Bolthole Index

Shawano County, Wisconsin

Zoning, building permits and septic rules in the Village of Bonduel, Wisconsin

The Village of Bonduel, Wisconsin zones its own land under Chapter 115 of the village code and requires a village building permit before construction starts12. Single-family homes need at least 960 square feet of living area outside the mobile home park district3. Septic permits for homes without public sewer come from Shawano County Planning & Development, not the village4. Shawano County's own zoning does not cover villages5.

At a glance

Zoning
Yes, the village's own Chapter 115 zoning code1
Building permit
Required from the village before work starts2
Minimum permit fee
At least $100; $300 per manufactured home6
Minimum home size
960 sq ft of living area outside the R-3 district3
R-1 lot size
8,000 sq ft for a one-family lot, 75 ft frontage7
R-1 setbacks
25 ft front, 25 ft rear, 10 ft minimum side8
Septic permit
Shawano County Planning & Development issues sanitary permits4
Inspections
Required; 48 hours' notice, final inspection before occupancy910

Who to call

Building permits

Village of Bonduel (Village Hall)

Village building and zoning permit forms, including the building permit application, driveway permit application and land use, conditional use, sign and fence permit application

(715) 758-2402

117 W Green Bay St Bonduel, WI 54107

Septic permits

Shawano County Planning & Development Department

Sanitary permits and inspection of private onsite wastewater systems for Shawano County, including addresses inside villages that are not on public sewer

715-526-6766

311 N. Main St. Shawano, WI 54166

Contact details are copied from each office’s official page and were checked against it on October 23, 2026.

Off-grid gear

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

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Does Bonduel, Wisconsin have zoning?

Yes. The Village of Bonduel zones the land inside village limits under its own Chapter 115 zoning code, and the village board amends that code by ordinance1. The code divides the village into R-1 and R-2 residential districts, an R-3 mobile home park district, C-1 and C-2 commercial districts, an M-1 industrial district, planned development, public, agricultural and conservancy districts, plus floodplain and shoreland-wetland overlays11.

Shawano County's general zoning does not reach inside Bonduel, because the county says all villages and cities regulate locally5. Find your lot's district on the village's zoning map and confirm it with Village Hall12.

We could not confirm Bonduel's rules for RV living, tiny homes, camping or accessory dwelling units. Ask Village Hall before you plan any of them. The 960-square-foot minimum for single-family dwellings below is the closest published limit on small homes3.

What are the lot size, setback and home size rules in Bonduel?

Rules differ by district. In the R-1 residential district, a one-family lot needs at least 8,000 square feet and 75 feet of frontage7. A principal building in R-1 must sit at least 25 feet from the front lot line and 25 feet from the rear, with a 10-foot minimum on one side and 25 feet total for both sides, and it may be 35 feet tall8.

Accessory buildings in R-1, such as garages and sheds, may not stand in the front yard, need at least 5 feet of side and rear yard, and top out at 15 feet13.

The A agricultural district is different: it requires at least 5 acres and 200 feet of frontage14, and farm buildings need 300 feet of front, side and rear yard15. Homes in A follow the R-1 yard standards14.

Outside the R-3 district, every single-family dwelling needs at least 960 square feet of living area, not counting the garage or carport, and a minimum width of 24 feet3.

Do you need a building permit in Bonduel, and who issues it?

Yes. The Village of Bonduel requires the applicant to obtain and pay for building permits before work starts, and doubles the fee for work done without one2. The village's fee schedule says roofing and siding do not need a permit2. Permit fees start at $100, and a manufactured or mobile home permit costs $300 per unit6.

The Village of Bonduel issues these permits itself. Its forms page lists the building permit application, a plot plan document, a driveway permit application and a land use, conditional use, sign and fence permit application12. New dwellings are built under Wisconsin's Uniform Dwelling Code, which applies in every Wisconsin municipality16, and the village says all work must be done by licensed trades under that code17.

The county's land use permit applies in unincorporated Shawano County, not inside the village. For land outside village limits, see the Shawano County page.

How do septic permits work in Bonduel?

Septic permits are a county matter. Shawano County Planning & Development is responsible for the review and issuance of sanitary permits and for inspecting private onsite wastewater treatment systems418. A sanitary permit is required for every structure with plumbing, and the application needs a 911 address, a licensed plumber and a soil and site evaluation by a certified soil tester1920.

