Bolthole Index

Price County, Wisconsin

Building permits, zoning and land rules in Price County, Wisconsin

75Index Score / 100
#16 of 72 in Wisconsin

Price County, Wisconsin requires a building permit for a new one- or two-family home under the statewide Uniform Dwelling Code.1 A sanitary permit must come before the new-dwelling permit, and the Price County Zoning Department handles sanitary applications.23 County zoning covers most unincorporated land, but five towns have an exception outside shoreland areas.4

At a glance

Building permit
Required for a new one- or two-family dwelling1
Zoning
County zoning applies broadly, with five non-shoreland town exceptions4
Septic
County sanitary permit required before a new-dwelling permit23
RV living
Limited on parcels subject to county zoning5
Tiny home
No express tiny-home occupancy rule confirmed; ask the Zoning Department6
Owner-builder
An owner who occupies or will occupy the home may take out the UDC permit7
Private well
Advance state notification is generally required before construction8

Who to call

Zoning

Price County Zoning & Land Conservation

County zoning, land-use questions, sanitary permits and local permit coordination

715-339-3272

[email protected]

Price County Normal / Annex Building 104 S Eyder Ave Room 205 Phillips, WI 54555

Online permits →

Roads & driveways

Price County Highway Department

Driveway access to county highways

715-339-3081

Price County Highway Building 704 N Lake Ave Phillips, WI 54555

Online permits →

Contact details are copied from each office’s official page and were checked against it on September 27, 2026.

Do you need a building permit in Price County, Wisconsin?

Yes. A new one- or two-family dwelling in Price County requires a UDC building permit, and construction starts only after the plans are approved and the permit is issued and posted.19 Wisconsin's Uniform Dwelling Code applies statewide to covered one- and two-family homes, while permit requirements for additions and alterations can vary by municipality.109

A Price County project may also need land-use, sanitary, driveway, shoreland or floodplain approval; the Zoning Office directs applicants to check which permits their project requires.6 Agricultural buildings have a county land-use-permit exemption only in the circumstances described by the county, and exempt structures still must meet dimensional and setback requirements.11 That exemption is not a blanket exemption from every state, town, sanitary or access approval.

Who issues building permits in Price County, and how do you reach them?

Start with Price County Zoning & Land Conservation at the Normal / Annex Building in Phillips; the office handles county zoning and sanitary permits and tells applicants which local approvals a project needs.6 Wisconsin UDC applications go to the responsible municipality or its authorized inspection agency, and a certified UDC inspector reviews the submission.12

For a house, ask the Zoning Office to identify the UDC inspector for the parcel and to confirm land-use, shoreland and floodplain requirements before finalizing plans.6 Permit fees vary by enforcing municipality or inspection contract, while the statewide rules include a permit-seal charge for each new dwelling.13 During construction, inspections are required before covered phases are concealed, following the local inspector's instructions.14

Does Price County have zoning?

Yes, but the parcel location matters. County zoning governs unincorporated Price County except non-shoreland land in the Towns of Kennan, Catawba, Georgetown, Ogema and Hill; buyers in those exceptions should contact the town chairman about local zoning.4 Shoreland zoning separately reaches land within 1,000 feet of a lake or flowage and within 300 feet of a river, creek or stream.4

Price County publishes several zoning districts with district-specific setbacks, so a buyer should confirm the parcel's district before relying on a general setback assumption.15 Lots subject to county rules have different minimums depending on whether they abut water, lie in a sanitary district or fall into the general category, and newly created lots also need qualifying road frontage or an easement.16 We could not confirm a countywide minimum dwelling size; ask the Zoning Department about the specific district and proposed design.6

How do septic permits work in Price County?

Apply for the sanitary permit through the Price County Zoning Department before seeking a new-dwelling permit.32 The county describes a state sanitary permit or a qualifying privy permit as the available paths for meeting a new dwelling's sanitary requirement.2 For a dwelling without pressurized water, Price County allows a privy under conditions: an open-pit privy requires a soil boring and agreement, while a vaulted privy still requires the agreement and is the only privy type identified for shoreland areas.17

Site conditions deserve early attention because the soil dataset rates 0% of county soils as free of severe limits for a conventional drain field.18 That screening statistic does not decide an individual site, but it makes a soil evaluation especially important before purchase. Wisconsin also requires private wastewater systems to receive a visual inspection at least once every 3 years.19

Can you live in an RV or tiny home in Price County?

