewer or septic first. If the home will use a private sewage system and the county ordinance applies, have a licensed plumber submit the sanitary-permit application before the local building permit is issued.517
  3. Prepare the UDC package. Submit the building-permit application, contractor credentials, legible plans and required supporting calculations to the delegated local authority.12
  4. Arrange inspections. Notify the inspector shown on the UDC permit as each required construction stage becomes ready.9
  5. Close out safely. Occupy the dwelling only after a final inspection finds no major health or safety violation.23

What should you check before buying land in Union Center?

Start with service availability: the village provides water and sewer utilities, but the exact connection obligation for a particular parcel should be confirmed with the Village Clerk.3 If a private well is proposed, Wisconsin generally requires a DNR Well Construction Notification Number before construction and a well construction report afterward.7

Ask Juneau County Sanitation & Zoning to check floodplain constraints and whether county sanitary-permit jurisdiction applies.15 Countywide soil data show only about 0.5% of Juneau County soils avoid a “very limited” rating for a conventional septic drain field, so a soil and site evaluation deserves an early place in due diligence.24 If access will connect to a state highway, WisDOT requires a connection permit.25 Finally, confirm the village's zoning district, setbacks, RV or tiny-home use, and any land-division approval in writing before closing.3

Watch-outs

  • Union Center's ordinary zoning districts, dimensional standards and zoning map could not be confirmed online; ask the Village Clerk for the rules tied to the parcel.3
  • A sanitary permit must come before a local building permit when the building will use a private sewage system.17
  • Floodplain development can require a separate land-use review even when a UDC building permit is required.14
  • Juneau County soils overwhelmingly rate very limited for conventional septic drain fields, so investigate wastewater feasibility before fixing the house location.24

Sources

  1. UDC (Uniform Dwelling Code / One- and Two-Family Dwellings) (Village of Union Center), quoted and re-checked
  2. Chapter 15 Private Sewage System Ordinance (Village of Union Center), quoted and re-checked
  3. Village of Union Center Clerk (dsps.wi.gov)
  4. UDC (Uniform Dwelling Code / One- and Two-Family Dwellings) (Village of Union Center), quoted and re-checked
  5. Chapter 15 Private Sewage System Ordinance (Village of Union Center), quoted and re-checked
  6. Instructions for Submitting a UDC Permit Application (Village of Union Center), quoted and re-checked
  7. Well and heat exchange notification (Wisconsin statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  8. UDC (Uniform Dwelling Code / One- and Two- Family Dwellings) (Village of Union Center), quoted and re-checked
  9. UDC (Uniform Dwelling Code / One- and Two- Family Dwellings) (Village of Union Center), quoted and re-checked
  10. Village of Union Center Jurisdiction Request for Plan Review of Small Commercial Buildings and Inspections of All Size Buildings (Village of Union Center), quoted and re-checked
  11. Village of Union Center Jurisdiction Request for Plan Review of Small Commercial Buildings and Inspections of All Size Buildings (Village of Union Center), quoted and re-checked
  12. UDC (Uniform Dwelling Code / One- and Two-Family Dwellings) (Village of Union Center), quoted and re-checked
  13. UDC (Uniform Dwelling Code / One- and Two- Family Dwellings) (Village of Union Center), quoted and re-checked
  14. Regulations and ordinances (Village of Union Center), quoted and re-checked
  15. Juneau County Sanitation & Zoning Department (co.juneau.wi.gov)
  16. Juneau County Floodplain Zoning Ordinance, quoted and re-checked
  17. Requirement for Plan Review Prior to Issuing Local Permits (Village of Union Center), quoted and re-checked
  18. Chapter 15 Private Sewage System Ordinance (Village of Union Center), quoted and re-checked
  19. Delegated Agents for Private On-Site Wastewater Treatment System (POWTS) Plan Review, quoted and re-checked
  20. Juneau County POWTS Plan Review Delegation Letter, quoted and re-checked
  21. Wisconsin Maintenance Program (Wisconsin statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  22. Wisconsin Administrative Code, SPS 382 (Wisconsin statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  23. Wisconsin’s Uniform Dwelling Code (Wisconsin statewide rule), 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. State highway connection permits (driveways & more) (Wisconsin statewide rule), 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 Village of Union Center

Village of Union Center’s own rules

  • Building permitRequired

    New one- and two-family dwelling units inside Union Center village.

    • The requirement includes stick-built, modular, and manufactured home installations.
    • Union Center village is listed by DSPS as delegated for UDC permitting and inspection.
    • Permit application materials include an application, contractor license information, 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.”
  • Building code adoptedPartial

    Commercial building-code enforcement and inspections inside Union Center village.

