Bolthole Index

Kenosha County, Wisconsin

Village of Paddock Lake, Wisconsin: building permits, zoning and septic

The Village of Paddock Lake, Wisconsin requires zoning approval and building permits when required by the Village Building Code, issued by the village Building Inspector before work begins.1 Paddock Lake sets its own zoning inside village limits in Kenosha County.2 Private sewage disposal requires village certification that public sewer is unavailable before the Kenosha County Sanitarian can issue a sanitary permit.3

At a glance

Building permits
Village Building Inspector issues required building and zoning permits before work begins.1
Zoning
Village zoning applies inside Paddock Lake.2
Septic permits
Village certifies public sewer is unavailable; Kenosha County Sanitarian issues the private-disposal permit.3
Residential lot size
R-1 minimum lot area is 8,000 square feet.4
Minimum home size
R-1 requires 1,250 square feet, or 1,300 without a basement.5
Owner-builder
State UDC permits may be obtained by an owner who occupies or will occupy the home; required permits still apply.61

Who to call

Building permits

Village of Paddock Lake Building, Planning and Zoning Department

Village building permits, design review and zoning compliance.

(262) 843-3617

[email protected]

6969 236th Ave. Paddock Lake, WI 53168

Septic permits

Kenosha County Division of Planning & Development — POWTS Program

Private onsite wastewater treatment system (POWTS/septic) siting, design, permitting and maintenance tracking for Kenosha County

262-857-1895

19600 75th Street Suite 185-3 Bristol , WI 53104

Contact details are copied from each office’s official page and were checked against it on October 11, 2026.

Off-grid gear

Going off-grid in Village of Paddock Lake 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 Paddock Lake, WI?

Paddock Lake requires written applications and issuance of zoning permits and building permits, when required under the Village Building Code, before covered construction, enlargement, alteration, repair, demolition, placement or moving of buildings and structures.1 The village adopts Wisconsin building codes for municipal enforcement by its Building Inspector.7

An owner who occupies or will occupy the home can obtain Wisconsin UDC construction and erosion-control permits under the state owner-builder provision; that allowance does not remove Paddock Lake’s required approvals.61

Who issues building permits in the Village of Paddock Lake?

The Paddock Lake Building, Planning and Zoning Department administers and issues building permits, reviews designs and handles compliance with village zoning codes.8 Contact the village Building Inspector using the office details below for a project-specific application and review.8

The village’s Building Inspector page provides a Building Permit Form and checklists for residential additions and remodels, fences, detached garages, sheds and accessory structures.8 Building approval and sewage-disposal approval come from different authorities: a private sewage system needs village sewer-availability certification and a Kenosha County sanitary permit.3

Does the Village of Paddock Lake have zoning, lot-size and height rules?

Paddock Lake administers its own zoning districts; the parcel’s district matters because residential and agricultural dimensions differ.29 In the village’s R-1 Single-family Residential District, lots must have at least 8,000 square feet of area and 70 feet of width at the front setback line.4 R-1 principal buildings need at least 1,250 square feet of floor area, increasing to 1,300 without a basement.5 R-1 principal buildings cannot exceed 35 feet in height, and accessory buildings cannot exceed 15 feet.10

In Paddock Lake’s A-1 Agricultural District, parcels must have at least 10 acres and 200 feet of width, while the principal-building minimum floor area is 750 square feet.1112 Ask the village zoning office to confirm the parcel’s district and applicable setbacks before choosing a house footprint.8

How do septic permits work inside the Village of Paddock Lake?

Private sewage disposal in Paddock Lake is conditional on public sewer being unavailable: the village Approving Authority must certify that condition before the Kenosha County Sanitarian may issue a permit for a septic tank, holding tank, mound or alternate treatment system.3 The village also requires an inspection of the premises before issuing or approving the applicable application.13

Kenosha County’s Planning & Development POWTS Program regulates private sewage-system siting, design, installation, permitting and maintenance tracking throughout the county.14 Wisconsin requires private wastewater systems to be visually inspected at least once every 3 years.15 An off-grid building with plumbing fixtures still needs suitable wastewater treatment, recycling, dispersal or holding; off-grid status does not eliminate sanitation requirements.16

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

We could not confirm private-land RV occupancy, temporary-camping duration, tiny-home occupancy or an accessory-dwelling rule for Paddock Lake; ask the village Building, Planning and Zoning Department about the proposed use before buying for that purpose.8 A small dwelling proposal must also address the parcel’s district: Paddock Lake’s R-1 minimum principal-building floor area is 1,250 square feet, or 1,300 without a basement, while A-1 has a 750-square-foot minimum.512 Those floor-area standards alone do not establish permission for a tiny home or an occupied accessory building.512

Building a home in the Village of Paddock Lake: what are the steps?