On parcels subject to Price County zoning, an RV may stay on a parcel for up to 4 months in a calendar year without a permit only when the site has a 911 number and sanitary system; a longer stay requires a land-use permit for a new dwelling.5 The county treats a mobile home under 32 feet as an RV for this rule.5

A mobile home longer than 32 feet needs land-use and sanitary permits to qualify as habitable, and older mobile homes face an additional restriction in Recreational-Residential districts.20 We could not confirm an express tiny-home occupancy rule or a general minimum home size. Ask Price County Zoning & Land Conservation how the proposed structure, foundation, utilities and parcel district affect its classification before buying or placing it.6 In one of the five non-shoreland town exceptions, also ask the town chairman about local zoning.4

Building a home in Price County: what are the steps?

  1. Confirm the parcel's zoning district, shoreland status, floodplain status and required setbacks with Price County Zoning & Land Conservation.6
  2. Confirm legal access. A town-road driveway goes through the town, a county-highway driveway goes through the Price County Highway Department, and a state-highway connection needs WisDOT approval.2122
  3. Complete the soil work and obtain the sanitary permit from the Price County Zoning Department before the new-dwelling permit.32
  4. Obtain advance Wisconsin DNR notification before constructing a typical new private well.8
  5. Submit the UDC application, plans, fees and prerequisite local approvals to the responsible inspection authority.12
  6. Begin only after approval and permit posting, then call for inspections before covering each construction phase.914

What should you check before buying land in Price County?

Start with the zoning map, parcel district and water proximity because shoreland coverage and the five town exceptions can change who answers the land-use question.4 Verify the lot meets the applicable area, frontage and access rules before treating it as buildable.16 For county-highway frontage, contact the Highway Department about driveway placement; state-highway access instead requires a WisDOT connection permit.2322

Order septic feasibility work early: the countywide soil screening shows severe conventional-drain-field limitations across the mapped soils, while the permit decision remains site-specific.18 Check mapped floodplain conditions because Wisconsin limits development in floodways and imposes elevation and access conditions in floodfringe areas.24 Budget property carrying costs using the county's 1.4% effective property-tax rate and $2,110 median annual tax bill as broad benchmarks, not a parcel quote.2526

Watch-outs

  • A sanitary permit must be issued before the permit for a new dwelling.2
  • County zoning does not govern non-shoreland areas in five named towns, so contact the town chairman there.4
  • RV occupancy without a land-use permit is time-limited and still requires a 911 number and sanitary system on parcels subject to county zoning.5

Sources

  1. Price County - Building Requirements Info (2026 county census)
  2. Septic Systems, quoted and re-checked
  3. Zoning & Land Conservation, quoted and re-checked
  4. Zoning & Land Conservation, quoted and re-checked
  5. Price County Building Requirements, quoted and re-checked
  6. Price County Zoning & Land Conservation (co.price.wi.us)
  7. Wisconsin DSPS - Building a Home in Wisconsin (UDC Guide) (2026 county census)
  8. Well and heat exchange notification (Wisconsin statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  9. Wisconsin’s Uniform Dwelling Code (Wisconsin statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  10. One- & Two-Family (Uniform Dwelling Code), quoted and re-checked
  11. Price County Building Requirements, quoted and re-checked
  12. Wisconsin Administrative Code SPS 320.09 (Wisconsin statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  13. Wisconsin Administrative Code SPS 302.34 (Wisconsin statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  14. Wisconsin’s Uniform Dwelling Code (Wisconsin statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  15. Price County Building Requirements, quoted and re-checked
  16. Price County Building Requirements, quoted and re-checked
  17. Septic Systems, quoted and re-checked
  18. Share of soils without severe limits for a conventional septic drain field (USDA SSURGO): Bolthole Index county data
  19. Wisconsin Maintenance Program (Wisconsin statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  20. Price County Building Requirements, quoted and re-checked
  21. Form Center, quoted and re-checked
  22. State highway connection permits (driveways & more) (Wisconsin statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  23. Price County Highway Department (co.price.wi.us)
  24. Floodplain Development Basics (Wisconsin statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  25. Effective property tax rate: Bolthole Index county data
  26. Median property tax bill: Bolthole Index county data

Written September 27, 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.

