Bolthole Index

Monroe County, Wisconsin

Building permits, zoning and septic in the Village of Cashton, Wisconsin

The Village of Cashton, Wisconsin requires a UDC building permit for new one- and two-family homes, including modular and manufactured-home installations.1 Cashton also requires village zoning approval for new structures and uses inside village limits.2 Start building applications with the village office; private septic systems remain under Monroe County sanitation administration.34

At a glance

Building permit
UDC building permit required for new one- and two-family dwellings1
Zoning
Village zoning applies inside corporate limits2
Septic
Monroe County administers private sewage systems where public sewage disposal is unavailable4
Minimum home size
R Residential District: 900 square feet for a one-family dwelling5
Minimum lot
R one-family: 8,500 square feet; A residential: 5 acres67
Accessory dwelling
Accessory structures in residential districts cannot be occupied as dwelling units8
Owner-builder
An owner who occupies or will occupy the home may obtain UDC construction and erosion-control permits9

Who to call

Building permits

Cashton Village Office

Starting point for village building applications and questions about zoning and utility service.

608-654-7828

723 Main Street, Cashton, WI 54619

Septic permits

Monroe County Sanitation Department

Sanitary permits and ongoing inspection of private sewage systems.

(608) 269-8939

777 S Black River Street Suite 2 Sparta, WI 54656

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 Cashton 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 Cashton, WI?

A new one- or two-family dwelling in the Village of Cashton needs a Wisconsin Uniform Dwelling Code building permit, including stick-built, modular and manufactured-home installations.1 Cashton zoning approval is a separate requirement for new structures, new uses and structural alterations within village limits.2

Begin with the Cashton Village Office, which lists building permits among its municipal services.3 For a new home, arrange footing, foundation and reinforcement, rough-work, insulation and final inspections with the inspector identified on the UDC building permit.10 Ask the village office for the current application, inspector assignment and fee schedule before committing to a construction start date.3

Does the Village of Cashton have zoning, lot sizes and setbacks?

Cashton zoning applies throughout the village corporate limits, and district standards differ.211 In the R Residential District, a one-family dwelling needs at least 900 square feet of floor area, an 8,500-square-foot lot and 75 feet of lot width measured at the rear of the front yard.56 R principal-building setbacks are 25 feet front and rear, with at least 8 feet per side and 20 feet total side yards.12

In the A Agriculture District, residential lots need at least 5 acres; single-family residences are conditional uses requiring soil suitability for private sewer and water systems.7 A principal building needs 50-foot front and rear setbacks and 20 feet on each side.13 Establish the parcel’s district before choosing a house footprint: Cashton’s residential and agricultural lot standards are not interchangeable.67

How do septic permits work inside the Village of Cashton?

For Cashton property without public sewage disposal, Monroe County administers private sewage systems and sanitary permits.4 The Monroe County Sanitation Department requires sanitary permits to install, repair, replace, modify or reconnect a system, and to install a privy.14 Ask the village office about sewer availability before planning a private system, then contact county sanitation about the sanitary application.314

Private sewage systems in Cashton remain subject to ongoing inspections: the county sends a certification form at 3-year intervals, signed by the owner and co-signed by a licensed plumber or septic tank pumper.15 Cashton’s mobile-home-park rule separately requires all non-dependent units to connect to public water and sanitary sewer; that park-specific requirement does not establish the answer for every village parcel.16

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

We could not confirm a general rule allowing long-term RV occupancy on private land in Cashton; ask the village office about the proposed address and duration before buying an RV for housing.3 Cashton zoning approval applies to new land uses inside village limits, so a private-land camping proposal needs a village zoning answer.2

We could not confirm a separate tiny-home occupancy rule, but Cashton’s R Residential District sets a 900-square-foot minimum for a one-family dwelling.5 Cashton also prohibits accessory uses or structures in residential districts from being occupied as dwelling units, which matters if the plan is a small second home behind an existing residence.8 A qualifying new dwelling still needs the UDC building permit; smaller size alone does not remove that requirement.1

What are the steps for building a home in the Village of Cashton?

  1. Confirm the parcel’s village zoning district and fit the proposed use, lot area and building footprint to that district’s standards before seeking zoning approval.267
  2. Ask the Cashton Village Office about building applications and utility service; if public sewage disposal is unavailable, arrange county sanitary permitting for the private system.314
  3. Obtain the UDC building permit for a new one- or two-family dwelling; an owner who occupies or will occupy the home may take out the construction and erosion-control permits under the statewide owner-builder allowance.19
  4. Notify the inspector on the UDC building permit at the required construction stages, through final inspection.10 Take occupancy after a final inspection finds no major health or safety violations, and ask the village whether a separate occupancy document is required.173

What should you check before buying land in the Village of Cashton?

