Bolthole Index

Kenosha County, Wisconsin

Building permits, zoning and septic in Town of Randall, Wisconsin

The Town of Randall, Wisconsin requires a town building permit before covered construction, alterations or moving a building.1 In Kenosha County, Randall uses county-administered zoning, while sanitary permits for private septic systems also go through Kenosha County Planning & Development.23 Randall requires at least 960 square feet of ground-floor area for a single-family dwelling, excluding porches.4

At a glance

Building permits
Required through the Town of Randall1
Zoning
Kenosha County administers zoning in Randall2
Septic permits
County sanitary permit; licensed master plumber applies3
Minimum dwelling size
Single-family ground floor: at least 960 square feet, excluding porches4
Owner-builder
Occupying owners may obtain UDC construction and erosion-control permits; permits remain required5
Occupancy
Town certificate of occupancy required before occupying a building6

Who to call

Building permits

Town of Randall Building Department

Town building-permit applications and inspections

(262) 698-0862

[email protected]

34530 Bassett Road Burlington, WI 53105

Online permits →

Zoning

Kenosha County Division of Planning & Development

County zoning permits (Brighton, Paris, Randall, Somers, Wheatland), shoreland/floodplain zoning, variances and rezoning for Kenosha County

262-857-1895

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

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

Planning & zoning

Kenosha County Division of Planning & Development — New Residential Construction Permitting

The zoning-permit step (and its review timeline) that a county-zoned town requires before a local building permit can be issued

Roads & driveways

Town of Randall — Driveway Permit Forms

Town driveway-permit form; ask the town about local-road access requirements

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 Town of Randall means bringing your own water and power. The kit we’d start with:

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Do you need a building permit in Town of Randall, WI?

The Town of Randall requires a building permit before covered buildings are built, enlarged, altered, repaired or moved into or within the town.1 Randall’s rule includes residential, commercial and industrial buildings, plus farm-purpose buildings on parcels of five acres or more.1 Do not assume a farm project avoids the town inspector.1

Randall allows a narrow exemption for repairs or minor alterations costing no more than $1,000 when the listed occupancy, area, structural, fire-protection, lighting and ventilation conditions remain unchanged; electrical, heating, plumbing and sewage-disposal work still requires a permit.1 Ask the Town Building Department to classify the proposed work before relying on that exemption.7

Who issues building permits in Town of Randall?

The Town of Randall Building Inspector issues a building permit after determining compliance with town ordinances, state rules and any required Kenosha County zoning permit.8 Contact the Town Building Department at (262) 698-0862 or [email protected] for building applications and inspections.7 Randall’s Building Department page links the building-permit application, building-permit fees and DSPS online building-permit system.7

The town building permit is separate from county zoning approval and the county sanitary permit for a private wastewater system.83 An owner who occupies or will occupy the home may obtain Wisconsin UDC construction and erosion-control permits under the owner-occupancy allowance; that allowance does not remove the permit requirement.5

Does Town of Randall have zoning, and can you build a tiny home?

Kenosha County Planning & Development administers zoning maps and ordinances for the Town of Randall.2 Identify the parcel’s district through the county zoning map or county land-use specialist before deciding what to build.9 County zoning approval must precede the local town building permit.10

Randall’s town building code requires a single-family dwelling to have at least 960 square feet of ground-floor area, exclusive of porches; the rule is not simply a county zoning-district standard.4 We could not confirm a separate tiny-home or private-land RV occupancy rule for Randall; ask the Town Building Inspector and county zoning office about the proposed dwelling or temporary living arrangement.72 Ask county zoning staff for the parcel’s lot-size, setback and permitted-use requirements.9

How do septic permits work in Town of Randall?

Private septic systems inside the Town of Randall use Kenosha County’s sanitary-permit process.3 Only a Wisconsin Licensed Master Plumber or Master Plumber Restricted Service may apply for the sanitary permit on the owner’s behalf.3 Kenosha County Planning & Development regulates private-system siting, design, installation, permitting and maintenance tracking; contact the POWTS program at 262-857-1895.11

A new Wisconsin dwelling using a private onsite wastewater system cannot receive its building permit until the sanitary permit has been issued.12 Kenosha County’s soil data rates only 4.6% of soils “not limited” for a conventional drain field: plan for a site evaluation, and potentially an engineered system, rather than treating septic as impossible.13 County maintenance requirements include inspection and service events, with a three-year minimum maintenance interval for permitted systems except holding tanks and systems with pretreatment units.14

What are the steps to build a home in Town of Randall?