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County locator

Price County in Wisconsin

75
County map
Price County highlighted among the Wisconsin counties · colored by Index score

How Price County scores

Seclusion86100% ev.
Self-Sufficiency53100% ev.
Admin Boringness44100% ev.
Durability66100% ev.
Property Autonomy70100% ev.
Carry Cost75100% ev.

Evidence strength: 100%. This reports direct-source completeness and fallback use; it is separate from the score and is not a confidence interval. How it works →

$213kTypical home
1.4%Property tax
$3,063Land / acre
33.1"Annual rain
5% of yrsSevere drought
0.2 / yr (+0.2)Mid-century 100°F days
12 daysMid-century dry spell
1.61" (+11.3%)Mid-century 1-day rain
1.66×Wildfire change factor
100%Forward climate coverage
$1,048Home insurance / yr
1.6% / yrInsurance growth
0.53%Nonrenewal rate
county median (2+ published ZIPs)Insurance basis
7,285People within 30 min
315,340People within 2 hr
7,022Radius comparison (15 mi)
11.2People / sq mi
18.8%Federal land
94.9%Land at 15% slope or less
0%Septic soil without severe limits
0 acWorkable land screen
83.7%Wooded land
29.3 tonsBiomass / forest ac
40.7°FAvg temp

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Answers from the rulebook for Price County

What the ordinances and state agencies actually say — one answer per question, each quoted from the official source and independently re-checked.

Price County rules

  • County-wide zoningPresent (with conditions)

    County zoning in unincorporated Price County, subject to the stated town exceptions and separate shoreland coverage.

    • Non-shoreland areas in the Towns of Kennan, Catawba, Georgetown, Ogema, and Hill are excepted.
    • The Price County Shoreland Ordinance governs property within 1,000 feet of a lake or flowage and within 300 feet of a river, creek, or stream.
    • All 17 townships have adopted the Comprehensive Zoning Ordinance.

    lake or flowage shoreland distance: <= 1000 ft · river, creek, or stream shoreland distance: <= 300 ft

    “All unincorporated areas of Price County except for the non-shoreland areas located in the Towns of Kennan, Catawba, Georgetown, Ogema and Hill are governed by county zoning regulations.”
  • Zoning districtsPublished (with conditions)

    Price County zoning districts identified in the county building-requirements guide.

    • The guide identifies RR-1, RF-1, A-1, CI-1, and C-1 districts and gives district-specific setbacks.
    • County zoning has the town exceptions stated on the county zoning page.
    “HORIZONTAL SETBACKS OF ZONING DISTRICTS (RR-1) (RF-1) (A-1) (CI-1) (C-1)”
  • Minimum lot sizeSpecified

    Lots subject to Price County zoning and land-division rules.

    • Water-abutting lots require 20,000 square feet and 100 feet of frontage.
    • Lots in sanitary districts require at least 10,000 square feet.
    • Other lots require 1 acre.
    • Newly created lots require 40 feet of public-road frontage or a recorded 66-foot-wide easement.

    water-abutting lot area: >= 20000 sq. ft. (Must also have 100 feet frontage) · sanitary-district lot area: >= 10000 sq. ft. · other lot area: >= 1 acre · public-road frontage for created lot: >= 40 ft (Alternatively, recorded easement 66 feet wide)

    “All lots abutting water shall be 20,000 square feet in area and shall have 100 feet of frontage. All lots in Sanitary Districts shall have a minimum of 10,000 square feet in area. All other lots shall be 1 acre in size.”
  • Living in an RVLimited

    Recreational vehicles and mobile homes on parcels subject to Price County zoning.

    • A mobile home under 32 feet is considered a recreational vehicle.
    • Up to four months per calendar year is allowed without a permit, but the parcel must have a 911 number and sanitary system.
    • More than four months requires a land-use permit for a new dwelling.
    • A mobile home over 32 feet requires land-use and sanitary permits to be a habitable structure.

    permit-free RV occupancy duration: <= 4 months per calendar year (Requires 911 number and sanitary system)

    “RV’s may be kept on a parcel for up to four months in a calendar year without a permit. The site must have a 911 number and sanitary system. If the RV is on a parcel for more than four months, a land use permit for a new dwelling must be obtained.”
  • Manufactured homesLimited

    Mobile/manufactured-home occupancy in Price County zoning districts.