  1. Ask the village Building, Planning and Zoning Department to review the proposed design and its zoning compliance.8
  2. Resolve sewage disposal with the village; a private system requires certification that public sewer is unavailable before the county sanitary permit.3
  3. Submit the required building and zoning applications before starting covered work; Wisconsin UDC applications require completed forms, fees, plans and prerequisite approvals, including at least 2 sets of plans for covered dwellings.117
  4. Arrange construction inspections under Wisconsin’s UDC and take occupancy after a final inspection finds no major health or safety violations.1819

What should you check before buying in the Village of Paddock Lake?

Start with the village zoning district and sewer availability: Paddock Lake sets local land-use rules, and private sewage disposal is conditional on village certification that public sewer cannot serve the property.23 If the purchase depends on subdividing the land, Paddock Lake requires a preliminary plat for subdivisions and large-lot subdivisions and village approval before land-division improvements begin.20

For a proposed new ordinary private well, Wisconsin requires advance DNR notification before construction; that state requirement does not confirm that a private well is available or approved for a particular village lot.21 A new or altered connection to a state highway needs WisDOT approval.22 For land outside village limits, use the Kenosha County guide: county-administered zoning covers specified unincorporated towns rather than Paddock Lake’s municipal zoning.232

Watch-outs

  • Paddock Lake’s R-1 residential standards and A-1 agricultural standards differ; an agricultural parcel is not a substitute for checking the intended dwelling’s district requirements.411512
  • We could not confirm an agricultural building-permit exemption in Paddock Lake; ask the village Building Inspector before proceeding without a building permit.8
  • A private sewage system in Paddock Lake requires village certification of sewer unavailability before county sanitary approval.3

Sources

  1. Chapter 12: Zoning and Building Regulations (Village of Paddock Lake), quoted and re-checked
  2. Chapter 12: Zoning and Building Regulations (Village of Paddock Lake), quoted and re-checked
  3. paddocklake.net (Village of Paddock Lake), quoted and re-checked
  4. paddocklake.net (Village of Paddock Lake), quoted and re-checked
  5. Chapter 12: Zoning and Building Regulations (Village of Paddock Lake), quoted and re-checked
  6. Wisconsin’s Uniform Dwelling Code (Wisconsin statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  7. Chapter 12: Zoning and Building Regulations (Village of Paddock Lake), quoted and re-checked
  8. Village of Paddock Lake Building, Planning and Zoning Department (paddocklake.net)
  9. Chapter 12: Zoning and Building Regulations (Village of Paddock Lake), quoted and re-checked
  10. Chapter 12: Zoning and Building Regulations (Village of Paddock Lake), quoted and re-checked
  11. paddocklake.net (Village of Paddock Lake), quoted and re-checked
  12. Chapter 12: Zoning and Building Regulations (Village of Paddock Lake), quoted and re-checked
  13. paddocklake.net (Village of Paddock Lake), quoted and re-checked
  14. Kenosha County Division of Planning & Development — POWTS Program (kenoshacountywi.gov)
  15. Wisconsin Maintenance Program (Wisconsin statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  16. Wisconsin Administrative Code, SPS 382 (Wisconsin statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  17. Wisconsin Administrative Code SPS 320.09 (Wisconsin statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  18. Wisconsin’s Uniform Dwelling Code (Wisconsin statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  19. Wisconsin’s Uniform Dwelling Code (Wisconsin statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  20. Chapter 38: Land Division (Village of Paddock Lake), quoted and re-checked
  21. Well and heat exchange notification (Wisconsin statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  22. Frequently asked questions – State highway connection permits (Wisconsin statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  23. Residential Permits, quoted and re-checked

Written October 11, 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 Paddock Lake

Village of Paddock Lake’s own rules

  • Building permitRequired

    Buildings, structures, development, and qualifying alterations inside the village zoning jurisdiction.

    • A zoning permit and a building permit when required under the Village Building Code must be applied for in writing and issued before work begins.
    • The Building Inspector may inspect the premises during reasonable daylight hours.
    “No buildings, structures, or any parts thereof, or any development except as hereinafter provided in this ordinance, shall be built, enlarged, altered, repaired, demolished, placed or moved within the areas subject to the provisions of this ordinance until a zoning permit and building permit, when required under the Village of Paddock Lake Building Code, have been applied for in writing and issued by the Building Inspector.”
  • Building code adoptedAdopted

    Municipal enforcement inside Paddock Lake village.

    • The adopted codes are enforced by the municipal building inspector.
    • The building inspector must be commercially certified by the Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services.
    “The following Wisconsin Administrative Codes and subsequent revisions are adopted for municipal enforcement by the building inspector, who shall be commercially certified by the Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services. Chs. SPS 361-366 Wisconsin Building and Heating, Ventilating and Air Conditioning Code Chs. SPS 375-379 Existing Building Code Ch. SPS 316 Electrical Inspection Agency”
  • Certificate of occupancyRequired

    A new business or industry commencing operation in an existing structure inside Paddock Lake village.