We could not confirm whether your lot in Bonduel can connect to village sewer and water, or whether the village requires connection. The village zoning code requires public sewer and water only for mobile home park spaces21. Ask Village Hall about sewer and water service before you buy12, and ask Shawano County if no sewer is available18.

We also could not confirm a village or county rule on private wells inside Bonduel; ask Village Hall.

Can you put a manufactured home on a lot in Bonduel?

Only if it meets the village's standards. Outside the R-3 mobile home park district, a manufactured home must meet the same single-family standards as any other dwelling: at least 960 square feet of floor area, at least 24 feet of width, and a full basement or other permanent enclosed foundation structure21. Mobile home parks are allowed in the R-3 district21.

The village permit for a manufactured or mobile home costs $300 per unit6.

How do you build a home in Bonduel, step by step?

  1. Ask Village Hall which zoning district your lot is in and what yards, height and lot-size rules apply there1211.
  2. If the lot has no public sewer, get a 911 address, hire a plumber and a certified soil tester, and obtain a sanitary permit from Shawano County Planning & Development1918.
  3. Apply for the village building permit and pay the fee before any work starts2. Wisconsin will not issue a building permit for a new dwelling on a private septic system until the sanitary permit exists22.
  4. Use licensed trades for the work17.
  5. Give 48 hours' notice before each inspection; the notice excludes Saturdays, Sundays and holidays9.
  6. Wait for the final inspection before anyone moves in; the village does not allow occupancy before it10.

What stays with Shawano County, and what to check before you buy in Bonduel?

Septic permits and inspection of private systems stay with Shawano County Planning & Development4. Shoreland zoning, floodplain rules and land division are county-wide ordinances that the county says it administers throughout Shawano County23. Building in a floodway is prohibited, and building in a floodplain depends on the zone24. The village zoning code also carries floodplain and shoreland-wetland overlay districts11.

A driveway needs a culvert permit before the 911 address process is complete, and the issuing office depends on whether the road is a state, county or village street25. The village also publishes its own driveway permit application12.

Shawano County's effective property tax rate is 1.4 percent26. For land outside the village, see the Shawano County page.

Watch-outs

  • We could not confirm whether Bonduel allows owner-builders; the village fee schedule says all work must be done by licensed trades, so ask Village Hall before planning to build yourself17.
  • We could not confirm Bonduel's rules for RVs, tiny homes, camping, accessory dwelling units or short-term rentals; call Village Hall at (715) 758-240212.
  • The village zoning map was last dated February 2008, so confirm your lot's current district with Village Hall11.
  • Chapter 115 is amended by ordinance, and an amendment to section 115-25 was introduced in July 2025, so ask Village Hall for the current text1.
  • Shawano County rules for unincorporated land, such as the county land use permit, do not apply inside Bonduel village limits5.

Sources

  1. Village of Bonduel Chapter 115 Zoning Code (village PDF) (Village of Bonduel), quoted and re-checked
  2. Village of Bonduel Building Permits Required and Fee Schedule (adopted 04/09/25) (Village of Bonduel), quoted and re-checked
  3. Village of Bonduel Chapter 115 Zoning Code (village PDF) (Village of Bonduel), quoted and re-checked
  4. Do You Have All the Required Permits to Build?, quoted and re-checked
  5. Shawano County Zoning, quoted and re-checked
  6. Village of Bonduel Building Permits Required and Fee Schedule (adopted 04/09/25) (Village of Bonduel), quoted and re-checked
  7. Village of Bonduel Chapter 115 Zoning Code (village PDF) (Village of Bonduel), quoted and re-checked
  8. Village of Bonduel Chapter 115 Zoning Code (village PDF) (Village of Bonduel), quoted and re-checked
  9. Village of Bonduel Building Permits Required and Fee Schedule (adopted 04/09/25) (Village of Bonduel), quoted and re-checked
  10. Village of Bonduel Building Permits Required and Fee Schedule (adopted 04/09/25) (Village of Bonduel), quoted and re-checked
  11. Village of Bonduel Chapter 115 Zoning Code (village PDF) (Village of Bonduel), quoted and re-checked
  12. Village of Bonduel (Village Hall) (villageofbonduel.com)
  13. Village of Bonduel Chapter 115 Zoning Code (village PDF) (Village of Bonduel), quoted and re-checked
  14. Village of Bonduel Chapter 115 Zoning Code (village PDF) (Village of Bonduel), quoted and re-checked
  15. Village of Bonduel Chapter 115 Zoning Code (village PDF) (Village of Bonduel), quoted and re-checked
  16. One- & Two-Family (Uniform Dwelling Code) (Wisconsin statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  17. Village of Bonduel Building Permits Required and Fee Schedule (adopted 04/09/25) (Village of Bonduel), quoted and re-checked
  18. Shawano County Planning & Development Department (co.shawano.wi.us)
  19. Building A Structure, quoted and re-checked
  20. Land Use Permits, quoted and re-checked
  21. Village of Bonduel Chapter 115 Zoning Code (village PDF) (Village of Bonduel), quoted and re-checked
  22. Wisconsin’s Uniform Dwelling Code (Wisconsin statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  23. Shawano County Zoning, quoted and re-checked
  24. Shawano County Building A Structure, quoted and re-checked
  25. co.shawano.wi.us, quoted and re-checked
  26. Effective property tax rate: Bolthole Index county data