    • A mobile home longer than 32 feet requires a land-use permit and sanitary permit to be considered habitable.
    • In Recreational-Residential Zoning Districts, mobile homes older than 1976 are not allowed.

    mobile-home length threshold: > 32 ft (Homes under 32 feet are treated as recreational vehicles)

    “A mobile home longer than 32 feet must have a land use permit and a sanitary permit to be considered a habitable structure. In Recreational-Residential Zoning Districts, mobile homes older than 1976 are not allowed.”
  • Who permits septicCounty (with conditions)

    Sanitary permits and private onsite wastewater administration in Price County.

    • The county page states that sanitary permits are applied for through the Price County Zoning Department.
    • Wisconsin licensed plumbers install or repair septic systems.
    “All sanitary permits must be applied for through the Price County Zoning Department.”
  • Septic permitRequired

    New dwellings and sanitary systems in Price County.

    • A sanitary permit is required before issuance of a new dwelling permit.
    • A state sanitary permit or qualifying privy permit may satisfy sanitary requirements.
    • A state sanitary permit is good for two years.

    state sanitary permit validity: 2 years

    “A sanitary permit is required prior to issuance of any new dwelling permit.”
  • Septic inspectionLimited

    Dwelling additions that modify wastewater flow and certain existing septic systems.

    • One or both inspections may be required.
    • Older systems may require a soil boring to establish at least 36 inches of suitable soil to a limiting factor.

    minimum suitable soil for applicable older systems: >= 36 inches (To a limiting factor such as high groundwater)

    “Septic System Inspection (one or both of the following may need to be performed)”
  • Off-grid sanitationLimited

    Dwellings without pressurized water in Price County.

    • A privy may be installed where there is no pressurized water.
    • An open-pit privy requires soil boring and a Privy Installation Agreement.
    • A vaulted privy does not require a soil test but still requires the agreement.
    • In shoreland areas, only a vaulted privy may be utilized.
    “There is an open pit privy that requires you to have a soil boring to ensure the soils allow for it and you’ll have to sign the Privy Installation Agreement (white sheet). The other type of privy is a vaulted privy. It does not require a soil test, but it still requires the Privy Installation Agreement. In shoreland areas a vaulted privy can only be utilized.”
  • Agricultural exemptionAvailable (with conditions)

    Specified farm buildings under Price County land-use permitting.

    • The exemption is from the Price County land-use permit requirement.
    • The structures must meet ordinance dimensional and setback requirements.
    “nor is a Land Use Permit required for farm buildings, school bus stop shelters, temporary shelters for horses, equipment for humans at a logging or pulpwood cutting operation or handicap ramps used exclusively to enter and exit a dwelling provided such structures meet the dimensional and setback requirements of the ordinances.”
  • Driveway accessRequired

    New and reconstructed driveway accesses to county highways in Price County.

    • Town-road access requires the town chairman's signature.
    • County-highway access requires the Price County Highway Department.
    • State-highway access requires Wisconsin DOT.
    • The county form states a $50 application fee.

    county driveway access application fee: 50 USD

    “A Driveway Access Permit is required for all new and reconstructed driveway accesses. A FEE OF $50 NEEDS TO BE SUBMITTED FOR ALL DRIVEWAY ACCESS PERMIT APPLICATIONS.”
  • Permit processPublished (with conditions)

    Price County land-use permit application and project permitting process.

    • Applications require project and plot-plan information.
    • Structures must be staked out for inspection; otherwise a $20 re-inspection fee applies.
    • The applicant remains responsible for state and federal wetland and waterway requirements.
    • The permit expires two years after issuance.

    reinspection fee: 20 USD (If site is not staked out at inspection) · permit expiration: 2 years after issuance

    “If site is not staked out at time of inspection a $20.00 re-inspection fee will be charged.”

Wisconsin rules that apply here

  • Building permitRequired

    New one- and two-family dwellings covered by Wisconsin’s Uniform Dwelling Code, including covered additions and alterations.