Start with county zoning and wastewater feasibility, then assemble the town building application; Randall’s town building permit depends on compliance with applicable county zoning approval.8

  1. Identify the Randall parcel’s county zoning district and discuss the proposed use with Kenosha County Planning & Development.9
  2. For a home using private wastewater treatment, have the licensed master plumber obtain the county sanitary permit before building-permit issuance.312
  3. Obtain county zoning approval before the town building permit, and submit Randall’s written application with plans or workable drawings and a lot plan.108
  4. Arrange town inspections as construction proceeds, and obtain the town certificate of occupancy before occupying the building.156

Randall’s permit lapses if work has not begun within six months and becomes invalid after two years if construction is incomplete.8

What should you check before buying land in Town of Randall?

Ask Kenosha County zoning staff to review the Randall parcel’s mapped district and whether shoreland or floodplain restrictions affect the proposed building location.916 We could not confirm Randall’s parcel-specific floodplain-development approval or public-water and sewer connection requirements; take those questions to county zoning staff and the Town Building Inspector before committing to a design.27

Wisconsin requires a Well Construction Notification Number before constructing a new private well that is not high-capacity, subject to the stated exceptions; some approved county ordinances also require a well permit.17 We could not confirm an additional local well-permit requirement for Randall.17 A new connection to a Wisconsin state trunk highway needs WisDOT approval, while Randall’s town website provides a Driveway Permit form for questions about local access.1819 For land outside Randall, use the Kenosha County guide to check the relevant county and local offices.2

Watch-outs

  • A small dwelling still faces Randall’s 960-square-foot single-family ground-floor minimum, excluding porches; we could not confirm a separate tiny-home occupancy rule.4
  • Do not occupy a Randall building before the town certificate of occupancy is issued.6
  • We could not confirm private-land RV living or temporary camping permission in Randall; ask the Town Building Inspector and Kenosha County zoning office before buying for that use.72

Sources

  1. Chapter 14 Building Code (Town of Randall), quoted and re-checked
  2. Kenosha County Division of Planning & Development (kenoshacountywi.gov)
  3. Sanitary Forms List (Town of Randall), quoted and re-checked
  4. Chapter 14 Building Code (Town of Randall), quoted and re-checked
  5. Wisconsin’s Uniform Dwelling Code (Wisconsin statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  6. Chapter 14 Building Code (Town of Randall), quoted and re-checked
  7. Town of Randall Building Department (townofrandall.gov)
  8. Chapter 14 Building Code (Town of Randall), quoted and re-checked
  9. Zoning Districts (unincorporated areas) (Town of Randall), quoted and re-checked
  10. Kenosha County Division of Planning & Development — New Residential Construction Permitting (kenoshacountywi.gov)
  11. Kenosha County Division of Planning & Development — POWTS Program (kenoshacountywi.gov)
  12. Wisconsin’s Uniform Dwelling Code (Wisconsin statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  13. 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
  14. Septic & Pump Tank Maintenance, quoted and re-checked
  15. Chapter 14 Building Code (Town of Randall), quoted and re-checked
  16. Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Model Floodplain Zoning Ordinance (Wisconsin statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  17. Well and heat exchange notification (Wisconsin statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  18. Frequently asked questions – State highway connection permits (Wisconsin statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  19. Town of Randall — Driveway Permit Forms (townofrandall.gov)

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 Town of Randall

Town of Randall’s own rules

  • Building permitRequired

    Buildings, structures, and portions thereof inside Randall town, including residential, commercial, industrial, and farm-purpose buildings on parcels of five acres or more.

    • Permit must be obtained before building, enlarging, altering, repairing, or moving the structure.
    • Application requires written forms, two copies of plans or workable drawings, and a lot plan.
    • A Kenosha County zoning permit is also required when applicable.
    • Repairs or minor alterations not exceeding $1,000 may be exempt if they do not change occupancy, area, structural strength, fire-protection exits, lighting, or ventilation; electrical, heating, plumbing, and sewage-disposal work still requires a permit.

    minor repair or alteration exemption threshold: <= 1000 USD (Only if the listed occupancy, area, structural, fire, lighting, ventilation, electrical, heating, plumbing, and sewage conditions are satisfied.)