Cashton lot creation must meet the applicable zoning district’s minimum area, dimensions and setbacks, and village lots must abut or face a public street.18 Verify a proposed split and house location with the village before treating a large parcel as several buildable lots.18 For a new connection to a state trunk highway, Wisconsin requires a WisDOT connection permit.19

If a private well is proposed, Wisconsin generally requires advance DNR notification before new non-high-capacity well construction; ask the village about additional local restrictions and utility requirements.203 We could not confirm Cashton’s current floodplain development procedure; ask the village office about the specific parcel.3 For land outside village limits, use the Monroe County guide for the county zoning answer rather than applying Cashton’s village ordinance.2

Watch-outs

  • Cashton’s A Agriculture District residential minimum is 5 acres, rather than the R District’s 8,500-square-foot one-family minimum.76
  • An accessory structure in a Cashton residential district cannot serve as a dwelling unit.8
  • We could not confirm a current Cashton building-permit fee schedule; request the fees and inspection arrangements from the village office.3

Sources

  1. UDC (Uniform Dwelling Code / One- and Two-Family Dwellings) (Village of Cashton), quoted and re-checked
  2. Sec. 13-1-10. - Jurisdiction and general provisions (Village of Cashton), quoted and re-checked
  3. Cashton Village Office (cashton.com)
  4. Monroe County Sanitation Department (Village of Cashton), quoted and re-checked
  5. Sec. 13-1-21. - R Residential District (Village of Cashton), quoted and re-checked
  6. Sec. 13-1-21. - R Residential District (Village of Cashton), quoted and re-checked
  7. Sec. 13-1-24. - A Agriculture District (Village of Cashton), quoted and re-checked
  8. Sec. 13-1-140. - Accessory uses or structures (Village of Cashton), quoted and re-checked
  9. Wisconsin’s Uniform Dwelling Code (Wisconsin statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  10. UDC (Uniform Dwelling Code / One- and Two-Family Dwellings) (Village of Cashton), quoted and re-checked
  11. Sec. 13-1-10. - Jurisdiction and general provisions (Village of Cashton), quoted and re-checked
  12. Sec. 13-1-21. - R Residential District (Village of Cashton), quoted and re-checked
  13. Sec. 13-1-24. - A Agriculture District (Village of Cashton), quoted and re-checked
  14. Monroe County Sanitation Department (co.monroe.wi.us)
  15. Monroe County Sanitation Department (Village of Cashton), quoted and re-checked
  16. Sec. 13-1-186. - Mobile home parks (Village of Cashton), quoted and re-checked
  17. Wisconsin’s Uniform Dwelling Code (Wisconsin statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  18. Sec. 14-1-10. - Same—Lots (Village of Cashton), quoted and re-checked
  19. Frequently asked questions – State highway connection permits (Wisconsin statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  20. Well and heat exchange notification (Wisconsin statewide rule), 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 Cashton

Village of Cashton’s own rules

  • Local zoningPresent

    All structures, lands, water and air within Cashton village's corporate limits.

    • New structures, uses, alterations and similar development require a zoning permit and compliance with the zoning chapter and other applicable local, county and state regulations.
    “The jurisdiction of this chapter shall apply to all structures, lands, water and air within the corporate limits of the village.”
  • Zoning districtsPublished

    Zoning districts inside Cashton village, including at least the R Residential, A Agriculture and CON Conservancy districts.

    • District-specific standards and uses vary by district.
    • The code states its jurisdiction applies within the village corporate limits.
    “The R District is intended to provide a quiet, pleasant and relatively spacious living area protected from traffic hazards and intrusion of incompatible land uses.”
  • Minimum dwelling sizeSpecified

    One-family dwellings in the R Residential District.

    • The cited table also provides different minimum floor areas for two-family and multifamily dwellings.

    minimum floor area per family: >= 900 square feet (one-family dwelling)

    “Minimum floor area per family 900 square feet”
  • Minimum lot sizeDistrict specific (with conditions)

    Residential uses in the A Agriculture District.

    • Single-family residences are conditional uses and require soil suitability for private sewer and water systems.

    minimum lot area per family: >= 5 acres (residential)

    “Minimum lot area per family (residential) 5 acres”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Specified — One-family dwellings in the R Residential District.
      “Minimum lot area per family 8,500 square feet Minimum lot width (measured at rear of front yard) 75 feet”
  • SetbacksDistrict specific (with conditions)

    Principal buildings in the A Agriculture District.