    • The cited brochure states that permit requirements for alterations and additions vary by municipality.
    • Construction begins only after plans are approved and the building permit is issued and posted.
    • The enforcing jurisdiction may be the municipality, county, or state.
    • Local zoning, land-use, floodplain, sanitary, well, driveway, utility, and other approvals may also be required.
    • A building permit cannot be issued for a new dwelling using a private onsite wastewater treatment system until a sanitary permit has been issued.
    “Begin construction after plans are approved and building permit is issued and posted.”
  • Owner-builder exemptionConditional

    An owner obtaining construction and erosion-control permits for a dwelling covered by the Wisconsin Uniform Dwelling Code.

    • The owner must occupy the home currently or will occupy it after completion.
    • The exemption permits the owner to take out the construction and erosion-control permits without the state-certified Dwelling Contractor and Dwelling Contractor Qualifier arrangement described for contractors.
    • The owner-occupancy statement must be checked on the permit application if the applicant does not possess Dwelling Contractor certification.
    • The source describes an owner-occupancy condition; it does not establish a general exemption for non-occupant owners.
    “The construction and erosion control permits must be taken out by a state-certified Dwelling Contractor, who also employs a state-certified Dwelling Contractor Qualifier, or by the owner who occupies the home currently or will after completion.”
  • Building code adoptedAdopted (with conditions)

    Public buildings, places of employment, and multifamily buildings subject to Wisconsin's commercial building code.

    • The Division of Industry Services reviews plans before construction for compliance with state statutes and building codes.
    • Local certified municipalities may provide plan review and inspection services for certain building types.
    • The Wisconsin Commercial Building Code adopted the 2021 ICC effective September 1, 2025; plans submitted November 1, 2025 or later must comply with the updated code.
    • Municipalities may have grandfathered fire detection, prevention, and suppression ordinances under 2013 Act 270.

    2021 ICC adoption date: September 1, 2025 (The deadline for building plan compliance was delayed.) · updated-code plan-submission deadline: November 1, 2025 (Plans submitted on or after this date must comply with the updated Commercial Building Code.)

    “2013 Act 270 establishes a uniform commercial building code in Wisconsin while allowing municipalities to grandfather fire detection, prevention, and suppression ordinances”
    2 more reviewed findings on this topic
    • Adopted (with conditions) — One- and two-family dwellings in Wisconsin, including Price County.
      “The Uniform Dwelling Code (UDC) is the statewide building code for one- and two-family dwellings built since June 1, 1980.”
    • Adopted (with conditions) — New one- and two-family dwellings in Wisconsin built since June 1, 1980.
      “The Uniform Dwelling Code (UDC) is the statewide building code for one- and two-family dwellings built since June 1, 1980.”
  • InspectionsRequired

    Each phase of construction of a one- or two-family dwelling governed by the Wisconsin Uniform Dwelling Code.

    • Inspections are called for before each phase is covered up.
    • The local inspector’s instructions apply.
    • The inspector has two business days after the inspection request and the work being ready to inspect before the work may be covered.
    • Inspections check compliance with the code and may also check compliance with approved plans.
    • The UDC is enforced by municipal or county building inspection departments or the Wisconsin Division of Industry Services.

    inspection response period: 2 business days (After the inspection request and the work is ready to inspect, before the work may be covered up.)

    “Call for inspections of each phase of construction prior to covering it up - check the local inspector’s instructions. The inspector has two business days after the date that you make the inspection request and the work is ready to inspect, before you may cover up the work. Inspectors will check for compliance with the code.”
  • Certificate of occupancyLimited

    Occupancy of a dwelling governed by Wisconsin’s Uniform Dwelling Code after construction.

    • Occupancy follows a final inspection in which no major health or safety violations are found.
    • Some municipalities will issue occupancy permits; the state source does not state that every municipality must issue a certificate or occupancy permit.
    • The dwelling exterior must be completed within two years after permit issuance.

    exterior completion deadline: 2 years after permit issuance

    “Take occupancy after receiving a final inspection in which no major health or safety violations are found. (Some municipalities will issue occupancy permits.) Also, the dwelling’s exterior must be completed within two years after permit issuance.”
  • SetbacksSpecified

    Buildings and structures in unincorporated Wisconsin shoreland zoning areas measured from the ordinary high water mark.