    • The certificate must be issued by the Building Inspector.
    • It must certify that the proposed use or operation complies with the ordinance.
    “No new business or industry established in an existing structure shall be permitted to commence its operation until such time as a certificate of occupancy has been issued by the Building Inspector certifying that the proposed use or operation is in compliance with the terms of this ordinance.”
  • Local zoningPresent

    Land inside Paddock Lake village; the village administers its own zoning and building regulations.

    “For the purpose of this Ordinance, the Village of Paddock Lake is hereby divided into the following zoning districts: (a) R-1 Single-family Residential (b) R-2 Single-family Residential (c) R-3 Single-family Residential”
  • Zoning districtsPublished

    Zoning districts and boundaries inside Paddock Lake village.

    • The zoning map is dated February 1, 1990 and may be amended from time to time.
    • The code lists R-1, R-2, R-3, Rd-1, Rm-1, B-1, B-2, M-1, M-2, I-1, P, A-1, C, S-O, W, Wet, PUD, and A-2 districts or overlays.
    “Boundaries of zoning districts are hereby established as shown on a map entitled "Zoning Map, Village of Paddock Lake, Wisconsin", dated February 1, 1990, as amended from time to time, which accompanies and is part of this ordinance.”
  • Who permits septicMixed (with conditions)

    Private sewage disposal inside Paddock Lake village when public sewer is unavailable.

    • The village Approving Authority must certify that public sewer is unavailable.
    • The Kenosha County Sanitarian issues the private-disposal permit.
    • Village rules, Wisconsin rules, and the Kenosha County sanitary code also apply.
    “Permit for any septic tank, holding tank, mound system or alternate treatment system intended or used as a means of private sewage disposal may be issued by the Sanitarian for the County of Kenosha only after certification by the Approving Authority that public sewers are not available to serve the property where it is proposed to install such a private sewage disposal system as described in subsection (b)(1) of this section.”
  • Septic inspectionRequired

    Private sewage-disposal applications and sewer connections inside Paddock Lake village.

    • The utility or designated representative inspects drainage, drain laying, and sewer connections.
    • The Approving Authority inspects the premises before issuing or approving the permit.
    “Before the Utility shall issue such permit or approve the application so filed with them, a fee in accordance with the Code of Ordinances of the Village of Paddock Lake shall be collected from the applicant to cover inspection costs, and the Approving Authority shall inspect the premises covered by the application.”
  • Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

    Subdivisions and land divisions inside Paddock Lake village.

    • A preliminary plat is required for all subdivisions and large-lot subdivisions.
    • Land-division improvements require village approval before construction begins.
    “A preliminary plat shall be required for all subdivisions and large lot subdivisions. The preliminary plat shall be based upon a survey by a registered land surveyor and shall be prepared on tracing cloth, reproducible drafting film, or paper of good quality at a map scale of not more than 100 feet to the inch.”

Rules another office applies inside Village of Paddock Lake

Village of Paddock Lake does not set these itself; the county, a health district or the state does, and they apply to every address inside its limits.

  • Minimum dwelling sizeSpecified

    R-1 Single-family Residential District inside Paddock Lake village.

    • If the principal building has no basement, the minimum increases to 1,300 square feet.

    minimum principal-building floor area: 1250 square feet (1,300 square feet if the principal building does not have a basement)

    “The minimum floor area of a principal building shall be 1,250 square feet. If the principal building does not have a basement, the minimum floor area required shall be increased to 1,300 square feet.”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
  • Minimum lot sizeSpecified

    A-1 Agricultural District inside Paddock Lake village.

    minimum parcel area: 10 acres

    “No parcels in the Agricultural District shall be less than ten (10) acres in size. No parcel shall be less than 200 feet in width.”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Specified — R-1 Single-family Residential District inside Paddock Lake village.
      “Lots shall have a minimum area of 8,000 square feet and shall not be less than 70 feet in width at front setback lines.”
  • Building heightSpecified

    R-1 Single-family Residential District inside Paddock Lake village.

    • Accessory-building height is limited separately.

    principal-building height: <= 35 feet · accessory-building height: <= 15 feet

    “No principal building or parts of a principal building shall exceed 35 feet in height. No accessory building shall exceed 15 feet in height.”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic

Still unanswered

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

  • Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder exemption for construction inside Paddock Lake village.
  • Lot coverage — R-1 Single-family Residential District inside Paddock Lake village.
  • Camping on your land — Temporary camping on private land inside Paddock Lake village.
  • Tiny homes — Tiny-home occupancy inside Paddock Lake village.
  • Accessory dwellings — Accessory-dwelling occupancy inside Paddock Lake village.
2 more unanswered
  • Agricultural exemption
  • 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 Village of Paddock Lake publishes no rule on the point, not that none exists. Kenosha County’s page lists the county offices to call.

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