Written October 23, 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 Bonduel

Village of Bonduel’s own rules

  • Building permitRequired

    Construction, remodeling, and new dwellings inside Bonduel village

    • Applicant must obtain and pay for all building permits before starting work.
    • No permit is required for roofing or siding (fee schedule).
    • Double fees apply to work done without a village permit.

    minimum permit fee: >= 100 USD

    “section 103.6 of the village municipal code requires that the applicant obtain and pay for all building permits prior to the actual start of proposed work.”
  • InspectionsRequired

    Permitted construction inside Bonduel village, including new dwellings

    • Inspection notice must be given 48 hours in advance, excluding Saturdays, Sundays and holidays.
    • Per-inspection fees of $100.00 apply to dwelling alteration, addition, and electrical or plumbing/HVAC work.

    inspection notice: >= 48 hours (excludes Saturdays, Sundays and holidays)

    “the state building code requires a 48 hours inspection notice. this notice excludes saturdays, sundays and holidays.”
  • Certificate of occupancyRequired

    New dwellings inside Bonduel village before occupancy

    • A final inspection for occupancy must be completed before the dwelling is occupied.
    • The fee schedule does not name a separate certificate of occupancy document.
    “the dwelling cannot be occupied until a final inspection for occupancy has been completed to ensure that provisions of the state building code have been met.”
  • Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

    Land inside Bonduel village limits, governed by the village's own Chapter 115 Zoning Code

    • Chapter 115 is amended by village board ordinance; July 2025 minutes show Ordinance 2025-03 amending sec. 115-25 introduced.
    • Zoning districts and dimensional standards are set by Chapter 115 and recorded in separate claims.
    “for the purposes of this chapter, the village is hereby divided into the following zoning districts: (1) r-1 residential district.”
  • Zoning districtsPublished (with conditions)

    Zoning districts inside Bonduel village: R-1, R-2, R-3, C-1, C-2, M-1, PD, Public, A, CON, and floodplain/shoreland-wetland overlays

    • District boundaries are shown on the official zoning map dated February 2008, incorporated by reference in sec. 115-8(b); the map itself was not opened.
    “(1) r-1 residential district. (2) r-2 residential district. (3) r-3 mobile home park and mobile home subdivision district. (4) c-1 general commercial district. (5) c-2 highway commercial district. (6) m-1 industrial district. (7) pd planned development district. (8) public district. (9) a agricultural district. (10) con conservancy district. (11) floodplain and shoreland-wetland districts (see chapter 109).”
  • Minimum dwelling sizeSpecified

    Single-family dwellings in Bonduel village in any zoning district except the R-3 mobile home park district

    • Floor area excludes the garage or carport.
    • Minimum width of 24 feet measured from the narrowest part of the dwelling (sec. 115-5(2)).

    minimum livable all-weather floor area: >= 960 square feet (excluding garage or carport)

    “the minimum, livable, all-weather floor area for every dwelling unit shall be 960 square feet, excluding the area of the garage or carport;”
  • Minimum lot sizeSpecified

    R-1 residential district in Bonduel village (main single-family district)

    • Lot frontage minimum 75 feet.
    • Substandard vacant lots of at least 50 feet wide and 5,000 sq ft may be used as single-family building sites under sec. 115-3(d) if of record before the ordinance and in separate ownership.

    minimum lot area, one-family: >= 8000 square feet (two-family minimum 10,000 square feet) · minimum lot frontage: >= 75 feet