    • The standard applies in the shoreland zone and is implemented through county shoreland zoning ordinances.
    • Exceptions include piers, boat-hoists, fishing rafts, utilities, walkways, stairways or rail systems, decks or gazebos complying with s. 59.692(1v), and boathouses.
    • If an existing pattern of development exists, counties may allow new homes closer than 75 feet through setback averaging.
    • Counties may adopt additional requirements.

    minimum setback from ordinary high water mark: >= 75 feet (Listed structures and setback averaging exceptions.)

    “All buildings and structures must be set back at least 75 feet from the ordinary high water mark.”
  • Building heightSpecified

    Structures within 75 feet of the ordinary high water mark of navigable waters in Wisconsin shoreland zoning areas.

    • The DNR model ordinance identifies this as the NR 115.05(1)(f) height standard for county shoreland ordinances.
    • The prohibition does not extend beyond 75 feet from the ordinary high water mark under the stated standard.
    • Counties may regulate height beyond 75 feet through local ordinance.

    maximum structure height within 75 feet of ordinary high water mark: <= 35 feet (A structure taller than 35 feet is prohibited within the specified area.)

    “A structure taller than 35 feet within 75 feet of the ordinary high-water mark of any navigable waters is prohibited”
  • Well permitLimited

    Construction of private wells statewide in Wisconsin.

    • A Well Construction Notification Number must be obtained before constructing a new private well that is not a high-capacity well.
    • Exceptions to the notification requirement include high-capacity wells, reconstruction of existing wells, and wells on Native American property; high-capacity wells or other wells requiring written DNR approval follow the approval requirements.
    • Some DNR-approved county ordinances additionally require a well permit before construction.
    • A Well Construction Report must be submitted to DNR within 30 days after construction.

    well construction notification fee: 50.5 USD (Fee and notification number are not refundable or transferable.) · well construction report deadline: 30 days after construction

    “Wisconsin law requires that a property owner provide advance notice to DNR before construction of any new private well that is not a high capacity well, and advance notice of any heat exchange drillhole construction (geothermal system) that does not require a written DNR approval.”
  • Building in a floodplainLimited

    Development in Wisconsin floodplains, including floodway and floodfringe areas.

    • Floodplain development typically requires a land use permit and a building permit.
    • In the floodway, new structures, substantially improved or damaged structures, hazardous or solid-waste storage, and wells or sewage systems are prohibited.
    • Floodway development is limited to open-space uses with low flood-damage potential unless the stated analysis or FEMA map-revision condition is met.
    • Floodfringe structures must have the first floor elevated two feet above base flood elevation and have dryland access.
    • Substantially damaged structures are subject to the stated 50-percent threshold and applicable elevation or relocation requirements.

    floodfringe first-floor elevation: >= 2 feet above base flood elevation (for all new and substantially damaged or improved structures in the floodfringe)

    “In the floodway, new structures, substantially improved or damaged structures, the storage of hazardous/solid waste and wells/sewage systems are prohibited.”
  • Short-term rentalsLimited

    Lodging rented to tourists or transients for short periods in Wisconsin, including homes, condos, cabins, cottages, and similar lodging facilities.

    • A DATCP lodging permit is required for all lodging facilities in Wisconsin.
    • A tourist or transient must be away from the person's permanent address.
    • The reviewed source does not establish local zoning or municipal operating restrictions.
    “If lodging is rented to a tourist or transient, it will require a permit.”
  • Permit feesVariable (with conditions)

    Wisconsin Uniform Dwelling Code permit fees for new dwellings statewide.

    • Municipalities determine fees for plan examination, inspection, and issuance by ordinance.
    • UDC inspection agency fees are determined by contract.
    • A $30 state permit-seal fee applies for each new dwelling.
    • Additional department inspection fees may apply in specified circumstances.

    Wisconsin Uniform Building Permit Seal: 30 USD (per new dwelling) · departmental inspection minimum: >= 160 USD (where a department employee performs an on-site inspection related to UDC enforcement under the stated circumstances)

    “The municipality shall, by ordinance, determine fees”
  • Campground & park staysLimited

    Occupancy of recreational vehicles, including recreation trailers, pickup truck campers, motor homes, camper vans, and truck campers, at Wisconsin State Park System campsites.