    • Accessory buildings require five feet on each side.
    • The district also contains a 50-foot front and rear yard setback.

    side yard setback: >= 20 feet (principal building, each side) · front yard setback: >= 50 feet (principal building) · rear yard setback: >= 50 feet (principal building)

    “Minimum side yard Principal buildings 20 feet on each side Accessory buildings 5 feet on each side Minimum front yard setback 50 feet Minimum rear yard setback 50 feet”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Specified — One-family principal buildings in the R Residential District.
      “Minimum side yard Principal buildings 8 feet minimum—total 20 feet Accessory buildings 3 feet on each side Minimum front yard setback 25 feet Minimum rear yard setback 25 feet”
  • Building heightDistrict specific (with conditions)

    Residential structures in the A Agriculture District.

    • The A District imposes no maximum on other structures.

    maximum building height: <= 35 feet (residential structures)

    “Maximum building height 35 feet residential structures No maximum on other structures”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Specified — One- and two-family residential structures in the R Residential District.
      “Maximum building height 35 feet Minimum side yard Principal buildings”
  • Accessory dwellingsProhibited

    Accessory uses or structures in Cashton village residential districts.

    • The prohibition is stated for accessory uses or structures in residential districts.
    • Home occupations remain an exception to the business-use restriction, but the text separately states that accessory uses or structures shall not be occupied as a dwelling unit.
    “Accessory uses or structures in residential districts shall not involve the conduct of any business, trade or industry except for home occupations as defined herein and shall not be occupied as a dwelling unit.”
  • Who permits septicCounty (with conditions)

    Private sewage systems, if any, serving property inside Cashton village that is not served by public sewage disposal.

    • Monroe County Sanitation Department administers sanitary permits and the ongoing inspection program under state law and county sanitation ordinance requirements.
    “At three-year intervals the County Sanitation Department will send you a certification form which must be signed by you and co-signed by a licensed plumber or a licensed septic tank pumper and then returned to the department.”
  • Septic inspectionRequired

    Private sewage systems inside Cashton village.

    • The county sends a certification form at three-year intervals.
    • The form must be signed by the owner and co-signed by a licensed plumber or licensed septic tank pumper.
    • The certification must state that the system is operating properly, used for its designed purpose and less than one-third full of sludge and scum.

    inspection interval: 3 years · maximum sludge and scum level: < 1 third full

    “To comply with State law and County Sanitation Ordinance requirements all private sewage systems shall be subject to an on-going inspection program.”
  • Mandatory utility hookupWater and sewer (with conditions)

    All non-dependent units in a Cashton village mobile home park.

    • The rule is specific to mobile home parks.
    • Surface-stormwater disposal plans must be approved by the village board.
    “All non-dependent units must be connected to public water and sanitary sewer systems, and plans for disposal of surface stormwater shall be approved by the village board.”
  • Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

    Subdivision and lot creation inside Cashton village.

    • Lots must meet the minimum lot size for the applicable Title 13 zoning district.
    • Lot dimensions and setbacks must conform to Title 13.
    • Every lot must abut or face a public street, subject to the stated exception for lots outside corporate limits.
    “Size, shape and orientation of lots shall be appropriate for the location of topography of the subdivision and for the type of development contemplated, provided that no lot shall be smaller in area than the minimum lot size for the appropriate zone as established by title 13 , zoning code.”

Rules another office applies inside Village of Cashton

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

  • Building permitRequired

    New one- and two-family dwelling units inside Cashton village.

    • Applies to stick-built, modular and manufactured-home installations.
    • Permit issuer depends on whether the municipality has delegated authority; otherwise the application goes to DSPS.
    “A permit under the UDC is required for new one- and two-family dwelling units. This includes stick-built, modular, and manufactured home installations.”
  • InspectionsRequired

    New one- and two-family dwellings inside Cashton village.

    • Required inspections are footings, foundation and foundation reinforcement, rough, insulation and final.
    • The inspector identified on the UDC permit must be notified when the project is ready.
    “The following inspections are required on new one- and two-family dwellings. When ready for inspection, notify the inspector identified on your UDC permit.”

Still unanswered

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

  • Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builders constructing one- or two-family dwellings inside Cashton village.
  • Certificate of occupancy — New or altered buildings inside Cashton village.
  • Lot coverage — Lot coverage inside Cashton village.
  • Living in an RV — Long-term occupancy of recreational vehicles on private land inside Cashton village.
  • Tiny homes — Tiny-home occupancy inside Cashton village.
6 more unanswered
  • Off-grid sanitation
  • Well permit
  • Agricultural exemption
  • Building in a floodplain
  • 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 Cashton publishes no rule on the point, not that none exists. Monroe County’s page lists the county offices to call.

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