    “a. lot frontage: minimum 75 feet. b. lot area: 1. one-family: minimum 8,000 square feet. 2. two-family: minimum 10,000 square feet.”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Specified — A agricultural district in Bonduel village (farm and non-residential uses; residences follow the R-1 yard standards)
      “lot frontage: minimum 200 feet. lot area: minimum five acres. residence yard and building requirements: same as r-1 district.”
  • SetbacksSpecified

    Principal buildings in the R-1 residential district in Bonduel village

    • Accessory buildings: no front yard, side and rear yards minimum 5 feet, maximum 15 feet high.
    • Accessory buildings may not exceed 30 percent of the required rear yard (general provisions).

    front yard: >= 25 feet · side yards total: >= 25 feet · minimum side yard: >= 10 feet · rear yard: >= 25 feet

    “c. principal building: 1. front yard: minimum 25 feet. 2. side yards: minimum total, 25 feet. 3. minimum side: ten feet. 4. rear yard: minimum 25 feet. 5. building height: maximum 35 feet.”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Specified — Farm buildings in the A agricultural district in Bonduel village; residences follow R-1 yard standards
      “farm buildings: 1. front yard: minimum 300 feet. 2. side yards: minimum 300 feet. 3. rear yard: minimum 300 feet. 4. building height: maximum 50 feet.”
  • Building heightSpecified

    Farm buildings in the A agricultural district in Bonduel village; residences follow the R-1 height limit

    • Residence height follows the R-1 limit of 35 feet.

    farm building height: <= 50 feet

    “farm buildings: 1. front yard: minimum 300 feet. 2. side yards: minimum 300 feet. 3. rear yard: minimum 300 feet. 4. building height: maximum 50 feet.”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Specified — R-1 residential district in Bonduel village (principal and accessory buildings)
      “5. building height: maximum 35 feet. d. accessory buildings: 1. front yard: not allowed. 2. side yards: minimum five feet. 3. rear yard: minimum five feet. 4. building height: maximum 15 feet.”
  • Manufactured homesLimited

    Manufactured and mobile homes installed on lots in Bonduel village outside the R-3 mobile home park district

    • Must meet the sec. 115-5 standards: minimum 960 sq ft livable floor area, minimum 24 ft width, and placement on a full basement or other permanent enclosed structure.
    • Mobile home parks are permitted in the R-3 district (sec. 115-11).
    “no single-family dwelling, including dwellings constructed on the building site, manufactured dwellings and manufactured homes, shall be erected or installed in any zoning district except the mhp district unless such dwelling meets all of the following standards: (1) minimum floor area.”
  • Permit feesPublished (with conditions)

    Building permit fees for construction inside Bonduel village

    • Fees for alteration, garages, sheds and other work are listed separately in the fee schedule.
    • Re-inspection fee $100.00 per time; renewal/extension $100.00; cell tower fees also listed.

    minimum permit fee: >= 100 USD · mobile/manufactured home permit: 300 USD (per unit)

    “mobile/manufactured homes $300.00 per unit”
  • Permit processPartial

    Building permit process for work inside Bonduel village

    • Each applicant receives a copy of the fee schedule.
    • Application forms are separate PDFs on the village site (building permit application, driveway permit application, land use/conditional use/sign/fence application) and were not opened.
    “each permit applicant will be issued a copy of this fee schedule.”

Rules another office applies inside Village of Bonduel

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

  • Building code adoptedAdopted (with conditions)

    New dwellings and dwelling work inside Bonduel village, under the state Uniform Dwelling Code as applied by the village building inspector

    • Work must be performed by licensed trades under the state Uniform Dwelling Code.
    • The village fee schedule was adopted 04/09/25; the state code itself was not opened.
    “all work must be performed by licensed trades, pursuant to requirements of the state of wisconsin uniform dwelling code.”

Still unanswered

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

  • Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder work on a home inside Bonduel village
  • Lot coverage — Lot coverage on parcels inside Bonduel village
  • Living in an RV — Long-term RV occupancy on private land inside Bonduel village
  • Camping on your land — Temporary camping on private land inside Bonduel village
  • Tiny homes — Tiny home occupancy inside Bonduel village
10 more unanswered
  • Accessory dwellings
  • Who permits septic
  • Septic permit
  • Septic inspection
  • Off-grid sanitation
  • Well permit
  • Mandatory utility hookup
  • Agricultural exemption
  • Subdividing land
  • 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 Bonduel publishes no rule on the point, not that none exists. Shawano County’s page lists the county offices to call.

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