    “No building, structure or any part thereof being used or to be used for residential, commercial or industrial purposes or being used for farm purposes (parcels of five (5) acres or more) shall hereafter be built, enlarged, altered, repaired or moved into or within the Town, unless a permit shall be first obtained by the owner or his or her agent from the Building Inspector, Town Clerk or whoever else is designated in the manner provided in this chapter.”
  • InspectionsRequired

    Buildings subject to Randall town's building code.

    • The Town Building Inspector shall inspect all buildings at times necessary to assure compliance.
    • One- and two-family dwelling plan review and on-site inspections are performed by certified inspectors.
    • A $25 re-inspection fee and $25 failure-to-call-for-inspection fee are listed in the ordinance.

    re-inspection fee: 25 USD · failure to call for inspection fee: 25 USD

    “The Building Inspector shall inspect all buildings. at such times as will assure compliance with this chapter and effect the enforcement of the terms hereof.”
  • Certificate of occupancyRequired

    Buildings subject to Randall town's building code before occupancy.

    • The Building Inspector issues the certificate if no violation is found.
    • No building or part thereof may be occupied until the certificate has been issued.
    • Occupancy may not conflict with the certificate's conditions.
    “No building or part thereof shall be occupied until the certificate has been issued, nor shall any building be occupied in any manner which conflicts with the conditions set forth in the certificate of occupancy.”
  • Minimum dwelling sizeSpecified

    Single-family dwellings inside Randall town.

    • The rule is a townwide structural specification in the opened ordinance, not a district-specific zoning limit.
    • Porches are excluded from the ground-floor-area calculation.
    • Multiple-family units, where allowed by law, have a separate minimum.

    single-family dwelling ground floor area: >= 960 square feet (Exclusive of porches) · multiple-family dwelling unit ground floor area: >= 800 square feet per dwelling unit (Where allowed by law)

    “No building erected in the Town of Randall and used as a single family dwelling unit shall have a ground floor area of less than nine hundred and sixty (960) square feet, exclusive of porches.”
  • Permit processPublished (with conditions)

    Building-permit process inside Randall town.

    • Application is made in writing on Town-provided forms.
    • Two copies of plans or workable drawings and a lot plan are required.
    • The Building Inspector issues the permit after determining compliance with the Town chapter, other Town ordinances, state rules, and any required Kenosha County zoning permit.
    • The permit lapses if work does not begin within six months and becomes invalid after two years if construction is not complete.

    commencement deadline: <= 6 months from issuance (Permit lapses if building operations have not commenced) · completion deadline: <= 2 years from issuance (Permit becomes invalid if building is not completed)

    “Application for a building permit shall be made in writing upon forms furnished for such purpose. Such application shall be accompanied by two (2) copies of plans or workable drawings and a lot plan showing location of buildings and other pertinent information.”

Rules another office applies inside Town of Randall

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

  • Zoning districtsPublished (with conditions)

    Unincorporated land inside Randall town under Kenosha County zoning jurisdiction.

    • The county page identifies the districts as applying to unincorporated areas; the specific district for a parcel must be determined from the county zoning map or by contacting the county land-use specialist.
    • The county page lists thirty-three basic zoning districts and six overlay districts.

    basic zoning districts: 33 districts · overlay districts: 6 districts

    “For the purpose of this ordinance, Kenosha County is divided into thirty-three basic zoning districts and six overlay districts:”
  • Who permits septicCounty

    Private onsite wastewater permitting inside Randall town through Kenosha County Planning and Development.

    • Only a Wisconsin Licensed Master Plumber or Master Plumber Restricted Service may apply for a sanitary permit on behalf of the property owner.
    • The county page references both state and local regulations.
    “Your chosen Master Plumber may apply for your permit through the Planning and Development Online Permitting at the Kenosha County Online Permit and Information Portal.”

Still unanswered

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

  • Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder work inside Randall town.
  • Local zoning — Land inside Randall town.
  • Minimum lot size — Minimum lot size inside Randall town, including county zoning districts.
  • Setbacks — Setbacks inside Randall town.
  • Lot coverage — Lot coverage inside Randall town.
15 more unanswered
  • Building height
  • Living in an RV
  • Camping on your land
  • Tiny homes
  • Manufactured homes
  • Accessory dwellings
  • Septic inspection
  • Off-grid sanitation
  • Well permit
  • Mandatory utility hookup
  • Agricultural exemption
  • Subdividing land
  • Driveway access
  • 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 Town of Randall publishes no rule on the point, not that none exists. Kenosha County’s page lists the county offices to call.

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