    • Delegation covers small building projects and their additions totaling not more than 50,000 cubic feet and alterations affecting not more than 100,000 cubic feet.
    • The delegation does not include fire sprinkler or fire alarm plan review.
    • The Department retains jurisdiction for state-owned buildings and projects for which the owner chooses to submit plans to the Department.
    • The municipality must apply the corresponding requirements in Wis. Admin. Code §§ SPS 361.60 (5)(d) through (h), and (6).
    “I am pleased to inform you that your municipality has been delegated commercial building code enforcement authority per your request.”
  • InspectionsRequired

    New one- and two-family dwellings inside Union Center village.

    • Required inspections are footings, foundation and foundation reinforcement, rough work, insulation, and final inspection.
    • The inspector identified on the UDC permit must be notified when work is ready.
    • Union Center village is listed as delegated for UDC permitting and inspection.
    “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)

    Private sewage and non-plumbing sanitation systems serving land inside Union Center village where the county ordinance applies.

    • The ordinance defines the County as the Juneau County Zoning Department.
    • The ordinance applies to structures in the County that are not serviced by public sewer.
    • State statutes and Wisconsin Administrative Code provisions are incorporated by reference.
    “County. The County Authority; the Juneau County Zoning Department.”
  • Septic permitRequired

    Private sewage systems or non-plumbing sanitation systems serving structures inside Union Center village where a public sewer does not serve the premises.

    • A separate complete application signed by a licensed plumber is required for every private sewage system.
    • A sanitary permit must be obtained before installing, establishing, or constructing a structure requiring a private sewage or non-plumbing sanitation system.
    • A sanitary permit is not required for addition of manhole risers or replacement of manhole covers, risers, baffles, filters, or pumps.
    • Starting construction before obtaining the permit doubles the permit fee and may result in citation or other enforcement.
    “Every private sewage system shall require a separate complete application signed by a licensed plumber and a sanitary permit.”
  • Septic inspectionRequired

    Private onsite wastewater treatment systems installed, modified, or reconnected inside Union Center village where the Juneau County POWTS ordinance applies.

    • Notice must be given to the Zoning Department the working day before inspection, excluding Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays.
    • The system must remain completely open until inspected and accepted, subject to the cited SPS exception.
    • The plumber must make the system accessible and provide necessary equipment and assistance.
    • Periodic inspection may occur after initial inspection when deemed necessary by the Zoning Department.
    “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.”
  • Permit processPublished (with conditions)

    UDC permit process for new one- and two-family dwellings inside Union Center village.

    • Required materials include a permit application, contractor license numbers and expiration dates, legible plans, REScheck, truss plans, water calculation, wall-bracing worksheet, and permit application fee.
    • Required inspections include footings, foundation, rough work, insulation, and final inspection.
    • Union Center village is listed as delegated for UDC permitting and inspection.
    “Regardless of which agency has authority, your application must include: 1. Permit application. This may be electronic or paper, depending on the agency. 2. Contractor license numbers and expiration dates. 3. Legible building plans with scale or dimensions.”

Rules another office applies inside Village of Union Center

Village of Union Center 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 UDC erosion-control or construction permit for a dwelling inside Union Center village.

    • The applicant must be or become an owner-occupant of the dwelling.
    • The applicant applies without a Dwelling Contractor Certification and must acknowledge the cautionary statement regarding contractor responsibility.
    “I vouch that I am or will be an owner-occupant of this dwelling for which I am applying for an erosion control or construction permit without a Dwelling Contractor Certification”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Available (with conditions) — An owner applying for a one- or two-family dwelling building permit for a dwelling the owner resides in or will reside in, including inside Union Center village.
      “who resides or will reside in the dwelling and who applies for a building permit to work on that dwelling.”
  • Building in a floodplainRequired

    Development on land inside Union Center village that lies within a mapped floodplain or other area regulated by a local floodplain ordinance.

    • The requirement applies when the property is within a mapped floodplain or other locally regulated floodplain area.
    • Floodplain ordinances regulate all development, including buildings, mining, dredging, filling, grading, paving, excavation, drilling, and storage of equipment or materials.
    • Local floodplain ordinances administer the development controls and must meet Wisconsin NR 116 and applicable NFIP minimum standards.
    “Floodplain ordinances regulate all development in the floodplain.”

Still unanswered

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

  • Certificate of occupancy — Whether a certificate of occupancy is required before occupying a building inside Union Center village.
  • Local zoning — Whether Union Center village adopts and administers its own zoning ordinance inside village limits.
  • Zoning districts — Zoning districts and zoning-map publication for Union Center village.
  • Minimum dwelling size — Minimum dwelling size for residences inside Union Center village.
  • Minimum lot size — Minimum lot size for residential development inside Union Center village.
16 more unanswered
  • Setbacks
  • Lot coverage
  • Building height
  • Living in an RV
  • Camping on your land
  • Tiny homes
  • Manufactured homes
  • Accessory dwellings
  • Off-grid sanitation
  • Well permit
  • Mandatory utility hookup
  • Agricultural exemption
  • Subdividing land
  • Driveway access
  • 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 Union Center publishes no rule on the point, not that none exists. Juneau County’s page lists the county offices to call.

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