    • Camping reservations are required before setting up on any site.
    • Wheeled camping units must be parked on the campsite driveway.
    • A campsite may be occupied by no more than one recreation trailer, pickup truck camper, or motor home.
    • Pickup campers or motor homes pulling a trailer are treated as a single unit.

    recreational vehicles per campsite: <= 1 unit (Pickup campers or motor homes pulling a trailer are treated as a single unit.)

    “A campsite may be occupied by no more than one recreation trailer, pickup truck camper or motor home. Pickup campers or motor homes pulling a trailer are treated as a single unit.”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Limited — Temporary camping at Wisconsin State Park System properties.
      “Camping reservations are required and can be made up to 11 months in advance of your planned date of occupancy. Campers must make a reservation before setting up on any site.”
  • county zoning authorityGeneral

    Wisconsin counties may enact and amend county zoning ordinances under Wis. Stat. § 59.69 for participating towns, which are generally unincorporated areas.

    • County zoning applies only in towns that have adopted county zoning.
    • After a comprehensive revision of the county zoning ordinance, the town has authority to decide whether county zoning applies in the town.
    • Towns have authority to approve or disapprove amendments to a county zoning ordinance.
    • A town that does not fall under county zoning may be unzoned or may have its own town zoning ordinance.
    “Counties exercise zoning ordinances under s. 59.69, Wis. Stats. County zoning only applies in towns that have adopted county zoning.”
  • county building authorityGeneral

    County authority to enforce the statewide Uniform Dwelling Code and administer building inspection and permitting for new one- and two-family dwellings in Wisconsin, including unincorporated areas where the county is the responsible inspection authority.

    • The Uniform Dwelling Code applies to new one- and two-family dwellings built since June 1, 1980 and their additions and alterations.
    • The UDC is enforced by municipal or county building inspection departments or the Wisconsin Division of Industry Services.
    • Permit requirements for alterations and additions vary by municipality.
    • Construction begins only after plans are approved and the building permit is issued and posted.
    • Counties enforce the statewide UDC; the source does not establish authority for counties to adopt a separate, more or less stringent residential code.
    “The UDC is primarily enforced by municipal or county building inspectors who must be state-certified. In lieu of local enforcement, municipalities have the option to have the state provide enforcement for just new homes.”

Still unanswered

We looked and could not find an official answer yet. Silence is not permission — ask the county directly.

  • Minimum dwelling size — Minimum dwelling size in Price County zoning districts.
  • Lot coverage — Lot-coverage limits in Price County zoning districts.
  • Camping on your land — Temporary camping unrelated to RV occupancy in Price County.
  • Tiny homes — Tiny-home occupancy in Price County.
  • Accessory dwellings — Accessory dwelling occupancy in Price County.
2 more unanswered
  • Mandatory utility hookup
  • Subdividing land

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.

Living off-grid in Price County, Wisconsin

Is Price County a good place to live off-grid or homestead?

Price County scores 75/100 on the Bolthole Index, a strong county profile. Its strengths: sparse surroundings — about 7,285 people within a 30-minute drive and manageable long-term carry cost.

Do you need a building permit in Price County, Wisconsin?

Price County generally requires a residential building permit, and it enforces county zoning. Onsite septic is permitted by Price County Zoning Department (POWTS / sanitary permits, under WI DSPS). Owner-builders may act as their own contractor to build their home. These answers are quoted from official sources and independently re-checked. Rules change and cities within the county differ — always confirm with the county before you buy or build.

Can you live in an RV or tiny home on your land in Price County?

Living in an RV on your own land in Price County is limited to specific cases: Recreational vehicles and mobile homes on parcels subject to Price County zoning. A mobile home under 32 feet is considered a recreational vehicle. Up to four months per calendar year is allowed without a permit, but the parcel must have a 911 number and sanitary system. Confirm with the county before relying on it.

How much does land cost in Price County, Wisconsin?

Land in Price County runs about $3,063 per acre, based on the latest county data.

What is the water situation in Price County?

Price County gets about 33.1" of rain a year, with severe drought in roughly 5% of years.

How remote is Price County?

A representative private-land location has about 7,285 people within a 30-minute drive and 315,340 within two hours. The road-network catchments count population across county lines and clusters of smaller cities; straight-line radius values remain available as a comparison.

Off-grid gear

Going off-grid in Price County means bringing your own water and power. The kit we’d start with:

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How Price compares in Wisconsin

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